Introduction & Background:

West Lothian Social Enterprise Network (WLSEN) is a membership organisation that aims to support and develop social enterprises in the area. WLSEN offers peer support, resource sharing, market development, promotion of local social enterprise and a focal point for issues specific to social enterprises in West Lothian.

The Network has been operating for over 7 years, is a registered Charity and a Company Limited by Guarantee and is governed by a voluntary Board of Directors. It is currently contracted to deliver support to social enterprises in the area by West Lothian Council and on behalf of Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian (VSGWL), it delivers the social enterprise support element of the local Third Sector Interface contract.

WLSEN has a good profile with local strategic partners and now boasts a membership of 66 social enterprises across West Lothian.

As the Network manager you will support the network to achieve its strategic objectives:

• Help social enterprises become more sustainable in relation to their triple bottom-line socially, economically and environmentally

• Raise awareness of social enterprise in West Lothian and increase understanding of the added value social enterprises bring

• Help increase the visibility of social enterprises in West Lothian locally and nationally.

• Work positively at a local and national level, engaging with partners such as West Lothian Council and Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian

• Contribute to the wider economic, social and cultural agenda and debates in West Lothian

• Foster a culture of mutual support and co-operation amongst social enterprises and inform members of issues, developments and opportunities.

• Foster growth within the sector including taking initiatives that will increase trading activity, innovation and business development.

• Represent members at a local and national level

Main purpose of role

To focus on the development of both the Employee Assistance Program and Wellbeing in the Workplace.

Background

Over the past year the Bridge has been developing the foundations for social enterprise activity and thanks to some recent funding from Adapt and Thrive we are in a position to take forward our enterprise business plan. The enterprise work will be part of the Bridge Community Project SCIO, but will have its own branding and website.

The Wellbeing Outreach Development Worker will focus on 2 areas;

Employee Assistance Program

Wellbeing in the workplace

We recently commissioned Community Enterprise to undertake some scoping work around these areas resulting in a business plan that will be used as the basis for the enterprise development.

The successful candidate will be expected to carry out a range of roles as outlined below:

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

● Scope out and implement the terms of reference for our employee assistance program

● Work alongside the Counselling Development Worker to build an experienced team of counsellors

● Develop relationships with organisations and generate interest in our Employee Assistance Program

● Establish appropriate administration systems

Wellbeing in the Workplace

● Develop options that will support employees and organisations to improve everyday wellbeing. This will include health fairs, workshops, seminars and personal projects

● Plan out and develop appropriate content for each option above

● Bring together a delivery action plan

● Generate interest from organisations for our Wellbeing in the workplace program

Marketing

● Work with the Project Director to develop a marketing strategy, including ongoing development of the website

Administration

● Implement relevant admin/ booking systems

Sustainability

● Work alongside the Project Director to determine options for future sustainability of the enterprise

General

● Work within the ethos and culture of the Bridge Community Project

● Carry out the recommendations held within the enterprise business plan

● Work within the boundaries of confidentiality as stipulated within the Bridge Community Project policy.

● Required to observe all Health & Safety regulations and report all safety/hazards to Bridge Community Projects management group

● To attend regular meetings appropriate to the role

Job Specification

Essential

● Have experience in development work and ideally in setting up Employee assistance programs and/or training

● Must have a current, clean UK driving license and access to a vehicle

● Excellent interpersonal and communications skills

Desirable

● Competent IT skills

● Ability to be self-motivated and to work to a high standard

● Ability to demonstrate a sincere commitment to the vision and values of the Bridge Community Project

Main purpose of role

To focus on the development of a community of private counsellors and the development of a continued professional development training program.

Background

Over the past year the Bridge has been developing the foundations for social enterprise activity and thanks to some recent funding from Adapt and Thrive we are in a position to take forward our enterprise business plan. The enterprise work will be part of the Bridge Community Project SCIO, but will have its own branding and website.

The Counselling Development worker will focus on 2 areas;

1) Community of Counsellors

2) CPD training opportunities

We recently commissioned Community Enterprise to undertake some scoping work around these areas resulting in a business plan that will be used as the basis for the enterprise development.

The successful candidate will be expected to carry out a range of roles as outlined below:

Community of Counsellors Development

● Scope out and implement the terms of reference for The Bridge Community of Counsellors

● Develop a core community of counsellors, creating a welcoming and safe space for counsellors and clients alike

● Establish an informal peer support group for counsellors

● Establish a library of information both physical and online ensuring that resources and information meets the needs of the counsellors and individuals accessing the library

CPD Training Development

● Scope out and develop a program of CPD training opportunities for counselors

Marketing

● Work with the Project Director to develop a marketing strategy, including ongoing development of the website

Administration

● Implement relevant admin systems for both the community of counsellors and CPD training development

● Be familiar or willing to learn our room booking system, Skedda

Sustainability

● Work alongside the Project Director to determine options for future sustainability of the enterprise

General

● Work within the ethos and culture of the Bridge Community Project

● Carry out the recommendations held within the enterprise business plan

● Work within the boundaries of confidentiality as stipulated within the Bridge Community Project policy.

