The Post

This is an excellent and rare opportunity for an experienced manager and qualified worker to join The Lilias Grahm Trust. The post involves supporting practitioners and families whilst developing parenting capacity assessment and the delivery of service. The post holder will contribute to the unique culture and ethos of LGT.

Key Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will:

• Work proactively to achieving positive, engaging, relationships with families, all other services, and stakeholders.
• Lead their team and delegate effectively.
• Motivate families, individuals, and the team with excellent communication, listening and interpersonal skills.
• Undertake high quality written assessments whilst demonstrating critical thinking and warmth in their assessments.
• Continually work to develop the team and service delivery to ultimately benefit the families we serve.
• Contribute and participate in the development, and delivery of the day to day running of the service to promote of the welfare of staff and families.
• Monitor the efficiency and quality of policies, procedures, and current documents, actively promoting a culture of continuous improvement.
• Provide supervision, coaching, mentoring, training and induction to staff and volunteers.
• Be committed and willing to meet the needs of the service, working 9am-5pm, five days a week and additional shift, evening and weekends as required.
• Participate in the on-call system which includes public holidays, evenings, and weekends.

Essential skills and Experience Required

The successful applicant will:

• Hold a degree in Social Work or another relevant degree eg psychology as a minimum qualification with ongoing personal development for continued practice.
• Be trauma informed with a working knowledge of the significant impact that poverty and systems have on children and families.
• Have a keen interest in attachment theory, child development and understanding of an approach of therapeutic parenting.
• Have a current working knowledge of child development, and attachment and trauma informed theory which will underpin practice.
• Be registered with the Scottish Social Services Council and adhere to standards in line with their requirements.
• Have the creativity, compassion, and skill base to deliver robust and focused parenting capacity assessments.
• Have a keen interest in the delivery of The Promise Scotland and the supports required to scaffold families in the community.
• Have Line Management experience (essential) of multi-disciplinary agencies, in children and families.
• Be proficient in the use of Microsoft office programmes, including Excel and PowerPoint.
• Hold a full driving licence and have use of their own vehicle (mileage paid).
• Provide two references and join the PVG Scheme.

Who are we?

The LGT is a registered Scottish Charity which offers independent parenting capacity assessments within a rural residential setting near the village of Thornhill, 10 miles from Stirling town centre. We provided residential placements to parents and their child/children in cases where a Local Authority has concerns about the parent’s ability to meet the children’s needs. By working with the families, we are able to provide evidence -based information about whether the child can remain safely within the family, and if so, what support is required. The LGT’s practice is based on Kate Cairns ‘Five to Thrive working model’ and, via a 12-week parenting capacity assessment we assess, support, and develop parent’s confidence, skills, and insight to promote healthy attachments. The LGT staff team work closely in partnership with independent consultants in Social Work, Psychiatry, Counselling, Health, Play, Music, and Art Therapy to provide a holistic and organic assessment.

The LGT has a committed and motivated staff team whose focus is to strengthen parent and child relationships to provide a better future for families. We are committed to providing high quality support designed around families’ abilities, needs and choices and we do this by providing high quality services that will build parent’s and children’s capacity to overcome stress and alienation arising from poverty and social exclusion.

Values

At the Lilias Graham Trust, we know that there is no prescription or rulebook for every situation. We have therefore developed a statement of values that will underpin and guide all our work. The successful candidate will have the key qualities and share these common values.

The role holder will maintain and develop a culture of:

• Compassion: We will treat every parent, child, family and colleague with kindness, compassion, and warmth.
• Respect: We will treat every parent, child, family, and colleague with respect for our shared humanity as well as for our individual uniqueness. Although we will make assessments, we will not jump to judgemental conclusions and will work in a transparent, honest, and equalising way. Human beings are fallible, and we can all make mistakes. This shared aspect of being human is something we understand.
• Hope: We will create the conditions within which hope can blossom, by believing in the potential of families and understanding how difficult things have been in the past.
• Trust: We will seek to earn the trust of the families we work with. Through transparency, honesty, and solidarity we will aspire to be trustworthy in everything we do, even when outcomes may not be what everyone would hope for.
• Care: All our work will be underpinned by taking time to build authentic, warm, and caring relationships with parents and children. Through proper listening and empathy, we will seek to understand families, their situations, and future hopes.

At LGT families are provided with an opportunity to achieve their potential. As a practice manger you will look for these glimmers of potential and guide the team through evidence-based practice.

