Introduction and background

Parent Network Scotland (PNS) is a national organisation supporting parents to navigate raising children across Scotland. We work in partnership with 3rd sector organisations, Local Authorities, and grassroots community groups to bring our parenting programmes and wellbeing toolkits to communities and to ensure the voice of parents and families are heard by decision makers and service delivery designers.

At PNS we recognise the strengths of parents and their role in supporting the build of strong and flourishing communities where children and young people gain the best start in life and where parents experience the joy of parenting. Our model is to support parents to move through our programmes and activities including:

• Family Wellbeing Toolkit

• Parenting Matters

• Personal Social Development

• Parenting Boost

• Practitioner Masterclasses

Our vision is that:

Scotland's children flourish as parents have easy access to support networks, information, and tools to strengthen relationships, communication enhancing the joy of parenting.

Details of our work are available at Parent Network Scotland.

PNS is governed by a Board of 7 Trustees, including the Chairperson. We currently have a vacancy for a Vice-Chair we strive for our Board to reflect the diversity of the modern communities we work with, and value the benefits of having different experience and points of view on our Board. We particularly welcome applications from people living with a disability or long-term health condition, LGBTQ+ people those from ethnic minority communities.

Governance

The Board of Trustees is supported by several committees – HR Subgroup, Fundraising, Strategic Resource & Budgeting and successful candidate is expected to serve on one of these committees.

Our principles

The principles that we hold ourselves by are crucial to our success and set by parents in support of parents.

PNS is:

• Parent led.

• Open & Accountable

• Remain true to our Mission.

• Collaborative

• Brave

• Inquisitive

• Creative

• Current

Trustees are asked to be available for:

• quarterly meetings

• quarterly meetings of PNS sub-committees

• ad hoc meetings of the Board or sub-groups when necessary

• working groups which progress PNS’s strategic objectives.

• key internal and external events such as Scottish Parent Awards

The Role of the Vice-Chair

The Vice-Chair, in the absence of the Chair, will take control of meetings to ensure that everyone has a reasonable opportunity to take part. The Vice-Chair will be able to listen and understand a wide range of views, present information clearly and concisely, and clarify relevant points thus enabling the Board to make effective decisions. Additional duties may include, supporting the Chair to:

• Fulfil an ambassadorial role to represent PNS at appropriate official functions and meetings in consultation with the CEO.
• Represent PNS in the community and at public events.
• Represent PNS in relationships with funders and government departments and elected representatives.
• Provide support and supervision to the CEO.
• Develop and maintaining membership of the PNS Board to represent as well as possible the interest of the community served by the organisation.
• Preside at meetings of the Board and ensure their smooth running.
• Plan the agenda for meetings with the secretary / CEO.
• Ensure Board decisions are made within the remit of the governing document.
• OSCR and Companies Act requirements.
• Ensure that successors for key posts - treasurer, chairperson etc. are identified and inducted in good time.
• In conjunction with the treasurer, ensuring proper management and control of finances.
• Ensure that Board members receive induction and adequate training to enable them to fulfil their roles.
• Monitor the calibre, level of commitment and attendance of new members, both representative and elected.

Introduction and background

Parent Network Scotland (PNS) is a national organisation supporting parents to navigate raising children across Scotland. We work in partnership with 3rd sector organisations, Local Authorities, and grassroots community groups to bring our parenting programmes and wellbeing toolkits to communities and to ensure the voice of parents and families are heard by decision makers and service delivery designers.

At PNS we recognise the strengths of parents and their role in supporting the build of strong and flourishing communities where children and young people gain the best start in life and where parents experience the joy of parenting. Our model is to support parents to move through our programmes and activities including:

• Family Wellbeing Toolkit
• Parenting Matters
• Personal Social Development
• Parenting Boost
• Practitioner Masterclasses

Our vision is:

Scotland's children flourish as parents have easy access to support networks, information, and tools to strengthen relationships, communication enhancing the joy of parenting.

Details of our work are available at Parent Network Scotland.

This role would include four board meetings a year (including our AGM) (currently a mix of in person and online), along with 3 online 1 hour finance meetings CEO and Finance administrator.

