Charity registered in Scotland SC020755
VOCAL – Voice of Carers Across Lothian - is seeking a Carer Engagement Officer to help establish a new service to support carer engagement within mental health services across Edinburgh. This exciting new post offers an interesting and varied role for an experienced worker skilled in participatory and engagement practices.
The purpose of the project will be
- to develop methodologies to effectively engage carers in service design, delivery and review, enabling them to contribute their views on mental health provision in a way that works for them.
- to work with practitioners at VOCAL and mental health providers to devise and develop a diverse range of participatory activities that enable active involvement of carers of people with mental health conditions.
The role will involve project coordination, volunteer management and evaluation skills. The post is funded through the Thrive collaborative, initially for five years with possible extension thereafter.
Applicants will evidence excellent people, leadership and communication skills, with experience in volunteer management, service development and person-centred support work. They will also demonstrate considerable knowledge of health and social care services, policy and structures.
Applicants will be digitally competent and effective communicators with individuals, carer groups and partner agencies.
“When I was struggling with my caring role, I was pointed to VOCAL. I was so impressed with the quality of the support I received that I felt this was an organisation to which I could contribute.
I became a volunteer and after a couple of years I was co-opted as a trustee. I really value the help I am able to give the charity.”
Supporting carers … as a VOCAL trustee
VOCAL is a carer-led agency, supporting over 10,000 carers each year in Edinburgh and Midlothian. In 2019 VOCAL celebrated its 25th anniversary.
To increase the health and welfare of carers, relieve the poverty and distress of carers and to give carers a voice, we seek further trustees, preferably with some caring experience within their families and circle of friends, to strengthen VOCAL’s governance and long-term strategic vision.
As we embark on new challenges to meet growing carer demand, we seek trustees who will bring direct or transferable professional or volunteer experience and leadership skills to our Board. Previous board/trustee experience is not essential and we welcome applications from all ages and backgrounds and minority groups.
At present we are particularly looking for applicants with experience in HR, social enterprises, digitalisation, fundraising and income generation, able to offer a minimum of five hours engagement a month.
Trustees attend Board meetings, about 8 per annum, at which the strategies for meeting VOCAL’s objectives are set, and are supported by a senior management team, along with about 30 staff and 60 volunteers. Individual trustees also assist the work of a few sub-committees which address specific areas of our work.
VOCAL is seeking an enthusiastic and experienced support work practitioner to join its busy Edinburgh team providing casework support to carers. Applicants will evidence excellent people, and communication skills, casework and person-centred support work.
VOCAL is a carer-led organisation and provides a wide range of services to support unpaid carers in their caring role. The post-holder will be expected to work as part of a team, improve outcomes for carers and maximise uptake of VOCAL services.
Applicants will evidence an excellent understanding of the diverse range of caring situations, the impact of caring on peoples’ lives and barriers carers face at different points of the caring journey. Excellent knowledge of health and social care, including key legislation and policy affecting carers, will be expected. Applicants will be digitally competent and effective communicators with individuals, carer groups and partner agencies.
VOCAL is the Voice of Carers Across Lothian, a dynamic and enterprising charity which provides support to over 10,000 unpaid family carers each year in Edinburgh and Midlothian.
We recently lost our Treasurer in sad circumstances and seek a successor to support our team of six trustees with the competent stewardship of VOCAL’s finances.
Trustees ideally combine professional skills with caring experience in the family. The position is not remunerated. The Treasurer may be in employment or retired. Her/his professional experience as an accountant will preferably include some understanding of SAGE accounting software which is used by our organisation and maintained by a finance officer.
VOCAL receives funding from a diverse range of sources and undertakes many fundraising initiatives each year. We strive continuously to improve our systems to provide greater clarity and transparency of our finances for the benefit of the Board, staff, volunteers and all stakeholders.
For a summary of VOCAL’s work, annual accounts and turnover and priorities for the future, please see our most recent report of work here: vocal.org.uk/about/annual-reports
Consultant opportunity - Feasibility Study
- Other
- To be confirmed
- Scotland Wide
- Closing 20th July 2020
VOCAL is seeking approaches from qualified consultants to deliver a feasibility study to inform the purchase and operation of a holiday home facility providing breaks for unpaid carers.
With support from philanthropic funders, VOCAL seeks to purchase and operate holiday home facilities providing suitable breaks to improve the wellbeing and resilience of unpaid carers and those they care for who may have intensive or complex care needs. The facility should be accessible, welcoming and secure for carers and the person receiving care, throughout the year.
This feasibility study will inform decision making for this development and as such is
expected to cover, at a minimum:
1. Rationale
- Social case and need
- Demand for a holiday facility
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2. Market research
- Consider operating models used by similar providers
- Assess availability of suitable properties and wider market
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3. Legal aspects
- Appropriate governance models (including legal and financial considerations)
- Accessibility and adaptability requirements
4. Operations
- Analysis of different management/maintenance models
- Development costs (through to purchase/start of operations)
- Budgetary projections for a range of scenarios and maintenance costs over a few years
5. Report and Recommendations, including
- Viability of the project and risk factors
- Recommendations on next steps to have the project operating within 12 months
VOCAL’s staff will be available to provide background and data relevant to our client group.
VOCAL is an established charity with over 25 years of experience working with carers. This new project is a timely extension to our comprehensive and free support services that engage over 10,000 carers across Edinburgh and Midlothian each year.