All roles at OPFS contribute to our mission of working with and for single parent families, providing support that enables them to achieve their potential and help create lasting solutions to the poverty and barriers facing many single parents and their children. Our core values of Justice, Equity, Trust, Collaboration and Compassion are at the heart of everything we do and underpin all aspects of our work.

Roles and responsibilities:

The Development Worker will support single parents to access, sustain, and progress in employment by delivering tailored support and working with employers to create inclusive, family-friendly workplaces.

This role contributes to the national project’s goals and OPFS’s mission to reduce poverty and barriers for single parent families.

Equal Opportunities and Family Friendly Employment

OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer. OPFS has Investors In People Gold status.

Following a restructuring of our services in South East Scotland we have identified key themes of provision across the locality. You may be allocated to a specific funding stream and/or asked to undertake work in any of the delivery areas detailed below depending on need across the locality.

We currently have a vacancy for a Project Worker 2 post within our Barnardo's Together for Positive Change – Midlothian Intensive Family Support service (BTFPC). BTFPC was established in July 2020 using the intensive family support model which was piloted across Scotland to tackle intergenerational poverty. The focus was to identify and remove barriers to training and work and promote attainment in those families deemed at most risk. BTFPC is a collaborative partnership with Midlothian with key stakeholders being the Early Intervention and Prevention Service and Community Lifelong Learning.

BTFPC aims to address the identified needs of families with children living in Midlothian, who face multiple barriers/challenges to moving out of poverty and provide an offer of holistic whole family support. Many of the children that are referred in through Team Around the Child and or school and will be facing challenges within schools and will already have diagnosed neurodiversity or are awaiting diagnosis.

Support is designed with families to achieve agreed goals following assessment and is time limited to ensure support is effective and families are empowered to maintain changes when support ends. Interventions include parenting sessions, whole family sessions, 1:1 sessions and group work.

If you are passionate about supporting and empowering families to overcome issues around barriers and intergenerational poverty, then we invite you to apply for this role.

Pay & Reward Framework

We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values. We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people.

For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our People & Culture Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay.

Whilst the full pay band and salary range is advertised, our approach to starting salaries is to appoint between the minimum to mid-point of the pay band – this ensures that pay steps are available to reward our colleagues annually based on their contribution to excellence and alignment to our values and behaviours. More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be found upon application.

Benefits

The world of work has changed. We are understanding of what works best for our colleagues both current and future as we look to embrace this new way of working. Our hybrid working initiative is based on trust, flexibility and empowerment. We understand our workplace offer means different things to different people, and we encourage those conversations. This may mean working at one of our stores, services, working at home, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or any combination of these.

• Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.
• Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing to 27 days per annum, after 3 years Barnardo's service, 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo's service and 30 days per annum, after 7 years Barnardo's service. Those working less than full time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata
• The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our HolidayPlus scheme
• A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
• Service related sick pay from day 1
• Access to a Group Personal Pension with a matched 4% or 6% contribution from Barnardo's. Ability to pay via salary sacrifice to garner both tax and NI savings on your own contribution
• Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
• Cycle2work scheme
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
• 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
• Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
• Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
• Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer

*T&C's apply based on contract

About Barnardo's

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and cultivating a culture where everyone can belong and thrive through inclusion and connectivity. We want our workforce to be reflective of the communities we work with, and for equality, diversity and inclusion to be embedded in everything we do. We are a Disability Confident Leader, are progressing our ambition to be an anti-racist organisation with Anti-Racism Commitments and actions in place and have networks for colleagues who are disabled, LGBT+, Black and Minoritised Ethnic and Women. We particularly encourage applications from Black and Minoritised Ethnic and/or disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. For disabled applicants, we offer reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

Following a restructuring of our services in South East Scotland we have identified key themes of provision across the locality. You may be allocated to a specific funding stream and/or asked to undertake work in any of the delivery areas detailed below depending on need across the locality.

