Volunteer Scotland are the only national centre for volunteering; we receive funded support from the Scottish Government and others to:

• research, demonstrate and measure the impact made by volunteers
• develop volunteer practice through training and accreditation as well as useful volunteer development tools, policies and guides
• offer a one stop digital gateway to anyone looking for volunteer opportunities
• support organisations to advertise volunteer opportunities and events online
• provide an expert disclosure service for voluntary organisations
• promote and grow volunteering through partners, funders, Government, and policy makers
• work with others to support projects, innovation and creativity in volunteering

Our Mission: “More people volunteering: enjoyably, safely and regularly”.

Volunteer Scotland believes that volunteering should be an enjoyable, rewarding and fulfilling experience for the volunteer; that volunteers have the right to be safe and protected in delivering their volunteering roles; and that to derive health and wellbeing benefits from volunteering requires regular and meaningful contributions of time.

Whichever part of Volunteer Scotland you’re joining, you’ll find yourself surrounded by a fantastic team, solid values, and lots of scope to grow and make a real difference. We are centrally located in Stirling with close proximity to transport links and offer a very flexible approach to working patterns.

We offer an excellent working environment and various benefits including 28 days holiday, Volunteer days off, life assurance, eye care vouchers, employer supported volunteering days and an annual contribution towards a learning or wellbeing activity/equipment of your choice. We are proud to have been awarded gold standard in our Healthy Working Lives and Investors in People accreditations.

We currently have a fantastic opportunity for Customer Support Officers to join our Disclosure Services Team. Reporting to the Customer Operations Manager, you will provide an effective customer support service within Disclosure Services, including handling customer enquiries and processing a high volume of data input and administration.

Key Responsibilities

• Point of contact for organisations and individuals accessing the disclosure applications.
• Identify and Process organisations application requests accordingly
• Process a high volume and targeted amount of data to and from multiple sources, whilst maintaining the quality of that data.
• Provide procedural legislative advice and guidance on completing, submitting, countersigning and approving disclosure applications
• Accurately assess all Disclosure Services to ensure legislative requirements are met; liaising with customers and providing advice, guidance, support to and collating and assessing information from customers to establish the correct level of Disclosure attainable
• Adhering to high standards, providing a professional customer service at all times
• Provide specific advice, guidance and instructions on disclosure procedures and processes to organisations and individuals
• Accurately maintain customer details, files, database systems and other documentation, fully observing confidentiality and Data Protection throughout
• Record consistently, accurate statistical data on all Disclosure Services procedures and processes actioned and completed daily, for inclusion in organisational statistical reports.
• Deal effectively with a range of enquiries and liaise with other Disclosure Services staff, to provide a consistent and accurate service to internal and external customers
• Highlight to the Line Manager potential breaches in the Ministerial Code of Practice, Disclosure Services procedures and relevant legislation by organisations.
• Highlight to the Line Manager any issues or concerns regarding customers or organisations.
• Assist as required to ensure that services, programmes and Volunteer Scotland in general, are supported, integrated, effective, efficient and professional.
• Contribute to the strategic aims and objectives of Volunteer Scotland
• The above list of job duties is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post

Essential Requirements

• Educated to Higher level or equivalent experience
• Proven and recent experience in an administrative, data processing or similar role
• Recent and relevant experience of working within a demanding customer service environment
• Experience of handling and efficiently processing high volume enquiries
• Ability to write a range of business correspondence such as letters, e-mails and reports
• Excellent IT skills and ability to use Microsoft
• Knowledge of relevant administrative systems including experience in the use of electronic records management
• Ability to analyse situations, undertake problems diagnosis, identify issues, evaluate alternatives and promote solutions
• Ability to work under pressure and to service level agreements
• Ability to communicate professionally both orally and in writing
• Ability to work on own initiative and prioritise effectively

Desirable Requirements

• A qualification in office administration at HNC or equivalent level
• In depth knowledge and understanding of the operation of the Disclosure process

The successful applicant will be required to undergo pre-employment screening checks including a Basic Disclosure Check.

