Help shape brighter futures for children and families across Scotland

At Children First, we believe every child should be safe, loved and able to enjoy a happy childhood. As Scotland's national children's charity, we work alongside children, families and communities to protect children from harm, support recovery from trauma and abuse and create lasting change.

We are looking for a compassionate, skilled and motivated Community Partnership & Participation Worker to join our team and help strengthen the support available to children and families across Scotland.

In this exciting role, you will build trusted relationships with communities, services and partner organisations, helping families access the support they need while ensuring children's and families' voices influence how services are developed and improved.

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference by connecting people, strengthening local networks and helping shape services that respond to what matters most to children and families.

What you'll do

Working as part of our Support Line service, you will:

• Develop strong partnerships with community organisations, schools, health services, local authorities and third sector partners.
• Improve access to support for families experiencing poverty, inequality, kinship care challenges or concerns about a child's safety.
• Increase awareness of Children First Support Line and the range of help available to families across Scotland.
• Ensure children, young people and families have meaningful opportunities to share their experiences and help shape service development.
• Support participation, engagement and co-production activities, including events, consultations and focus groups.
• Build local knowledge of community resources and identify gaps, barriers and opportunities for support.
• Gather learning and insights that help us improve services and influence positive change for children and families.

What we're looking for

• You'll bring experience of community engagement, partnership working or participation practice, along with a genuine commitment to improving outcomes for children and families.

You'll also have:

• Experience working with children, young people, families or communities.
• Strong relationship-building and partnership skills.
• Excellent communication and facilitation abilities.
• An understanding of poverty, inequality and the barriers families can face when seeking support.
• Knowledge of children's rights and participation approaches.
• Experience of trauma-informed, strengths-based and relationship-based practice.
• The ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and maintain accurate records.
• Confidence using Microsoft Office and digital communication tools.

Who you are

We're looking for someone who:

• Believes in the power of children's voices.
• Values inclusion, participation and co-production.
• Builds trust quickly and works collaboratively with others.
• Is passionate about reducing inequality and improving children's lives.
• Brings warmth, curiosity and compassion to their work.
• Shares our commitment to safeguarding and promoting children's rights.

Why join Children First?

At Children First, our values guide everything we do:

With Love

We put children first, listening with compassion and kindness and standing alongside families when they need support most.

With Purpose

We work together with families, communities and partners to create lasting change and better outcomes for children.

With Strength

We do whatever it takes to protect Scotland's children and champion their rights.

You'll join a supportive organisation that values learning, innovation and collaboration, where your work will directly contribute to helping children and families thrive.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and anti-racist organisation where everyone experiences a sense of belonging. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences and particularly encourage applications from groups currently under-represented within our workforce.

Join us

If you're passionate about building stronger communities, amplifying children's voices and helping families access the support they need, we'd love to hear from you.

Together, with love, purpose and strength, we can help Scotland's children and families thrive.

WE ARE SEEKING TO RECRUIT AN ENTHUSIASTIC AND COMMITTED SENIOR RESIDENTIAL PROJECT WORKER 3 TO JOIN OUR PENTLAND WAY RESIDENTIAL SERVICE.

Barnardo's Caern Disability Services consists of three unique Projects who deliver a variety of quality services for young people with learning disabilities and/or autism. We have done this for over 40 years.

Our Pentland Way Service is a residential service providing support for up to three older young people. Using a person-centred approach, we aspire to create an environment in which the young people are happy, nurtured and safe. We aim to enhance their lives by supporting them to develop independence in both the domestic environment and the community.

ABOUT YOU

Ideally you will have experience in working directly with children and young people in a residential setting. Experience in supporting children and young people with a learning disability and/or Autism is required.

You will work directly with the children and young people on shift, as part of the staff team on rota. In addition to this your main role will include

• Responsibility for the day to day running of the house
• Leading the staff on shift including rota management, leading practice and ensuring staff are working to high levels of performance in the best interests of the C&YP in our care.
• Supervision of staff including Residential Project Workers and As & When staff
• Supporting the Team Manager and Children's Service Manager with the ongoing development of the Service

The staff team across Caern Services must be fully accepting of our children and be prepared to offer them a professional relationship based on acceptance and informed by our understanding of their individual needs, wishes and experiences. We are passionate about the children and young people that we care for, showing understanding, empathy and consistency in our approach.

You will currently hold or be working towards a SVQ3 (Children and Young People) and also be willing to work towards a recognised SSSC qualification/s relevant to this role (Residential Worker with Supervisory Responsibilities).

This is a full-time position (37 hours). Working on a dayshift rota basis, you will typically work a rota of 5 out of 7 days, including weekends. You will require to be flexible for the needs of the Young People and the Service.

For an informal chat about this role – please call Aileen Gallagher on 0131 339 8840.

Pay & Reward Framework

We appreciate our colleagues' dedication and their commitment to delivering excellence in the vital work we do, driven by their passion and commitment to Barnardo'svalues.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.

We are committed to a rounded colleague experience with an approach to both pay and rewards that are fair, attractive, and progressive. This is in support of our strategic ambition to ensure Barnardo's is a place everyone can belong, grow and thrive.

The salary range advertised is in line with our pay principles, for consistency and fairness while recognising the skills and experience applicants bring to the role. Appointing salaries can be discussed further at appointment stage; we do seek to appoint within this range always exercising responsible stewardship.

