VOCAL (Voice of Carers Across Lothian) is seeking a dynamic, highly motivated fundraising professional with strong entrepreneurial skills to support the implementation of VOCAL’s fundraising strategy and business plans.

Applicants will evidence extensive experience in corporate fundraising, partnership development, trust funds and foundations, fundraising events, project planning, management and delivery.

The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent planning skills to support VOCAL’s strategic approach and the ability to produce detailed implementation plans for fundraising projects. They will bring an excellent knowledge of the main strands of income generation, alongside proven communication, leadership and people skills and an excellent ability to initiate and manage cross sector partnerships and relationships.

VOCAL is the Voice of Carers Across Lothian, a Scottish charity run by carers and for carers since 1994. We’re looking for a Carer Support Practitioner, focused on Welfare Rights, to join our team in Midlothian.

The post holder will support unpaid carers to access person-centred information, advice and support with a specific focus on income maximisation, money advice and welfare benefits. In addition, the post holder will support carers to access a range of additional interventions and services to achieve agreed personal outcomes.

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.

Applicants will also evidence: experience of delivering person-centred information, advice and support, with particular expertise in income maximisation, money advice and welfare benefits; excellent knowledge of health and social care, including key legislation and policy affecting carers; digital competence; and effective communication skills – able to communicate with individuals, carer groups and partner agencies.

VOCAL is a carer-led organisation. 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.

Applicants will evidence experience of delivering person-centred information, advice and support, with particular expertise in income maximisation, money advice and welfare benefits.

Excellent knowledge of health and social care, including key legislation and policy affecting carers.

Applicants will be digitally competent and effective communicators with individuals, carer groups and partner agencies.

An exciting new opportunity has arisen to work with VOCAL supporting the engagement, planning, delivery and promotion of the carer training and peer support programme for unpaid carers across Midlothian. VOCAL is a carer-led organisation.

The successful applicant will:

• evidence an excellent understanding of the diverse range of caring situations, the impact of caring on peoples’ lives and barriers that carers face at different points of the caring journey;
• demonstrate excellent facilitation and training skills with experience in planning and delivering comprehensive training programmes to a range of audiences;
• possess an excellent knowledge of health and social care, including key legislation and policy affecting carers; and
• be digitally competent and able to communicate effectively 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 duty and casework support to carers. Within this role there will be a focus on providing duty cover, acting as the first point of contact for carers. In addition, it is anticipated the practitioner will undertake short term casework providing information, advice and signposting to other supports.

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. It will therefore be advantageous for applicants to 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. Although some direct experience of working with carers is preferred, it is not a prerequisite for this role.

Applicants will evidence experience of delivering person-centred information, advice and support. Excellent knowledge of health and social care will be expected, ideally including key legislation and policy affecting carers.

Applicants will be digitally competent and effective communicators with individuals, carer groups and partner agencies.

VOCAL is the leading carer organisation in Edinburgh and Midlothian. We are seeking a qualified and experienced counsellor to provide counselling to adult carers aged 18 years and over based at our Midlothian office. The appointed counsellor will be self-employed and insured. Self employed hours are flexible and can be negotiated between the counsellor and the client to suit. The counselling service is on the COSCA Register of Recognised Organisations. Self-employed counsellors receive individual clinical supervision from a supervisor employed and paid for by VOCAL and will report to the Counselling Service Manager who will line manage the work.

Aims of the counselling service

Provide counselling to adult carers (18 and older) who provide unpaid care to a family member, partner, relative or friend who requires help to manage a long term illness, disability, physical or mental health problem or drug/alcohol addiction in Edinburgh and/or Midlothian.

Role description

Tasks and responsibilities

• To provide individual counselling to adult carers in line with existing counselling service models and as stated in the service’s own Code of Practice for Counsellors.
• To adhere to the COSCA Statement of Ethics and BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Profession.
• To undertake initial intake sessions as required in line with service demand.
• Ensure appropriate session notes and records are kept, i.e. CORE Net.

Person specification

Essential qualifications and experience

• A postgraduate Diploma in Counselling from a recognised educational establishment.
• A minimum of 100 post-qualifying client hours.
• Registered with professional body, i.e. COSCA, BACP, UKCP or equivalent
• Experience in working with adults experiencing anxiety, depression and trauma.
• A genuine desire to work with carers and an understanding of issues relevant to carers.

Desirable qualifications and experience

• Experience of using CORE Net web based system with counselling clients.
• Experience of working in a voluntary sector counselling service.
• Eligible for accreditation with COSCA, BACP, UKCP or equivalent.

VOCAL (Voice of Carers Across Lothian) is seeking a Digital and Communications Support Officer. Reporting directly to the Head of Digital and Communications, this is a fast-paced and varied role requiring excellent communication and collaboration with other team members.

You will join VOCAL at an exciting time, as we develop the charity’s communications and set the direction of our digital, marketing and communications activity over the coming years. The role is multi-dimensional and is responsible for supporting different areas of the communications mix, including: social media, web, design, marketing materials, and email marketing.

Your role will be to:

• Support the implementation of VOCAL’s communications strategy

• Develop VOCAL’s digital presence, monitoring social media platforms, conducting website updates and issuing email marketing communications

• Provide design support for the charity’s wide-ranging publications

• Write content for key internal and external publications and digital platforms

• Provide administrative support for communications activities