Volunteer Scotland is a Disability Confident employer. Candidates who have a disability and meet the minimum requirements for the post are guaranteed an interview. Our values (Volunteer Centred; Customer Focus; Clear vision; Equality & Diversity; Shared Responsibility; Leadership and Change) are central to all that we do, and we are looking for someone who shares these values.

Through our Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, we have made a commitment to increase the diversity of our charity and we welcome candidates from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. We want our employees, volunteers and trustees to represent the broad diversity of the communities of which we are a part.

Versus Arthritis is committed to keeping children, young people and vulnerable adults safe from harm. During the recruitment process Versus Arthritis will undertake safer recruitment practices and relevant checks to ensure applicants are suitable to work with children, young people and vulnerable adults.

About the role

We are looking for an enthusiastic and proactive individual to join each of our nations teams as an Administrator. This is a new and exciting role for someone who is self-motivated, well-organised and able to work with minimum supervision to support the nation based team by providing high-quality, efficient and effective administrative support. In this role you will also work with our Facilities team, managing our local office site to meet the needs of an agile and flexible workforce.

Supporting the Facilities Managers for property and health and safety matters, you will manage routine and minor projects and activities, maintaining key documents in accordance with legal requirements and good practice.

As the first point of contact in the nation office, you will provide a customer-centered welcome when dealing with visitors and contractors.

You will provide administrative support as required, typically with finance administration and in researching and booking event venues, raising purchase orders and ensuring events can run smoothly.

Key requirements

• Excellent demonstrable customer service approach, and the ability to remain calm and professional at all times.
• Experience working in a similar support role, maintaining or developing processes to enhance the customer experience and meet regulatory requirements.
• Knowledge and awareness of Health and Safety, Safeguarding and GDPR, knowing when to escalate issues.
• Enthusiastic, flexible and collaborative approach, to work effectively with local team and across the wider organisation.
• Excellent planning and organisation skills, with good attention to detail.
• Excellent knowledge of MS Office applications, especially Word and Excel.
• Strong empathy for the needs of volunteers, people with arthritis and colleagues (particularly home based).

About us

Founded in 2012, The Lines Between delivers objective, robust research that informs, engages and influences a wide range of public bodies, service providers, funders, stakeholders, communities and interest groups.

We provide evaluations, primary research, surveys, consultation analysis, workshops, case studies and reviews, using a range of traditional and innovative approaches. In a time of rapid change and financial constraints, organisations from the public, private and third sectors require research services that offer flexibility and value for money.

Our projects range in size and scale, from big-budget longitudinal studies to small commissions with short deadlines.

Curious, motivated and experienced, as a team, we enjoy what we do. The variety in our portfolio keeps us on our toes, as we explore new themes and learn to apply new techniques, technology and approaches.

We take pride in working with integrity and transparency. Our business model is rooted in sustainability, which means offering high-quality, affordable services and investing in staff, training, research tools and client relationships.

Due to sustained growth, we are recruiting a Consultation Analyst to join the team.

The Role

The Consultation Analyst will play an important role in our consultation analysis work, primarily for the Scottish Government. We undertake several consultation analyses each year for a range of Scottish Government Directorates, which typically involve a thorough but fast-paced analysis of a range of stakeholder views on a specific issue or policy proposal. These have covered topics such as the Just Transition, Public Engagement on Climate Change, Land Use, Covid Recovery, Agriculture and Homelessness.

Reporting to the Research Manager, the Consultation Analyst will be based in our office in Edinburgh, but will work primarily from home in the short-medium term.