We want our Board to reflect the diversity of the modern communities we work with, and value the benefits of having different experience and points of view on our Board. We particularly welcome applications from people living with a disability or long-term health condition, LGBTQ+ people those from ethnic minority communities.

Governance

PNS is governed by a Board of 7 Trustees, including the Chairperson. We currently have a vacancy for a Treasurer and have identified that we need specific skills to fill the role of Treasurer.

The Board of Trustees is supported by several committees – HR Subgroup, Fundraising, Strategic Resource & Budgeting and are expected to serve on one of these committees

Our principles

The principles that we hold ourselves by are crucial to our success and set by parents in support of parents.

PNS will be:

• Parent led.
• Open & Accountable
• Remain true to our Mission.
• Collaborative
• Brave
• Inquisitive
• Creative
• Current

Trustees are asked to be available for:

• quarterly meetings
• quarterly meetings of PNS sub-committees
• ad hoc meetings of the Board or sub-groups when necessary
• working groups which progress PNS’s strategic objectives.
• key internal and external events such as Scottish Parent Awards

Skills and experience

The Board is looking for someone with:

• A strong, demonstrable background within finance
• A sound understanding of charity governance
• The ability to think and act strategically without getting bogged down in operational detail
• The ability to work collectively with other Trustees in the interests of PNS
• The ability to constructively challenge fellow Trustees and the senior management team
• Values aligned to those of PNS
• A good understanding of the voluntary sector in Scotland, and the wider context in which it operates.

Further Information

Informal discussion of this role is welcome. Potential candidates looking for further information should contact Fi Grimmond, Chairperson at fgrimmond@pns.org.uk.

This is an excellent opportunity for an aspiring Programmes Manager who wants to further develop their leadership skills working within a vibrant parenting charity, who are committed to working in partnerships to achieve the best outcomes for families Scotland wide. You will lead and manage a team of facilitators who offer parenting support, training, and wellbeing input directly to Scotland diverse communities, ensuring parents receive the support they need.

As the Programme Manager you will play a crucial role in forwarding the strategy for PNS and build on the Vision that Scotland will be the best place for children to grow. You will collaborate across the wider Facilitator Team, Wellbeing Team, Finance and Administration and report to CEO.

Key skills and responsibilities

• Foster and nurture strategic relationships with commissioners and key stakeholders.
• Demonstrate strong leadership skills and experience in delivering learning and advice services.
• Proactive and strategic thinker with a passion for supporting vulnerable parents and carers.
• Possess excellent communication skills and the ability to connect with diverse audiences.
• Work collaboratively in a multi-sector environment.
• Implement Programme Management practices, including reporting to funder.
• Contribute to the development of partnerships and strive for the best outcomes for Scotland's diverse communities.

As a Parent Network Scotland (PNS) Facilitator reporting directly to the Lead Facilitator and Verifier, you will support excellence through the preparation and delivery of high-quality parenting programmes and supporting participating parents. Working closely with other facilitators, you will deliver to parents a programme of learning across local communities, whilst maintaining vital knowledge and updates in legislation such as Child Protection and Health and Safety.

On a day-to-day basis you shall follow quality assurance processes to deliver sessions, capture, maintain, and track attendance, training, and evaluations of courses. You will take ownership of administrative tasks prior to and after the delivery of the sessions and work with the wider PNS team to revise, update and maintain resources appropriate for training.

The ideal candidate will have demonstratable experience of using a range of facilitation skills and a have a flair for building safety and trust within group settings with the ability to manage conflict and distress in a group ensuring groups are inclusive.

The ideal candidate will be a confident, assertive facilitator both online and in person, be able to provide clear leadership and have experience in negotiation. You will have the ability to make decisions and be confident in working with a range of parties such as parents, colleges, and head teachers. You will be enthusiastic with a passion for the project and have the natural ability to think on your feet.

You will be comfortable using a blended approach to deliver, organising and arranging your day and tasks which will include delivery within community settings and digitally via zoom.

The ideal candidate will have voluntary sector experience and flexible as there may be some evening and weekend working required from time to time.