● Required to observe all Health & Safety regulations and report all safety/hazards to Bridge Community Projects management group

● To attend regular meetings appropriate to the role

Job Specification

Essential

● Must be a qualified counsellor to diploma level with over 2 years experience

● Member of a national body such as COSCA/ BACP

● Must have a current, clean UK driving license and access to a vehicle

● Excellent interpersonal and communications skills

Desirable

● Competent IT skills

● Ability to be self-motivated and to work to a high standard

● Ability to demonstrate a sincere commitment to the vision and values of the Bridge Community Project

Summary of role

The JP Morgan Chase Foundation Specialist Debt Helpline Pilot project aims to open up the high quality, free, impartial advice that the CAB network currently offers beyond our existing clients to a wider demographic and volume of people in Scotland, ensuring that everyone can access debt advice in a convenient way, at the point in their life when they need help. This will enable an early resolution for many individuals. The pilot will explore the extent to which complex debt cases can be handled remotely.

The money advice helpline advisers are the first point of contact with clients who access the service from anywhere in Scotland through a dedicated telephone helpline. They will handle casework related to debt cases presented on the helpline.

The specialist debt helpline service is being run by 6 bureaux, and the money helpline advisers will be part of a distributed team, working collaboratively across bureau boundaries.

We are looking to recruit 2 full time posts, one for CAB West Lothian and one for Haddington CAB.

Main responsibilities

By phone, email and video conferencing the money advice helpline advisers provide an effective, holistic diagnosis of the client’s problems, dealing with emergencies, helping to resolve the enquiry, identifying whether the client is able to self-help, arranging follow up meetings as necessary and handling associated casework. Accurate recording of cases will be an important responsibility of this role.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for someone who has minimum of 6 months experience in delivering specialist money advice and debt solutions for clients. We are also looking for someone who has experience of delivering complex advice on the telephone. Any applicant should have excellent communication and organisational abilities and experience of working to KPI’s.

This is a new and exciting project for the CAB network and is a great opportunity for the right applicant to be involved in the development of a debt advice helpline in Scotland.

EARS is an independent advocacy provider – our role is to make sure people’s voices are heard when there are issues in their lives.

Purpose of the post:

• To offer an independent advocacy service to adults (16+) with a physical disability or an acquired brain injury, who are normally resident in West Lothian. This will include face to face visits in the community and/or residential settings.
• To promote the service, raise awareness and further develop relationships with relevant professionals.

Major Functions of the Post

• To provide free, independent advocacy to adults (16+) with a physical disability or ABI in West Lothian by enabling those wishing to represent themselves or, where appropriate, representation of that person where they are unable to express their views.
• To work and liaise with local professionals, organisations and networks to ensure that the service, and its work, is brought to the notice of all potential service-users.
• To keep up to date with service user’s rights, including statutory legislation, recommendations and guidance.
• To develop and provide information/materials to promote the service to professionals/community groups within West Lothian.
• To keep and maintain your own diary of work.

To find out more about the role, please download the Job Description below.

Our new S.M.I.L.E Counselling Team Leader will lead and support the successful delivery and evaluation of our high-quality therapeutic counselling and support services, following the S.M.I.L.E Counselling service delivery framework and in line with BACP/COSCA (or equivalent) ethical frameworks and codes of practice. If you are not a member of BACP/COSCA you must be willing to complete the BACP proficiency.

This post involves delivering a counselling service across a number of Primary and High schools in West Lothian. The service is a bespoke service for young people 11-24 and will cater to the client needs. The post holder will also be expected to maintain supporting systems for the counselling service, including confidential record keeping, recording and producing statistical information, and evaluating the counselling within an outcome based framework

It is anticipated the post holder will primarily concentrate on delivering counselling to young people but will also provide some awareness raising training with staff.

Looking for a new challenge?

Are you an excellent trainer with experience of employability contract delivery?

The Larder is an exciting and growing training provider operating from West Lothian but looking to extend our geographical reach across Scotland. We want to recruit a dynamic Training Co-ordinator who is self-motivated and has a passion for working with those furthest from the job market with complex learning needs and barriers to being all that they can be.

We offer a flexible working environment and a drive to create a successful and self-sustaining social enterprise that is agile and responsive to the needs of the most disadvantaged individuals and communities.

If you share our vision, we would like to hear from you.

Purpose of role:

To provide strategic, marketing and development direction to identify, build and develop business growth opportunities, develop volunteering and training.

This role will focus on the following business streams – Community Shop, Community Food Provision, Hire of HUB land and property, Wellbeing Service, Business to Business Trade.

This is a 1 year fixed term contract.

Accountable to: Communities Manager