Who we are

The Fostering Network is the UK’s leading fostering charity and membership organisation, dedicated to empowering, enriching and supporting the relationships at the heart of the fostering community.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for two experienced qualified social workers to join our passionate team to provide impartial, solution focused advice, information and support to current and prospective foster carers and fostering services in Scotland.

What you’ll be doing

Using your working knowledge of best practice, current regulations, standards and guidance in fostering you will advocate and promote positive outcomes for children, young people and carers.

Answering calls and emails you will provide a solutioned focus perspective and practical advice for a wide range of circumstances foster carers and fostering services.

Working as part of the wider Fostering Network team you will support the development and delivery of our foster carer boards and service staff forums and attend event with young people and carers.

At this point, we hope you're feeling excited about the job description you’re reading. Even if you don't feel that you meet every single requirement, we still encourage you to apply.

What we can offer you

• 38 days leave (including bank holidays)
• A range of family friendly and fostering friendly leave options
• Flexible and hybrid working
• Enhanced maternity and adoption pay
• Enhanced sick pay
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Helpline
• Pension and life assurance
• Contribution to eye tests and lenses
• Season ticket loans

Our commitments to you

The Fostering Network is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes applications from all sections of the community and especially those from under-represented and minoritised backgrounds. All applications and hiring decisions will be considered on merit.

• If you identify as care experienced and meet the minimum criteria for the role, you will be guaranteed an interview under our commitment to the Care Leaver Covenant
• If you have a disability, please tell us what reasonable adjustments would support your participation in the recruitment process
• We are open to job-sharing arrangements for all roles, please indicate this in the application form if you are applying as part of a job share

Looking for more information?

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact pamela.graham@fosteingnetwork.net You can also find more information about us on our website thefosteringnetwork.org.uk

Who Cares? Scotland is Scotland’s only national independent membership organisation for Care Experienced people. Our mission is to secure a lifetime of equality, respect, and love for Care Experienced people in Scotland and we currently have over 3000 Care Experienced members.

At the heart of Who Cares? Scotland’s work are the rights of Care Experienced children and young people, and the power of their voices to bring about positive change. We provide individual relationship-based independent advocacy and a broad range of imaginative participatory opportunity for Care Experienced young people across Scotland; we work alongside corporate parents and communities of all sorts to broaden understanding; we work with policy makers, leaders and elected representatives locally and nationally to shape law, policy and practice on the basis of all that can be learnt from the voices of those with experience of care – working together to build on the aspirations of The Promise and secure positive change.

This role offers the opportunity to work directly with children and young people with experience of care. The Advocacy & Participation Worker will provide individual relationship-based advocacy support and will be a key member of the Advocacy and Participation team, supporting young people from across the Western Isles 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. In partnership with professionals, carers, and organisations, you will help to achieve the best outcomes for children and young people.

The role will also include facilitating group opportunities for and with children and young people, including providing engagement and participation opportunities, both locally and nationally.

The post holder will raise awareness of Who Cares? Scotland and its services to children, young people, professionals, third sector partners and carers.

The right candidate for this post will be able to form positive relationships with children and young people and have good interpersonal skills. You will feel confident communicating with individuals and groups, both in writing and verbally, and be able to adapt your approach to a wide range of contexts. Secure in making effective plans, as well as evidencing your work, you will prioritize and meet deadlines. You will 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 changes happen in their lives if given the opportunity. You will have demonstrable knowledge of the current structures, developments, policy, and practice in relation to children and young people experiencing care in Scotland.

You will be flexible in your approach, be able to work occasional evening and weekends (with prior agreement), and have a full driving license, access to own transport and business insurance.

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.

Who Cares? Scotland is Scotland’s only national independent membership organisation for Care Experienced people. Our mission is to secure a lifetime of equality, respect, and love for Care Experienced people in Scotland and we currently have over 3000 Care Experienced members.

At the heart of Who Cares? Scotland’s work are the rights of Care Experienced children and young people, and the power of their voices to bring about positive change. We provide individual relationship-based independent advocacy and a broad range of imaginative participatory opportunity for Care Experienced young people across Scotland; we work alongside corporate parents and communities of all sorts to broaden understanding; we work with policy makers, leaders and elected representatives locally and nationally to shape law, policy and practice on the basis of all that can be learnt from the voices of those with experience of care – working together to build on the aspirations of The Promise and secure positive change.

The Advocacy and Participation Manager will oversee the development of our independent advocacy services, including our lifelong advocacy offering, and the engagement and empowerment of Care Experienced people through participation opportunities.

Contributing to Who Cares? Scotland’s leadership team and sharing the learning of this work positively and proactively across the organization, this APM role will provide a robust evidence base to support the evolvement of this work nationally.

The right candidate will therefore be capable of forming positive relationships with people of all ages and backgrounds, will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal, and be adaptable to a wide range of contexts. With experience managing budgets and performance targets, as well as reporting internally and to key stakeholders, you will also be skilled at supervising and supporting the work of staff and volunteers. Some travel, as well as some evening and weekend work, is required due to the remit of the post.

You will have a proven record of working collaboratively with partners successfully and will be committed to children’s rights, inclusive working, and equal opportunities. You believe that all people can make transformative change happen in their lives if given the opportunity.

For an informal conversation about this opportunity please contact Caroline Richardson, Director of Advocacy and Participation at crichardson@whocaresscotland.org.

Could you be the welcoming face of our charity?

Glasgow Disabled Scouts (GDS) gives young people aged 8 to 25 with disabilities and additional support needs across Glasgow the full Scouting experience: camps, friendships, adventures and independence. We're a charity run entirely by volunteers, from those aged 14 and up right through to our longest-serving leaders, and none of it happens without them.

We're looking for a warm Volunteer Coordinator who enjoys working with people to join us. The role is all about people: making every new volunteer feel welcomed from their very first enquiry, guiding them through joining, keeping in touch as they settle in, and being a familiar face at our Monday evening sessions.

What you'll do

You'll be the first person a new volunteer hears from. You'll respond to enquiries, have the first conversation with each new volunteer, guide people through the PVG and training process, and meet them on their first night. You'll attend volunteer fairs, university and Duke of Edinburgh events to bring new people in, and build relationships with the schools, colleges and organisations that send volunteers our way. Once people are with us, you'll check in, take an interest in how they're getting on, and help make sure they feel part of the team.

Who we're looking for

Someone warm, outgoing and reliable, who enjoys people and is good at keeping things moving. You'll be organised enough to manage a busy pipeline of enquiries and personable enough that a nervous new volunteer of 16 and a leader of ten years both feel at ease with you. Experience in volunteer coordination, recruitment, youth work, education, customer service or another role working closely with people would be useful, and transferable skills are very welcome. Experience of youth clubs, community groups or other volunteer-led organisations would be a bonus, not a requirement. We can teach the process. How you make people feel is what we're really looking for.

The role

14 hours a week on average, with the hours shaped by what the role needs rather than fixed days. Volunteer recruitment comes in waves, with September and the start of term especially busy, so you'll need to flex up when enquiries are flowing and will have more breathing space at quieter times. Being responsive during the week matters, and because all of our sections meet on a Monday evening, being there on Mondays is an essential part of the role. Around that, we're happy to talk about flexibility that fits with your other commitments. 18-month fixed-term contract with the potential for extension, subject to funding. £14.50 to £17.50 per hour depending on experience (£26,390 to £31,850 full-time equivalent, pro rata to 14 hours, around £10,550 to £12,750 a year). A PVG check will be required.