Key responsibilities include:

• Analysis of responses to consultations using a well-established process
• Producing written reports to a high standard
• Contributing to the preparation of presentations of findings
• Supporting the team to build and maintain strong client relationships
• Assisting the team with other similar tasks when capacity allows
• Contributing to proposals and business development activities

Key candidate requirements:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent
• A minimum of three to five years’ experience in analytical roles
• An ability to quickly gain a thorough understanding of the context and specifics of the topic under consultation, and the wider policy-making environment
• Excellent reasoning and critical analysis skills, honed through experience of working with a range of qualitative data.
• Experience of managing large datasets in Excel or similar
• Strong attention to detail and ability to review and edit own work
• Tenacious and logical approach to information gathering and analysis
• An ability to work quickly and efficiently to tight deadlines
• Excellent organisational, written and verbal communication skills
• Strong interpersonal and relationship building skills
• Ability to contribute effectively, constructively and flexibly within a small team and on own initiative, with a proactive and flexible approach to work
• Commercial awareness

While not essential, the following requirements would be beneficial:

• Previous experience of consultation analysis
• Experience of working with the Scottish Government or similar organisation
• Knowledge of policy development and understanding of the public sector in Scotland

Community Connectors project provides older people better access to information and, if they so wish, supports them to access what they need to live healthier and happier lives as independently as possible. The Community Connectors programme is delivered in partnership with the Glasgow & West of Scotland Housing Forum, working alongside local and citywide organisations to strengthen information links between the Third Sector, older people, carers and statutory services. The model has been rolled out in the three locality sectors within Glasgow and staff will operate from a partner Housing Association based in the community.

Reporting to the senior Client Liaison Officer, and working closely with the Community Connectors Practitioners, the Client Liaison Officers will play a key role in the efficient running of the Community Connectors Programme.

This post extends beyond the run of the mill administrative tasks. You will be the first point of contact for the programme so the ability to liaise and communicate in a friendly, effective and informative manner with older people, their carers, colleagues, partners and stakeholders is essential for this post.

This role is an excellent first step for someone looking to develop their career in this field as you’ll have first-hand exposure to person-centred and asset-based approaches as well as the principles and methods that underpin them. The post holder would be offered a tailored development plan and shadowing opportunities to explore any areas of interest. Past candidates have progressed to become practitioners themselves.

Applicants should demonstrate the ability to maintain and manipulate databases, effectively disseminate information, provide accurate and up-to-date financial records and assist with meetings, events and activities that are organised by the Community Connectors Programme team.

Responsible to Head of Community Connectors.

OVERALL AIM OF THE ORGANISATION / SERVICE

Rowan Alba Community Alcohol Related Damage Service supports volunteers to create positive relationships with isolated people that are rewarding for them both. The client chooses what to do during each visit. Common activities include going for a walk, playing music or chess or just having a chat.

This relationship provides isolated people with the opportunity to build self-confidence and re-engage with their community.

This simple approach builds self-belief and can encourage positive change in our client’s mental and physical health and improve their ability to build better relationships with others.

OVERALL PURPOSES OF JOB

The Community Volunteer Co-ordinator main objectives will be to;

• Recruit more volunteers with an emphasis on those with lived experience.
• Work with clients to make our training more collaborative with real-life scenarios.
• Provide training/support to allow volunteers and clients to take up specific roles in the service.
• Be the key person for communication to and from all our volunteers.
• Grow the volunteer pool into a volunteer community by increasing engagement in our events, activities and via social media platforms.

For more information, please download the job description and person specification.

What is the PBC Foundation?

The PBC Foundation is a UK-based patient support and advocacy charitable organisation that supports patients in over 75 countries. It is the biggest non-profit organisation in the world supporting exclusively those affected by Primary Biliary Cholangitis: an incurable, progressive autoimmune condition which affects the liver.