Benefits

Workplace Offer: What it means for you

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, in the community, at one of our Collaboration Hubs or depending on the role any combination of these. Please read through the advert carefully to understand the remits of hybrid working that will be specific to the role.

Barnardo's require colleagues to be UK residents, based in the UK and to complete their roles from within the UK (with the exception of colleagues providing Barnardo's services in Jersey and colleagues who live in the Republic of Ireland providing services in Northern Ireland)

• 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 Buy Your Leave 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

Children First Support Line

Could you play a vital role within our national Support Line, helping deliver Scotland's mission to eradicate child poverty?

Join Children First and be part of a once in a generation transformation in how families access help to alleviate crisis, prevent harm and build long-term stability to break the cycle of child poverty. Funded by the Scottish Government, we are doubling the size of our Support Line with the aim of supporting 7,500 more families across Scotland in the first year.

We've been preventing harm, supporting recovery and driving change since 1884 and our ambitious plans for the Support Line build on our experience of delivering cash-first, short, medium and long-term holistic support to families living in, or at risk of, poverty.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our growing multidisciplinary team and help ensure every family in Scotland has somewhere to turn when they need help.

About the Role

You will play a vital role in the expansion and delivery of our national support line service, which offers practical, financial and emotional support to families through phone calls, webchats, advice and information on our website and in their homes and communities across Scotland.

This role plays a key role in supporting the effective day-to-day running of Children First services. The postholder provides operational, administrative and systems support to ensure services run safely, efficiently and in line with organisational requirements.

This role is central to enabling high-quality support for children, young people and families. The postholder will support the effective operation of the national Support Line by coordinating service administration across telephone, webchat and digital channels, ensuring accurate records, efficient service access and high-quality information to support performance monitoring and reporting.

By coordinating key processes such as data management, finance administration, service access and local operations, the Service Operations Administrator allows Support Line Coordinators, volunteers team leaders and managers to focus on delivering impactful support.

The role operates with a high level of autonomy and responsibility, often acting as the first point of contact for operational matters within a service. It requires strong organisational skills, initiative, and the ability to respond flexibly to changing service needs.

What You'll Be Doing

1. Service Operations and Coordination

Services are well-organised, responsive and able to operate effectively, with administrative and operational processes running smoothly and consistently.

2. Systems and Data Management

Accurate and timely data is maintained across systems (including Dynamics, Advice Pro and our Call Handling System), supporting service delivery, reporting and organisational insight.

3. Finance and Resource Management

Service-level financial processes are managed accurately and in line with organisational procedures.

4. Facilities, Health & Safety and Local Operations

Service environments are safe, compliant and well-maintained, with appropriate coordination of property, facilities and health & safety activities.

5. Team and Service Support

Practitioners and managers are effectively supported through coordination of meetings, diaries, resources and operational requirements.

Core Responsibilities

• Provide administrative and operational support to ensure effective service delivery
• Maintain accurate records and data within organisational systems (including Dynamics)
• Support financial processes including invoices, purchasing and petty cash
• Act as a key point of contact for enquiries, supporting service access and communication
• Coordinate meetings, diaries, resources and general service organisation
• Support compliance with organisational policies and procedures
• Support the administration of Support Line activity including contact volumes, service schedules and rotas, referrals, practitioner workflows and performance reporting
• Contribute to a positive, collaborative team environment

Service-Specific Responsibilities

· Health & Safety coordination and local compliance tasks

· Property and facilities management

· Reception / front of house responsibilities

· Supporting local funding, resources or community activity

· Event coordination or service-specific administration

· Additional systems or reporting requirements

· Support the administration of telephone, webchat and digital support channels.

· Assist with service performance reporting, data quality checks, case closures and monitoring against contract requirements.

· Support referral pathways, financial support administration and onward connections to local and national services.

· Coordinate practitioner rotas, meetings, training records and operational communications.

· Contribute to the oversight of the budget

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who is passionate about supporting children and families and who can build trust quickly through empathy, compassion and kindness.

· Strong organisational and coordination skills

· Ability to manage competing priorities and work independently

· Confidence using systems and managing data accurately

· Strong communication and interpersonal skills

· A proactive and flexible approach

· Alignment with Children First values

Our Values

Everything we do is guided by our values:

With Love

We put children first with compassion and kindness.

With Purpose

We work alongside families and partners to transform children's lives together.

With Strength

We do whatever it takes to protect Scotland's children.

What You'll Get From Us

At Children First, you'll be part of a values-led organisation committed to developing and supporting our people.

We offer:

• 40 days annual leave including public holidays.

• Contributory pension scheme.

• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities.

• Wellbeing support and health benefits.

• Blue Light Card discounts.

• Learning, training and career development opportunities.

• The opportunity to help shape an ambitious national service supporting thousands of families across Scotland.

In this role, you’ll:

• Create helpful, clear and accessible resources and information for parents and carers for the support line section of the Children First website.
• Translate complex information about support and services into clear, accessible and engaging communications for families.
• Update and manage website content using the CMS, ensuring information is accurate, accessible and up to date.
• Drive forward organic social media activity promoting the support line, share new resources created for families and develop engaging multimedia content, including video.
• Support children and families to safely and appropriately share their stories, following Children First’s story‑gathering, consent and safeguarding processes at all times.
• Use insight, learning and feedback to inform continuous improvement in communications activity.

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

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• A proactive, collaborative approach and commitment to our values.
• Previous experience in a similar communications role.
• Strong social media skills.
• Excellent ICT skills and strong experience of Canva and creating video content.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to concisely summarise key information.

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.