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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 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 experienced communications professional to join its senior management team and provide strategic and operational leadership in the areas of communications, technology and digital transformation. This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated and solution-focused individual, who will lead and direct VOCAL’s internal and external 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 the effective delivery of VOCAL’s communications and digital services, line manage communication support staff and work with VOCAL’s senior management team to implement VOCAL’s Business Plan and strategic objectives. In addition, they will manage VOCAL’s internal IT systems, leading on information governance, data management and contractual and reporting requirements.

The successful candidate will have previous experience as a senior manager working at a strategic level to develop and implement innovative communication strategies and campaigns. 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 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 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

• Social case and need
• Demand for a holiday facility
• 
  

2. Market research

• Consider operating models used by similar providers
• Assess availability of suitable properties and wider market
• 
  

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.

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.

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 - 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.