An exciting opportunity has become available to join Families Outside as our Communications Manager. We are looking for a proactive, creative individual to lead this work. If you are experienced and passionate about leading our full team through development and implementation of a communications strategy that reflects our Vision and Strategic Aims, then please join us!

About Us:

Families Outside is the only national charity in Scotland that works solely to support families affected by imprisonment. Imprisonment can have a huge impact on the things that matter most to families: money and secure housing, safe and connected relationships at home and in the community, and the emotional health and wellbeing of families. Families Outside is dedicated to providing a range of practical, social, and emotional support to people with someone in prison that are relationship-based, prison-aware, and family-focused.

Role Summary:

• Hours: 28 hours per week
• Contract: 2-year fixed term contract (renewal subject to funding)
• Starting salary: Families Outside Scale Points 38-41 and updated annually subject to appraisal and where funds allow. Starting salary £38,205 pro rata (0.8FTE = £30,564)
• Probation period: A probationary period of 6 months will apply.
• Location: Families Outside Head Office, Edinburgh, with scope for hybrid working

Staff Benefits:

• 25 flexible leave days plus 10 public holidays (pro rata)
• 4% matched contribution workplace pension scheme
• Hybrid & flexible working
• Employee Assistance Programme (Health Assured)
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Laptop and mobile phone for all staff

The Role:

The purpose of this role is to develop and implement strategic communications plans and increase the visibility and inclusion of families affected by imprisonment. The post holder will be responsible for communications including media relations, digital communications, and developing a strong voice for families in line with organisational aims.

They will:

• Develop and implement a communications and marketing strategy for the whole organisation to increase the engagement, visibility, and inclusion of families affected by imprisonment.
• Increase the volume of families affected by imprisonment and key stakeholders who access the information and support available from Families Outside.
• Develop key messages to ensure Families Outside is the lead national voice on the issues relating to families affected by imprisonment and identify and disseminate priority areas for policy and practice change regarding issues of common concern for families.
• Design and implement influencing activity including events, conferences, roundtable discussions, relationships with the media, and development of tools and resources.
• Engage a wide range of audiences, including the public, families affected by imprisonment, and professionals working in key settings.
• Provide safe and effective opportunities for families to influence and engage in communications work.

About You:

We are looking for an individual who is:

• Experienced in leading effective communications strategies that utilise a range of social media, marketing tools, and digital platforms
• Rights-focused and trauma-informed in their work and all they do
• Skilled in negotiation, written and oral communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills
• A confident and effective contributor able to work independently and as part of a team.

If you are an experienced professional with skills in communications, marketing, and the media and are passionate about making a positive difference for vulnerable groups, then we want to hear from you.

MULTICULTURAL FAMILY BASE is a unique, community based social work centre based in Edinburgh. Approximately 50% of our workforce are from a BAME background.

The organisation’s key objective is to support Black and Minority Ethnic individuals, children and parents deal with important transition points - this can be the birth of a child, the move into primary school or the move to Edinburgh for families who are new migrants. In addition, we combine our service delivery with student learning by providing high quality and diverse placement opportunities for social work students from academic institutions across Scotland.

We are now seeking a qualified, skilled and motivated individual to join our team:

Project Worker in Bright Choices project:

At Bright Choices, we offer free and confidential help to women, men, and families from ethnically diverse backgrounds who have experienced or are at risk of ‘honour-based’ abuse (HBA). This can include domestic abuse, extended family abuse, coercive control, forced marriage, and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

You will have a relevant professional qualification and experience of group and individual work with people affected by trauma, isolation and VAWG. You will have a strong understanding of HBA, and people who are likely to experience disadvantage or discrimination due to their race, ethnicity or cultural backgrounds.

You will be engaging service users in group work and will have knowledge of the key issues as well as relevant experience of working within a therapeutic, community development role in 1:1 setting.

You will be facilitating Creative Nurture Group in collaboration with an Art Therapist once a week, working with women affected by HBA, trauma and isolation.

A strong commitment to anti-oppressive practice and equal opportunities is essential. The posts require membership of the PVG Scheme.

For more information visit: mcfb.org.uk

Founded with a commitment to social justice and inclusion in 1998, the Multi-Cultural Family Base (MCFB) is a leading organisation in Edinburgh dedicated to supporting diverse communities and enhancing the well-being of infants, children and families from all cultural backgrounds. MCFB provides essential community-based services, such as therapeutic group work, direct work, advocacy, and support to minoritised groups. MCFB is also a learning centre, supporting the professional development of social work students and other social care professions, with a focus on cross-cultural work and anti-racist practice.

Bright Choices project:

At Bright Choices, we offer free and confidential help to women, men, and families from ethnically diverse backgrounds who have experienced or are at risk of ‘honour-based’ abuse (HBA). This can include domestic abuse, extended family abuse, coercive control, forced marriage, and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).

You will have a relevant professional qualification and experience of group and individual work with people affected by trauma, isolation and VAWG. You will have a strong understanding of HBA, and people who are likely to experience disadvantage or discrimination due to their race, ethnicity or cultural backgrounds.

Our referred families include new migrants, those who are seeking asylum, refugees and survivors of human trafficking.

Job Purpose

The role holder will work closely with the wider Bright Choices team to provide practical and emotional support to individuals and families identified as being vulnerable. You will have a good knowledge and understanding of Honour-Based Violence and FGM and its impacts and have a commitment to protecting children and young people by recognising, assessing and responding to risk.

The post holder will coordinate and develop the delivery of the project in accordance with the needs of service users, and to the expectations of funders and key stakeholders, ensuring the optimal promotion of the Project is relayed. The postholder will be responsible for line management of staff, students and volunteers, and contribute to direct service provision through a proportionate caseload and the delivery of groupwork.

The post holder will uphold MCFB’s mission, vision and values. They will work collaboratively across the organisation as a key member of the leadership team, ensuring effective communication and team working.

In this role, you’ll:

• Deliver marketing campaigns across digital channels and events to raise awareness of Kinship Care Advice Service for Scotland (KCASS)
• Organise events and webinars, including Kinship Care Week, to engage and support kinship care families and professionals
• Lead website development and content to help kinship carers access information, advice and support
• Use insights, learning and feedback, alongside engagement and website conversion data, to inform the ongoing development of the KCASS website.

We’d love to hear from you if you have:

• Experience in a events/marketing officer role
• Experience of using CMS, email marketing, social media and design platforms such as Canva
• Experience in planning, delivering and hosting a variety of small- and large-scale events
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
• Confidence in building relationships with a range of stakeholders and the ability to manage competing priorities.

What we offer:

• A workplace with values of with love, with purpose and with strength
• 40 days annual leave, inclusive of bank holidays
• Pension scheme and wellbeing support
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Access to Westfield Health, giving colleagues and their families confidential counselling support, wellbeing resources, and access to health and lifestyle benefits to support physical and mental wellbeing.
• Blue Light card discount
• A Fair Work accredited workplace.

Our Values

Living our values, you will help create a workplace where our people can thrive, ensuring we deliver the best possible support to children and families.

With love, we put children first.

With purpose, we transform lives together.

With strength, we do whatever it takes to protect Scotland’s children.