Charity registered in Scotland SC020755
“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 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
2. Market research
3. Legal aspects
4. Operations
5. Report and Recommendations, including
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.
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
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.
VOCAL - Voice of Carers Across Lothian is seeking an enthusiastic and experienced support work practitioner to join its busy and expanding Edinburgh team providing casework support to carers. The post holder will support carers living or caring in the South East of Edinburgh to plan and access person-centred support for their caring situation, their health and wellbeing and their personal development. There will be particular focus within the role on improving the health and wellbeing of carers and an expectation to work in partnership with other agencies to deliver carer supports. 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 - Voice of Carers Across Lothian - seeks an enthusiastic and experienced support practitioner to join its busy and expanding Edinburgh team to provide casework support to parent carers across Edinburgh. The post holder will support parent carers living or caring in Edinburgh to plan and access person-centred support for their caring situation, health and wellbeing and personal development.
The post holder will work within a new partnership – Parents Carewell - to support parent carers. Parents Carewell is a new service to support parent carers across the life course. The lead agency of this partnership is the Action Group, with partners including VOCAL Edinburgh, FAIR Advice and Edinburgh Development Group (EDG). The post holder will deliver parent carer supports such as one to one information and advice, support groups and events, working collaboratively with other agencies.
The successful candidate will be employed by VOCAL and based at the Edinburgh Carers’ Hub. 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 excellent people, and communication skills, casework and person-centred support work. Applicants will also demonstrate awareness 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 - Voice of Carers Across Lothian is seeking an enthusiastic and experienced support work practitioner to join its busy and expanding Edinburgh team providing casework support to carers. The post holder will support carers living or caring in the North West of Edinburgh to plan and access person-centred support for their caring situation, their health and wellbeing and their personal development. 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 carer supports. The post holder will be based within VOCAL and will provide one to one carer support as part of a team of community based workers within the Edinburgh Carer Support team. This team is led by the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership. The post holder will therefore be expected to work collaboratively with colleagues from external organisations.
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
VOCAL - Voice of Carers Across Lothian is seeking an enthusiastic and experienced support work facilitator to join its busy and expanding Edinburgh team to design and deliver a range of training and learning and development events for carers. The postholder will be involved in designing, delivering and evaluating events for carers focused on improving carer outcomes. They will also work to promote carer events and encourage uptake. Events will be delivered in various locations across Edinburgh, including from the Edinburgh Carers’ Hub.
The successful candidate will have several years’ training experience in a similar role and a good knowledge of health and social care provision in Scotland, including key legislation and policy affecting carers. They will have an 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
Applicants will evidence excellent people, casework and communication skills. Applicants will be digitally competent and effective communicators with individuals, carer groups and partner agencies.
VOCAL - Voice of Carers Across Lothian is seeking an enthusiastic and experienced facilitator to join the Edinburgh Carer Support Team to strengthen and deliver short break experiences for carers. The postholder will design and deliver a range of short breaks and coordinate arrangements for short breaks funding. They will support VOCAL to secure funding and report to funders.
They will work with carers to encourage uptake of short breaks provision, prepare them for breaks and undertake evaluations. They will carry a small caseload and provide information sessions to help carers identify and prepare for short breaks.
The successful candidate will have a good knowledge of health and social care provision in Scotland, including key legislation and policy affecting carers. They will have an 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
Applicants will evidence excellent people, casework and communication skills. Applicants will be digitally competent and effective communicators with individuals, carer groups and partner agencies.
VOCAL - Voice of Carers Across Lothian is seeking an enthusiastic and experienced administrator to join its busy and expanding Edinburgh team to provide administrative support for two services and secretarial support to senior managers. The postholder will provide administrative support to services designed to improve unpaid carer outcomes (e.g. short breaks and counselling). This will include tasks such as carer correspondence, making appointments, data inputting and reception duties. In addition, they will provide assistance to senior managers in servicing meetings e.g. arranging dates, sending out papers, taking minutes.