Parent Network Scotland

Parent Network Scotland (PNS) is a national parent-led organisation based in Glasgow but working across many local authorities in Scotland. PNS believes in peer-to-peer support, and that parents themselves have the solutions to many of the challenges they face, with the support and encouragement of trained parent facilitators, and of other parents. PNS believe that parent’s matter because children matter.

Help ‘Parent Network Scotland’ (PNS) make a difference to families and communities across Scotland.

Are you keen to get involved in building confidence, resilience and supporting families across Scotland wide?

At PNS we are looking to add to the talents of our Board in delivering our growth plan, continued strong governance, and building local community capacity in support of local families.

As a PNS Board member you will support the Management Team to realise our ambitious strategy, whilst developing your leadership skills, build your network and use your talent and experience to make a positive change in the lives of family’s children and young people across Scotland. As a national charity we use a unique combination of parent support, training, qualifications, and peer-led methods to build family wellbeing, relationships, communication, and connections, building community capacity and resilience, and improving family’s life chances.

Our diverse Board is key in changing the lives of families, annually working with circa of 350 families. Our services and learning is the pathway for parents to access a network of support, learning, and pathways to education, employment and peer friendships building parental confidence to voice their opinions, experiences and support needs. We are now looking for new Board Members to help steer PNS through the next stage of delivering our bold strategy to grow our services across Scotland.

The Board would particularly welcome applications from people with skills in:

• Finance (Treasurer)
• Sponsorship
• Marketing & Events

Help Parent Network Scotland make a difference to families and communities?

We are looking for 3 Board Member to join us in playing a crucial role in realising our vision and mission, supporting families to flourish which is at the heart of everything we do.

In 2021, PNS launched the 'Scottish Parent Academy' which is key in changing the lives of families throughout Scotland. During 2021 our teams reached and supported over 300 families. The Academy is the parent pathway to access a network of support, learning, and pathways to education and employment. Meeting other parents and guardians is

at the heart and the strong belief that when people find their voice, they unlock their own personal potential to make change happen.

We are now looking for 3 Board Members to help steer PNS through the next stage of delivering our bold strategy to grow the Academy across Scotland. The Board would particularly welcome applications from people with skills in:

• Finance/Investment
• Digital Strategy
• HR

As a Facilitator for Parent Network Scotland reporting directly to the Senior Facilitator, you will support excellence through the preparation and delivery of high-quality parenting programmes through our newly launch Scottish Parent Academy and supporting participating parents. Working closely with other facilitators you shall deliver nothing less than excellence by delivering outstanding learning to parents within their communities, whilst maintaining vital knowledge and updates in legislation such as Child Protection and Health and Safety.

On a day to day basis you shall follow quality assurance processes to deliver sessions, capture, maintain, and analyse attendance training and various other reporting. You will take ownership of administrative tasks prior to and after the delivery of the sessions and work with the wider PNS team to revise, update and maintain resources appropriate for training.

The ideal candidate will be able to use a range of facilitation skills and a have a flair for building safety and trust within group settings with the ability to manage conflict and distress in a group. You will also observe equal opportunities and anti -discriminatory practise.

The ideal candidate will be a confident, assertive facilitator both online and in person, be able to provide clear leadership and have experience in negotiation. You will have the ability to make decisions and be confident in dealing with a range of parties such as parents, colleges, and head teachers. You will be enthusiastic with a passion for the project and have the natural ability to think on your feet.

Due to the current restrictions you will be comfortable using a blended approach to deliver, organising and arranging your day and tasks via your remote location at home, with some travel required to the office or other locations when necessary. It would be desirable that you have your own transport.

The ideal candidate will have voluntary sector experience and have flexibility as there will be some evening and weekend working required from time to time.

Parent Network Scotland

Parent Network Scotland (PNS) is a National parent-led organisation based in Glasgow but working across many local authorities in Scotland. PNS was originally part of Parent Line Plus in London, which was founded in 1986. Parent Network Scotland became independent and developed a Scotland-wide network of facilitators. Through the Scottish Parent Academy the organisation now has a staff team based in Glasgow with trainees and Family Engagement Officers based in several local authorities. PNS believes in peer to peer support, and that parents themselves have the solutions to many of the challenges they face, with the support and encouragement of trained parent facilitators, and of other parents. PNS believe that parents matter because children matter.

