About Us

Borders Independent Advocacy Service has established itself as one of Scotland’s leading providers of independent advocacy, delivering exceptional services since 1995. At the heart of our work are the rights of children and young people and the power of their voices to bring about positive change.

We provide individual, relationship-based independent advocacy and a wide range of participatory opportunities for people across the Scottish Borders. We work alongside corporate parents and communities to broaden understanding, and with policymakers, leaders and elected representatives locally and nationally to shape law, policy and practice based on the lived experience of Scottish Borders people.

The Role

As an independent advocacy worker, you will have the privilege of providing one-to-one independent advocacy to children and young people who live in the Scottish Borders. Through this role, you will ensure that their voices and wishes are heard, enabling them to make informed choices, protect their rights and have a meaningful impact on decisions that affect their lives.

The post-holder will be a key member of the advocacy team, supporting children and young people to ensure their rights are upheld and their voices are heard. In this role you will have the opportunity to provide independent advocacy, children’s rights, and participation opportunities for children and young people who are looked after, Care Experienced, or subject to formal processes and structures. The role will see you actively participating in child’s plan meetings, children’s hearings, and other formal processes, as well as assisting children and young people to prepare for them.

Working in partnership with professionals, carers, and organisations, you will help to achieve the best outcomes for children and young people by keeping detailed records of the work you undertake, writing liaison reports, and monitoring statistics.

As a vital part of the work of Borders Independent Advocacy Service your role will include facilitating group opportunities for and with children and young people. This includes providing engagement and participation opportunities throughout the Borders Independent Advocacy local and national network, as well as meeting with care experienced children and young people to introduce the service in agreement with the local authority. Raising awareness of Borders Independent Advocacy Service and its services with children, young people, professionals, and carers you will also be responsible for facilitating training amongst professionals, carers, and organisations.

The successful candidate for this post will be able to form positive relationships with children and young people and demonstrate strong interpersonal skills. You will be confident communicating with individuals and groups, both in writing and verbally, and be able to adapt to a wide range of situations. You will be confident in making effective plans, as well as evidencing your work, you can prioritise and meet deadlines. You take enjoyment from working collaboratively with partners, believing in equal opportunities and inclusive working.

Committed to children’s rights, you are someone who knows that all young people can make transformative change happen in their lives if given the opportunity. You will demonstrate knowledge of the current structures, developments, policy, and practice in relation to children and young people experiencing care in Scotland. You are also flexible, given the remit of the role, as some evening and weekend work may be necessary. A full driving licence and access to transport are essential.

While we would welcome the knowledge gathered through relevant qualifications, we are just as interested in relevant work experience. We welcome and encourage applications from those with experience of care.

The successful candidate will be joining Borders Independent Advocacy Service at an exciting time, when the voices of those who are in or have experienced care are growing in power, individually and collectively – bringing with them insight, challenge, hope and change.

If this sounds like the role for you, we would love to hear from you. To arrange an informal conversation about this opportunity or any other enquiries, please contact us, at recruitment@bordersadvocacy.org.uk and a member of the team will get back to you.

We strongly encourage individuals from diverse backgrounds to apply. If you believe your skills, experience, and expertise align with the criteria outlined in the person specification, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please complete the application form, ensuring that you provide examples of how your knowledge and experience fulfil each aspect of the person specification.

Why Join Us?

You will join Borders Independent Advocacy Service at an exciting time, when the voices of those who are the most vulnerable are growing in strength and influence, bringing insight, challenge, hope and change. You will play a key role in shaping and strengthening advocacy services across the Scottish Borders.

We offer:

• A generous pension contribution scheme
• Generous annual leave entitlement, plus public holidays
• Flexible working where possible
• A highly supportive, values-led organisation
• Commitment to staff wellbeing and professional development.

Borders Independent Advocacy Service is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible working environment. We strongly encourage applications from people from diverse backgrounds.

Do you have the skills and motivation to be part of a dedicated team of advocacy workers making a real difference?

At The Advocacy Project, we pride ourselves on being a great place to work and put the people we support at the centre of everything we do.

We provide independent advocacy for adults across Glasgow and East Renfrewshire. We are driven by our values: fairness, independence, inclusion, and resilience. We offer our staff a generous package of salary, pension, dynamic working, annual leave, CPD, and a wellbeing package.

