BACKGROUND

The Association for Fostering, Kinship and Adoption Scotland (AFKA) is an independent charity that promotes and facilitates evidence-informed best practice in fostering, kinship care and adoption, through advising, training, and influencing practitioners and policymakers, and supporting them to improve outcomes for children and families.

Our Vision is a future where every practitioner working with children, young people and their families is knowledgeable, skilled, confident, and empowered to support the safe, secure, and loving care to which every child has a right.

Our services support agencies and professionals to implement child centred, evidenced informed practice that involves children and their families in decisions about their lives, protect their rights and promotes inclusion. Through our multi-disciplinary communities of practice, we enable social workers, lawyers, and health professionals to work effectively across professional boundaries to meet the needs of children, their families, and their Carers. As a membership organisation, AFKA Scotland uses its links with professional bodies and agencies across the country to contribute to the development of policy and practice at a local and national level. We have a collaborative agreement with CoramBAAF.

AFKA Scotland’s multi-disciplinary team has a wealth of experience and up-to-date expertise in practice relating to kinship care, fostering and adoption and delivers a wide range of workshops, training and consultancy, post qualifying courses, and conferences to assist professionals to develop the knowledge and skills they require when working in this specialist area.

We work closely with our research colleagues in AFKA Scotland, and our research underpins our evidence informed approach. We are committed to #keepthepromise, have been instrumental in promise funded work and have been on a journey to adapt to the changing landscape of care in Scotland.

We are seeking to recruit a highly experienced and motivated individual to the role of Administrative Assistant. This role is key in supporting the Business Support and Finance Manager in the day-to-day operational activities of the organisation and to the smooth delivery of our Forums, training and workshop activities.

JOB SPECIFICATION

PURPOSE

To provide administrative support to the Business Support & Finance Manager on a day-to-day basis and to support the overall work of the organisation.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

National Practitioner Forums and Consortia - in conjunction with lead facilitator, manage the arrangements for the full range of forums and consortia meetings, including setting dates, sending out agendas, formatting and sending out final notes, collating meeting papers, and keeping distribution lists up-to-date.

Support training and development events (Commissioned Training, Conferences and workshops) – in conjunction with Trainer/Consultants, provide administrative support for management of events including: finalising training materials for training booklets, creating and sending out booking forms; logging bookings and maintaining database; preparing attendance certificates for participants at all external events; create , collate and analyse evaluation form returns.

Information Technology – Support staff in their use of IT apps and platforms when they are producing materials or delivering training.

General Administration – Undertake a range of administrative tasks to support the work of the organisation including:

• In conjunction with the Business Support & Finance Manager plan and monitor the action required to run the planned programme of events.
• Telephones - answer the phone and pass messages to staff as appropriate.
• Email - check generic emails and respond / forward messages as appropriate.
• Photocopying – where required, photocopy training materials / meeting papers for all events.
• Banking/Post Office – posting office mail and banking cheques when required.
• Library – maintain database and record when books taken out on loan.
• Take notes at staff meetings.

Scotland’s Adoption Register - provide administrative support to Register staff including support for the running of family finding events when required.

Advice Line Enquiries – record all enquiries, forward to staff, follow up as required, maintain records of completion dates and provide statistical information to Business Support & Finance Manager.

Participation in conferences and other external events – provide administrative support for the running of events as part of the AFKA Scotland team.

Experience

Essential

• A working knowledge of an office environment
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Ability to work on own initiative

Desirable

• Personal or professional experience of the care system
• Experience of working as part of small enterprise or charity

Knowledge, skills and abilities

Essential

• Computer literate in a range of computer processes which must include Microsoft Access, Word, PowerPoint and Excel and have proficient keyboard skills
• Familiarity with Microsoft 365 including MS Teams
• Working knowledge of social media platforms
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and telephone manner
• Ability to collate and analyse information and to produce accurate, well presented documents
• Self-motivating with excellent organisational skills

Attitude and beliefs

Essential

• Positive, problem solving and resourceful
• Clear understanding of the need to maintain confidentiality
• Flexible working approach

Base: Office - 3 days / Home - 2 days (if desired).

Organisational Relationships:Line Managed by the Business Support & Finance Manager / Responsible to the Executive Director.

The Association for Fostering, Kinship and Adoption (AFKA) Scotland is seeking to appoint a Treasurer for our Board of Trustees. The Board meets at 5.30pm one evening (face-to-face) every second month and the Treasurer also meets with the finance subgroup between meetings (via MS Teams). The Board consists of 8 Trustees drawn from a variety of backgrounds including law, health, social work, research, and HR and who have provided oversight and support to the charity for many years.

About Us

AFKA Scotland is a national third sector organisation providing member services to Scotland’s 32 Local Authorities, voluntary and independent organisations to support the provision of Fostering, Kinship and Adoption Services to Children, Young People and Families. We host Scotland’s Adoption Register (SAR) and co-host the Kinship Care Advice Service Scotland (KCASS)

Our services include:

• Advice and guidance to 32 Local Authorities across Scotland.

• Provision of member forums/communities of practice including family placement, medical advisors, independent fostering, kinship and adoption panel chairs and legal advisors.

• Specific Consortia Membership for West and North East Social Work Practitioners.

• Provision of workshops and training.

• Provision of consultancy services using our skilled and experienced Staff and Associates.

• Independent chairing of fostering, kinship and adoption and permanence panels across Scotland.

• Our research team actively contribute to evidence informed practice through our research projects including the longitudinal Permanently Progressing Study.

• We contribute to the development of policy and practice at a local and national level.

Treasurer Role

• Oversight of AFKA financial affairs and ensure they are legal, constitutional and within accepted accounting practices.