Parent Network Scotland (PNS) believes in peer-to-peer support, and that parents themselves have the solutions to many of the challenges they face, with the support and encouragement of trained parent facilitators, and of other parents. PNS parent facilitators training is effective and significantly increases their parenting knowledge and facilitation skills.

Through our Network meetings, Parent Network Scotland (PNS) uses an innovative combination of peer-led methods with parent group leaders who receive support and supervision through our network meetings. This new role will see the successful applicant join a friendly core team of four facilitators.

We are seeking a creative, self-motivated, capable, and outgoing person who shares the belief in supporting families' health and wellbeing. This is an engagement and communication opportunity so knowledge of social media and local activities and partnerships will be beneficial to the role.

This new role has been created to ensure that we are continuing to respond to, and meet parent’s and carers needs. The post holder will be self-motivated, able to drive their own workload with enthusiasm to succeed. You will have excellent interpersonal skills and be able to communicate effectively both verbally and in written communications to a wide range of audiences. The posts will be flexible, however, please note, some evening and weekend work may be required.

Job Summary:

To assist in the effective administration and developing data systems of the Parent Network Scotland. This is an exciting role that makes a big difference. You will be shaping and delivering our administration support, which means looking after the day-to-day running of our database, engaging with parents and general support to our facilitators. Using all your expertise to tailor our impact on the ground. We are looking for a candidate who has an eagerness to learn with the ability to work within a team. This is an excellent opportunity for someone to upskill and learn on the job.

Key responsibilities:

• Overseeing and recording timely data input of course registration / evaluation forms onto database.
• Overseeing all allocation of google doc forms including registrations, interest forms and evaluations to facilitators.
• Assisting with quarterly newsletter and gathering information to input.
• Dealing with telephone / e-mail/website enquiries as appropriate.
• Assist in the development of administration systems by identifying and implementing new procedures.
• Following up calls to parents/carers of the Scottish Parent Academy.
• Undertake other reasonable duties, from time to time, in order to ensure efficient operation of the organisation.

Essential Skills:

• Have knowledge of Google Docs, Google Classrooms and or similar.
• Experience in Administration.
• Experienced in all Microsoft packages.
• Experience in Social Media maintenance.

Desirable:

• Good communicator with friendly manner and ability to multi-task and prioritise.
• Flexibility
• Voluntary sector background
• Drive and ambition for the project with a high level of self-motivation=
• Clean driving licence

Reports to: Operations Manager

Parent Network Scotland are seeking someone who has experience of working in a busy environment and working with facilitators/organisations/families/funders within the voluntary sector. Someone with experience of working within training/groupwork/ and course planning.

A largely administration post to support Parent Network Scotland CEO and Head of Programmes and Training. We are looking for someone who has exceptional office organisation and administrative skills and the ability to juggle multiple responsibilities and support a creative team of facilitators.

Working with Parent Network Scotland, you will have a supportive approach and experience when dealing with all parents who access our courses and facilitators as well as practitioners. You can work on your own initiative, managing the many facets of this role with accuracy and speed.

Key responsibilities:

• Recording timely Data input of pre and post course registration / evaluation forms onto google docs.
• Responsible for all allocation of google doc forms including registrations, interest forms and evaluations to facilitators.
• Managing the term time programme for PNS Parent Academy
• Responsible for website/facebook/twitter accounts and for the updating daily news.
• Responsible for quarterly newsletter and gathering information to input.
• Dealing with telephone / e-mail/website enquiries as appropriate.
• Support to CEO on funding applications.
• Assist in the development of administration systems by identifying and implementing new procedures.
• Undertake any relevant staff development.
• General upkeep of PNS online.
• Undertake other reasonable duties, from time to time, in order to ensure efficient operation of the organisation.

Required Skills:

• Must have indepth knowledge of Google Docs and collating info from Google Classrooms.
• Knowledge of planning courses and collating paperwork and registering learners
• An HNC in Business Administration.
• Event Management/Fundraising Experience.
• Be confident with social media and marketing.
• Good communicator with friendly manner.
• Writing funding applications

Desirable:

• Flexibility
• Voluntary sector background
• Drive and ambition for the project