Our aims and objectives are:

• To provide PBC sufferers with accurate, up-to-date information on PBC, its implications, and treatment, in the form of our publications, including our compendium ‘Living with PBC’, our quarterly magazine ‘The Bear Facts’, our website and our recently released app
• To provide support to all affected by PBC – including patients, their carers, concerned relatives and friends – in the form of a helpline, a regular publication, regional meetings within PBC sufferers’ local community, and a regional volunteer network throughout the UK
• To educate medical practitioners about PBC, and to raise awareness of the services we provide, by distributing detailed information on PBC at medical events throughout the country, and by conducting extensive outreach work
• To support research into PBC to find a cause and cure

PBC Foundation Core Values:

Care Commitment Honesty Respect Transparency

The Role:

We are looking for a dynamic, enthusiastic individual who is highly motivated and able to meet competing challenges, with a successful track record in patient support. You will be a creative thinker who applies innovative approaches to developing our services while maintaining our strong reputation in the field of PBC. A strong communicator, both verbally and written, you will have exceptional organisational skills with the ability to juggle conflicting priorities.

Experience in the voluntary sector would be advantageous.

In return, we offer a friendly, inclusive environment and a good remuneration package and flexible hours working.

MAIN PURPOSE:

Provide support to all PBC Foundation members and their families, developing new and existing patient-facing services for and on behalf of the Foundation. Educate the general public and health professionals regarding all matters relating to the PBC patient experience. Keeping abreast of developments within the field of PBC in order to share with patients and to lead the international arena in care, support and educational models for PBC patients. Maintain and build partnerships with other patient support organisations

Essential Skills and Qualities:

• Understanding of the PBC experience
• Ability to deliver self-management sessions, online and physically
• Ability to host webinars
• Ability to connect with and support patients
• Respect and contribute to the team dynamic and leadership
• Ability to further the patients’ cause in external meetings
• Bigger picture thinking with a win-win philosophy
• Ability to work autonomously within a strong team dynamic
• Mindset of self-awareness and personal growth
• Patient-centric mind-set guiding every decision

Details

• Host remote and face-to-face (when circumstances allow) patient meetings, self-management development sessions and medical conferences around the UK that provide accurate and up to date information to improve the quality of life for PBC members and their families
• Provide essential telephone helpline services: answering questions, supporting members through their diagnosis and their progression of the disease
• Contributing to PBC Foundation news articles and our in-house communications
• Liaise with the CEO regarding medical issues concerning Foundation members, advances in technology and care of PBC, and development of Foundation patient-facing services
• Perform any other duties as necessary within the role of Head of Patient Services agreed with the Chief Executive Officer
• Create a culture of continuous improvement throughout the charity with training and mentoring opportunities for staff and volunteers
• Attend external events to raise awareness of the PBC patient experience and the Foundation
• Experience of empowering, motivating and building teams through exceptional people leadership and interpersonal skills
• Evidence of effective communication with a wide range of stakeholders, so as to develop successful partnerships and support within the PBC community

Desirable Skills and Qualities:

• Counselling and Coaching skills
• Strong communication skills
• Evidenced experience of innovation
• Emotional intelligence
• Comprehensive IT skills
• A living knowledge of PBC, or similar long-term condition

Are you searching for a position with purpose? A role to make a real difference? Where your time can be transformational?

Join an award-winning charity and passionate team dedicated to ensuring the country’s most vulnerable young people are defined by their talent and never their circumstances. Our in-school mentoring has profound impacts on mentees in their confidence, wellbeing, achievement and post-school progression. MCR Mentors make and experience a life changing difference.

At MCR, our driving force is simple – that young people who are in, or on the edges of the care system, will have the same educational outcomes, career opportunities and life chances as any other young person.

We have had a transformational impact in schools and local authorities across Scotland and are looking for a Regional Pathways Coordinator to support our regional team in the Highlands.

The successful candidate will divide their time working across schools in the Highlands to provide additional support to our existing teams of coordinators. This role requires flexibility and a willingness to travel between locations (travel expenses will be reimbursed).

The role will support schools and teams across the region as required and responsibilities can include delivering group work, delivering MCR's mentoring programme, supporting local mentor recruitment, supporting mentors through 1:1s and training, and additional responsibilities based on local need. You will be an integral part of the schools community and wider MCR team, liaising with education colleagues and external stakeholders, and delivering the programme to young people.

Please note: A driving licence is essential for this role.