We currently have a full-time vacancy for a Project Worker 2 post within our Caern in the Community service which offers a range of supports for children and young people who are neurodivergent or have a disability and their families. Our services are based in a trauma informed, relational and rights-based approach and are designed to empower children and young people to be their authentic selves.

We are seeking a project worker for our B-Empowered project which is a collaboration between our service and our colleagues from Barnardo's Works, which is a specialist employability service. The project was created to support young people aged 16-19 with additional support needs who might otherwise not successfully access existing employability supports to make employment a realistic goal. The successful applicant will work mainly in B-Empowered with some time in one of our other services supporting children, young people and families

The successful applicant will have experience of designed and delivering support to children, young people and families and will be comfortable working in a collaborative environment. The post holder will have a strong understanding of neurodiversity and how to support individuals in a neuro-affirming way, reflecting the social model of disability

This vacancy will cover an existing part-time vacancy and an increase to our overall service capacity following agreement with our commissioner.

The post holder will be able to work successfully with young people individually and in facilitating evidence-based group work programs. Our project workers support young people to identify their goals and to co-design and deliver bespoke packages of support which reflect their specific needs.

If you are passionate about supporting and empowering young people with additional support needs to work towards their employment ambitions then this is a great opportunity to join Barnardo's.

If you would like more information about the post, please contact Team Manager Lynne Melville on 07789 941421 or lynne.melville@barnardos.org.uk

When completing your application please refer to your skills knowledge and experience in relation to the Person Specification, Job Description and Additional Information document. This should be done with an understanding of the context of the service described.

Pay & Reward Framework

We know that our colleagues go above and beyond in delivering our vital work, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo's values. We also know that we can only realise our ambitions and achieve better outcomes for more children, thanks to the talent, hard work and creativity of our people.

For all these reasons, we are committed to a new approach to pay and reward, to ensure it is fair, attractive and progressive, which was rolled out in April 2023. This is a positive change for the charity, and a part of our People & Culture Strategy. It will assist us in supporting colleagues to belong, thrive and grow in their colleague journey at Barnardo's and in time will offer clear routes of progression for colleagues in both their career and their pay.

Whilst the full pay band and salary range is advertised, our approach to starting salaries is to appoint between the minimum to mid-point of the pay band – this ensures that pay steps are available to reward our colleagues annually based on their contribution to excellence and alignment to our values and behaviours. More details on Barnardo's pay framework can be found upon application.

Benefits

Workplace Offer: What it means for you

The world of work has changed. We are understanding of what works best for our colleagues both current and future as we look to embrace this new way of working. Our hybrid working initiative is based on trust, flexibility and empowerment. We understand our workplace offer means different things to different people, and we encourage those conversations. This may mean working at one of our stores, services, working at home, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or any combination of these.

• Barnardo's believe in creating equality of opportunity in the workplace and supporting people to manage their work-life balance; we are therefore open to offering flexible working arrangements.
• Annual Leave entitlement for full-time colleagues is 26 days per annum, increasing to 27 days per annum, after 3 years Barnardo's service, 29 days per annum, after 5 years Barnardo's service and 30 days per annum, after 7 years Barnardo's service. Those working less than full time are entitled to the same level of holiday pro rata
• The ability to buy up to another 5 days annual leave via our HolidayPlus scheme
• A host of family friendly leave options including company Maternity Paternity and Adoption pay; together with all family additional leave options
• Service related sick pay from day 1
• Access to a Group Personal Pension with a matched 4% or 6% contribution from Barnardo's. Ability to pay via salary sacrifice to garner both tax and NI savings on your own contribution
• Death in service cover of 4x annual earnings for all staff contributing to our Group Personal Pension
• Cycle2work scheme
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Discounts and cashback from at high street shops including major supermarkets, cinemas, gyms, leisure/theme parks, holidays and much more via our Benefit Portal
• 20% discount at Barnardo's stores
• Opportunity to purchase a health cash plan to claim towards dental, glasses, therapy etc
• Free access to round the clock employee assistance program for advice and support
• Access to Barnardo's Learning and Development offer