The successful candidate will have several years’ experience in a similar role and be able to demonstrate strong organisational abilities with an ability to manage a complex workload under pressure. Ideally, they will have an understanding of caring situations and the impact of caring on peoples’ lives.
Applicants will evidence excellent people, administrative and digital skills. Applicants will be effective communicators with members of the public, staff and volunteers and external practitioners or contractors.
VOCAL - Voice of Carers Across Lothian is seeking an experienced HR Coordinator to provide comprehensive clerical and administration support across all HR functions, administer and expand its online HR system, ensure the application of HR policy and procedures, monitor the quality and consistency of HR functions.
Applicants will evidence previous experience in an HR role, with a qualification to degree level or equivalent professional certification in HR, a thorough knowledge of employment legislation and best practice and excellent organisational skills and ability to work systematically.
VOCAL - Voice of Carers Across Lothian is seeking an enthusiastic and experienced support work manager to join its busy and expanding Edinburgh team providing casework support to carers. The postholder will work to strengthen the advice service within VOCAL, ensuring high quality delivery of welfare benefits/financial advice and carer support advice. In addition to staff and volunteer management responsibilities, they will carry a small caseload with a focus on maximising carer finances/benefits.
The successful candidate will have an excellent knowledge of health and social care provision in Scotland, including key legislation and policy affecting carers. This will include working knowledge of the welfare benefits system and awareness new social security arrangements for Scotland will also be expected.
Applicants will evidence excellent people, leadership and communication skills, with experience in staff/volunteer management, casework and person-centred support work. They will have an 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. Applicants will be digitally competent and effective communicators with individuals, carer groups and partner agencies.
VOCAL (Voice of Carers Across Lothian) is seeking an exceptional communications professional to join its senior management team and provide strategic and operational leadership in the areas of communications and digital transformation. This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated and solution-focused individual, who will lead and direct VOCAL’s communications, providing strategic direction to stay at the cutting edge of digital developments whilst raising VOCAL’s profile with the public and relevant stakeholders.
The postholder will lead VOCAL’s communications and digital presence, line manage communication support staff and work with VOCAL’s senior management team to implement VOCAL’s Business Plan and strategic objectives.
The successful candidate will have previous experience as a senior manager working at a strategic level to develop and implement innovative digital and communication solutions. They will demonstrate line management experience at a senior level, experience of proactive press and media work and an excellent ability to forge cross sector partnerships and manage contractual relationships. Ideally, they will have an understanding of caring situations and the impact of caring on peoples’ lives.
VOCAL (Voice of Carers Across Lothian) is seeking a proactive and enthusiastic individual to join our team and provide communications and administrative support across a range of print-based media and digital platforms. This is an exciting opportunity to join a vibrant and energizing organisation and support the development of cutting edge communications and digital supports for carers.
The Digital and Communications Support Officer will work closely with VOCAL’s Head of Digital and Communications. They will support the production and design of VOCAL’s print and digital assets; monitor and regularly review VOCAL’s digital platforms including websites and social media; provide administrative support for communications activities and digital developments and deliver website and social media training to VOCAL staff, volunteers and partners.
The successful candidate will have previous experience in social media and website editing with strong graphic design, video editing and content writing skills. In addition to excellent IT skills, they will have the ability to form effective working relationships, work on own initiative and take direction whilst managing a varied workload and working to deadlines. Ideally, they will have an understanding of caring situations and the impact of caring on peoples’ lives.
VOCAL - Voice of Carers across Lothian is seeking an enthusiastic and experienced support work practitioner to join its busy and expanding Edinburgh team providing casework support to carers. Within this role there will be a focus on financial support: supporting carers and their families to access welfare benefits and/or self-directed support, as well as enabling financial planning and income generation. The post holder will support carers across Edinburgh to plan and access person-centred support for their caring situation, their health and wellbeing and their personal development. 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 carer supports. The post holder will be based at VOCAL Carers Hub, though will deliver supports from various bases across the city.
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.