• Ensure proper financial procedures and records are in place.

• Monitor and report on the financial health of the charity.

• Oversight of the annual audited accounts.

• Assist with funding bids on behalf of the charity.

• Provide advice to the Board on financial matters and in relation to the risk register.

We are particularly interested in securing a Treasurer with experience in accounting and we welcome people with personal or professional experience of care.

Our Mission

AFKA Scotland is an independent charity that promotes and facilitates evidence-informed best practice in Kinship Care, Fostering and Adoption, through advising, training, and influencing practitioners and policymakers, and supporting them to improve outcomes for children and families.

At the heart is our vision of a future where every practitioner working with children, young people and their families is knowledgeable, skilled, confident, and empowered to support the safe, secure, and loving care to which every child has a right.

AFKA Scotland is currently recruiting for the position of full time Trainer Consultant. We particularly welcome applications from people with personal as well as professional experience of providing or receiving care.

Scotland’s Adoption Register is currently recruiting to the post of Administration and Communications Co-ordinator.

To work in a flexible and adaptable way as part of a small team to ensure the implementation and smooth running of the administrative and support systems of the Register, including providing administrative support to the Manager. To represent and promote the aims and objectives of the Register to a number of audiences through different media. To support and work alongside the Manager in the planning, preparation, and facilitation of in-person events such as Adoption Exchange Days and Adoption Activity Days to promote family finding for children awaiting adoption. This may on occasion involve some unsociable hours and occasional overnight stay away from home.

AFA Scotland is currently recruiting for a Digital Learning, Communications and Engagement Consultant.

For some time, AFA Scotland has been developing its online services and learning opportunities, and over the last 2 years adjusting to the new realities created by the pandemic. AFA would like to continue to adapt its services and to expand its reach to practitioners and policymakers across Scotland to support the safe, secure, and loving care to which every child has a right. It would like to explore opportunities for blended learning, for incorporating elements of e-learning into training materials or directly commissioned training programmes. It would also like to continue to enhance its online presence by further developing web content, social media presence, online community, virtual training expertise, and digital and research communications to maximise the organisation’s ability to engage, inform and influence practitioners, policy makers and academics.

This post will support AFA Scotland to build on work already underway to make these far-reaching changes in the delivery of its services. The postholder will be closely involved in the work that AFA Scotland is undertaking in response to the independent Care review and the publication by The Promise of The Plan 21-24. The postholder will also have involvement in two specific areas of work: firstly, to work alongside staff from Scotland’s Adoption Register (one of the services hosted by AFA Scotland), and secondly to be involved in a one-year project to help ensure that children coming into care can maintain relationships with people who are important to them. The post holder will liaise with colleagues to develop and adapt materials and methods of service, and work with the whole organisation to develop longer term strategies in line with The Promise making best possible use of the available technology.

AFA Scotland is currently recruiting for the position of Trainer Consultants. Two positions are available; full time, part time or flexible working hours can be discussed with successful candidates. We particularly welcome applications from people with personal as well as professional experience of providing or receiving care.

AFA Scotland is currently recruiting for a ‘Staying Connected Project Co-ordinator’ role. We particularly welcome applications from people with personal as well as professional experience of providing or receiving care. Secondments can be considered.

Adoption and Fostering Alliance (AFA) Scotland is an independent, charitable organisation dedicated to improving outcomes for children in care. AFA Scotland provides a range of services that inform, educate and support all those working with the children and those who care for them. The service assists agencies and professionals to develop the knowledge and skills they require when working in this specialist area. Services include training, consultancy, workshops and conferences – the training ranges from half day sessions through to two part time master levels courses run in collaboration with Strathclyde University. AFA Scotland has a strong focus on research and on developing resources and sharing information that enable practitioners to access and apply the latest evidence to their practice.

For some time AFA Scotland has been considering how to develop its online services and introduce more e-learning opportunities. The advent of COVID-19 has made this a critical development in the short term but has also highlighted longer term opportunities to radically rethink and improve the way services are delivered to take full advantage of the available technology. AFA would like to adapt its existing services and to develop further learning packages. It would like to explore opportunities for blended learning, for incorporating elements of e-learning into training materials or directly commissioned training programmes. It would also like to enhance its online presence through a wide range of platforms to maximise its ability to engage, inform and influence practitioners, policy makers and academics.

The e-learning development post has been created to support AFA Scotland to make these far-reaching changes in the delivery of its services. It has been made possible by a grant from the Adapt and Thrive fund linking to our recovery from the impact of the pandemic. The postholder will also be closely involved in the work that AFA Scotland is undertaking in response to the independent Care review and the recent publication by the Promise Team of The Plan 21-24. The post holder will liaise with colleagues to develop and adapt materials and methods of service, and work with the whole organisation to develop longer term strategies in line with The Promise making best possible use of the available technology.

Key skills include:

• a strong understanding of the interplay between technology and learning
• a general understanding of design accessibility, good principles and practice in e-learning development and design
• excellent communication skills
• ability to write effectively and communicate complex information simply

Adoption and Fostering Alliance (AFA) Scotland is an independent, charitable organisation dedicated to improving outcomes for children in care by providing support to all those working with and caring for the children. AFA Scotland provides a range of services to inform, educate and support the agencies and professionals working with children and young people, with a particular emphasis on achieving positive outcomes for children who are cared for through adoption, fostering or kinship care. AFA Scotland is the host organisation for Scotland’s Adoption Register and jointly hosts the Kinship Advice Service for Scotland.

PURPOSE

To provide administrative support to the Business Support & Finance Manager on a day-to-day basis and to support the overall work of the organisation.