*T&C's apply based on contract

About Barnardo's

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and cultivating a culture where everyone can belong and thrive through inclusion and connectivity. We want our workforce to be reflective of the communities we work with, and for equality, diversity and inclusion to be embedded in everything we do. We are a Disability Confident Leader, are progressing our ambition to be an anti-racist organisation with Anti-Racism Commitments and actions in place and have networks for colleagues who are disabled, LGBT+, Black and Minoritised Ethnic and Women. We particularly encourage applications from Black and Minoritised Ethnic and/or disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. For disabled applicants, we offer reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

Our basis and values

A fantastic opportunity to come and join the Children First team in Giffnock

This is an exciting opportunity to join an innovative partnership between Children 1st and East Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership.

Over the past number years, in partnership with East Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership, we have developed a variety of responsive and dynamic support offers which align to the needs of families.

We adopt a relational and restorative approach which helps families to strengthen relationships and reduce emotional distress. Placing the voice of children, young people and their families at the centre of the support, the team provide intensive and collaborative whole family support; focusing on highlighting the resilience of families and responding to their individual needs.

We invest in reflective and trauma-sensitive practice which guides workers to develop a relationship with family members characterised by trust, respect, honesty, compassion and an open communication where families can then be linked with community-based networks of support.

The East Renfrewshire Service offers support to help improve the emotional wellbeing of children and young people aged 8-18, and their families.

We are currently looking for a new colleague to join the team in a temporary role. In the role of Project Worker, you will connect with children and their families who are looking for help and support; offering them space and time to begin to share their story and thinking with them about what they might need to help things feel better.

We offer a range of different supports for children and families, including individual and family support; facilitated and peer led group supports and befriending relationships. This is an exciting yet demanding role which will require you to get alongside children and their families where, when and how best suits them. We want to be able to offer children and families the right support at the right time.

What kind of people are we looking for?

• Experience of keeping children safe in their own families
• Extensive experience of working alongside and together with children and families impacted by trauma and adversity, with a lens on the promotion of long-term recovery
• Experience of providing support to children and families, with confidence, in a trauma sensitive and systemic way
• Experience and understanding of relational and restorative approaches to practice
• Curious, responsive, flexible and courageous in your relationships with children and families, and colleagues in other services
• Fiercely passionate about Children’s Human Rights
• Shares our belief that it’s a privilege to get alongside children and families to help life feel better for them
• Confident and competent communicators who can work autonomously in a fast paced, demanding role

What kind of Children First team member will you be?

Knowing our ambition for children, you will be someone who is:

• Resilient, skilled and knowledgeable, who wants to transform children’s lives
• Determined to support children to stay safely with their own family
• Big hearted and courageous
• Able to build strong relationships and to manage difficult conversations
• Calm and clear minded during times of challenge or distress
• Kind and compassionate
• Able to demonstrate Children First's core values of working with love, with purpose and with strength

If you have a professional qualification in a relevant area such as Social Work, Health, Teaching or equivalent in Child Care/Social Care or related area, accredited counselling qualification, or other relevant qualification at SCQF level 9 or higher then we want to hear from you. In particular, we are seeking to further enhance our diversity from the perspective of ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender and disability.

Base

Your base will be in Giffnock alongside time spent meeting young people and their families in their local community; with the option for occasional home working.

Salary, Conditions, Pension

We will offer you a competitive salary, generous annual leave entitlement (40 days inclusive of 7 public holidays), flexible working opportunities and a contributory pension scheme. We also have a cash healthcare plan, cycle to work scheme and access to a credit union.

Further Information

1 fixed term, part time post of 21 hours per week funded until 31 March 2026

Hours to be worked flexibly across the week to meet the needs of families and the service. Our 21-hour post is anticipated to be delivered across 3 days, although this is negotiable and equally flexible to meet the needs of families. Furthermore, there is an expectation to work Wednesdays which is seen as our ‘core day’ when essential service activities take place such as team meetings.

If you would like to discuss any aspect of the role before applying, please contact – eastrenfws@children1st.org.uk