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.

Forth Valley Advocacy is an independent advocacy service promoting the rights, freedom and dignity of vulnerable people, supporting people to have their say and defending disadvantaged people from abuse and exploitation. The service is based on human rights principles and ensures that a stronger voice is given to individuals made vulnerable by complex life situations.

Following a recent successful recruitment process we now aim to a further advocacy worker to our dedicated team, enabling Forth Valley Advocacy to continue the provision of high quality, person centred Independent Advocacy services across the Forth Valley area.

You will join an enthusiastic group of experienced Advocacy Workers and will report to the Chief Officer. The caseload is varied and will include work with individuals who are subject to legislation, including mental health care and treatment, and people using care and support services or who are in transition between services or settings.

With a commitment to ensuring that Advocacy Partners voices are heard, you will have a strong belief in empowerment and inclusion. As a member of the expanded team, you will contribute to the development of the service as it continues to provide independent advocacy throughout this period of growth.

Due to the widespread geography covered by this post, you must be a car driver with access to a car.

*The service is based in Falkirk but covers the whole of the Forth Valley area. Hybrid working arrangements are in operation although the successful individual will be required to work from our office during the induction period.

Recent applicants need not reapply as their applications will be reviewed as part of this recruitment exercise.

We are committed to equality and diversity and welcome applications from all backgrounds.

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.

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.