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.

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

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.