This is a fieldwork role based across Glasgow and East Renfrewshire, with approximately 70% of time spent on direct advocacy casework and 30% spent on administrative tasks.

Help shape the future of our independent Carer’s Hub

Glasgow East End Community Carers vision is to relieve the needs of individuals resident in the east end of Glasgow and suffering from any mental or physical disability, illness or impairment (which may include age associated problems) and their carers.

We're looking for an experienced and proactive Hub Manager to lead the day-to-day operation of our Carers’ Hub while helping us prepare for the future.

This is a key hands-on position within our organisation – The Hub Manager will lead a small team of support workers to deliver services that will improve the lives of unpaid carers in the East End of Glasgow.

About the role

Reporting to the CEO, you will work closely with the Homecare Manager to develop the organisation’s potential and expand the services on offer to carers.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee the provision of all services for carers provided by the Hub ensuring that the delivery of these services is to the highest standard and in accordance with the Carers’ Strategy.
• Prepare and agree with Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors Strategic and Operational Plans that prioritise work and provide performance indicators and measurable outcomes.
• Manage the identification of ways of enhancing support and service provision for carers, which are responsive to the needs of carers within the area served.
• Manage and play an active role in the Hub’s activities and events to support carers and increase awareness of the Carers Hub within the catchment area.
• Lead the promotion of increased training opportunities for carers and facilitate the delivery of training by agencies involved in supporting carers.
• Ensure all the Carers Hub employees always show a commitment to equal opportunities policies.
• Ensure the ongoing financial stability of the centre and while completing grant applications to maximise fundraising, allowing the Hub to provide more opportunities for carers.
• Manage social media and website updates as necessary and links with carers.

Maintain appropriate links with carers to ensure that they are fully informed of the service provision

Management Responsibilities:

• Manage the recruitment, training, and support of all paid staff within the Carers Hub.
• Ensure all records are maintained within the Carers Hub that will inform the evaluation of services in line with the needs of funders.
• Ensure that the working environment complies with Health and Safety Regulations and legal requirements and that all staff are aware of their responsibilities in terms of their own safety and that of colleagues and visitors to the Carers Hub.
• Ensure all administrative systems of the office are appropriate and in place.
• Communicate with Carers’ Hub staff to ensure that personnel are fully informed and trained to enable them to carry out their job effectively.
• Participate in relevant networks to be aware of current developments with regards to carers’ needs and support both nationwide and locally

Responsibilities in respect of the Chief Executive Officer:

• Advise the Chief Executive Officer in facilitating and reviewing policy.
• Provide written reports for the Board on a bi-monthly basis.
• Facilitate links between the Chief Executive Officer and other partner agencies as appropriate.
• Undertake any other duties which assist the Chief Executive Officer to develop the Carers Hub in accordance with the aims, objectives and legal requirements of the Organisation as determined by the Board of Directors.

About you

You will bring:

• Experience managing building or venue operations within a community, hospitality, charity or public-facing environment
• Experience leading and motivating teams
• Excellent organisational and problem-solving skills
• Commercial awareness and a focus on value for money
• Experience managing multiple priorities simultaneously
• Confidence working with a wide range of stakeholders, customers, and volunteers
• A positive, collaborative and approachable leadership style

You'll be someone who enjoys improving systems, spotting opportunities and helping people work together effectively.

Why join us?

This is a chance to play a key role in a local Glasgow charity at an exciting point in its development.

You'll be joining an organisation with ambitious plans, a strong reputation for care and community impact, and a commitment to creating a place where no one feels lonely or isolated.

Benefits include:

• 37 days annual leave (inclusive of public holidays),
• Occupational sick pay
• Flexible working arrangements
• TOIL policy

The Coalition for Racial Equality and Rights works to eliminate racial discrimination and harassment and to promote racial justice across Scotland. We are looking for an outstanding candidate to take forward our communities and campaigns work.

Key duties include driving CRER’s public education campaigning work (including on Black History in Scotland), and mobilising communities and other stakeholders to engage, empower, educate and advocate for racial equality and social cohesion.

The successful candidate will have excellent communication skills, an understanding of community development and awareness of Black History in a Scottish context. They will have experience in building networks and campaigning. Most importantly, they will have the desire and ability to make a real improvement to racial equality in Scotland.