Outline of Terms of Employment:

Salary: £38,500pa

Contract: Permanent

Leave entitlement: 20 Annual leave days & 10 Public Holidays

Hours of Duty: 40 hours per week

Pension: Workplace pension scheme

Shift work: Shift and weekend work may be required.

On Call: The post holder will participate in the on-call system,

Today, 12 children and young people will be diagnosed with cancer. We’ll stop at nothing to make sure they get the right care and support at the right time.

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we help children and young people (0-25) and their families find the strength to face whatever cancer throws at them. We know what a better future could look like for children and young people with cancer. And we know what we need to do to make that future a reality. We know we need to push harder, reach further and work smarter. And we know we need the right people on our team to help us get there. People like you.

Join us and your skills will make a real difference to the lives of young cancer patients.

About the role

We want to creative positive change in the health system to achieve the change children and young people with cancer across the UK, and their families, need. This means amplifying the voices of young cancer patients and delivering evidence-based campaigns that make change happen.

This Policy and Public Affairs Officer role is responsible for supporting the Policy, Influencing and Voice Team with policy and public affairs expertise to deliver the key components of our influencing work in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. You will help us influence the system for children and young people with cancer and their families, so we can change experiences of having cancer and ensure children and young people’s voices are heard.

This includes:

• monitoring the policy and influencing landscape in each of the devolved nations
• developing policy briefings, position statements, consultation responses and reviewing evidence
• building and maintaining excellent working relationships with elected representatives, officials, external partners and your colleagues too
• delivering our public affairs work in the devolved nations
• supporting our exciting campaigning activities, tailoring to each nation

Young Lives vs Cancer is open to and in support of flexible working. Your flexibility requirements and that of the role will be discussed at interview stage with you.

This role is home-based and can be based anywhere in the UK, but the successful candidate will ideally be based in either Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland, and will require occasional visits to Young Lives vs Cancer workplaces.

This role is subject to an Basic level Criminal Record Check. In the event of a successful application a Disclosure and Barring Services report will be sought.

We would love to hear from you if you:

• Have experience working in a policy or public affairs environment, ideally in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland
• Have experience or knowledge of the policy, public affairs and/or political processes and how to use them in your work
• Have effective influencing and relationship building skills
• Are comfortable and confident working in a diverse and changing external environment across three nations
• Are solutions-focused, have attention to detail, and able to analyse complex information

Diversity declaration

At Young Lives vs Cancer, we recognise that opportunities for too many people remain a condition of their race, class, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation – or a combination. This has never been acceptable to us as an organisation.

We are committed to taking anti-oppressive action and removing barriers in our recruitment practices. We particularly welcome applications from members of minoritised communities and creating equitable opportunities for all. We are passionately committed to taking actions and making changes to be a truly diverse, inclusive and equitable organisation, as well as reflective of the diverse children and young people we support. Click here to find out more about our Diversity, Inclusion, Equity and Belonging strategy.

Accessibility

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible. Please get in touch with us if you would like to discuss any specific requirements.

What we offer

In return for your commitment, we offer a great reward package, which includes generous annual and family/ caring leave entitlements, enhanced pension and employee savings scheme. To find out more about our benefits package, have a look on our website:

younglivesvscancer.org.uk/careers/our-benefits

If you join us, you will be part of a community that is committed make a difference to the lives of children and young people with cancer. Young Lives vs Cancer is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment.

To arrange an informal chat, please contact Lauren Marks on lauren.marks@younglivesvscancer.org.uk.

Transforming the experience of child victims and witnesses in Scotland

Children 1st are looking for an exceptional and experienced operational leader to become our Bairns Hoose coordinator/service manager in Aberdeenshire. You will co-ordinate children’s journey through the Bairns Hoose, managing the space, liaising with agencies on behalf of children and their families and leading a team of advocacy and trauma recovery workers. Working within the Aberdeenshire Bairnshoose Development Group alongside Social Work, Police, Health and Justice colleagues to deliver on the ambition to offer children a trauma sensitive, rights-based and recovery focussed response to their care, protection, justice and recovery needs.

The Bairns Hoose is based on the European Barnahus, a child-friendly, multi-disciplinary, and interagency model of justice, care and recovery for children who are victims and witnesses of all forms of violence. A carefully designed place where all services and supports are child centred, rights- based and recovery focussed with Police, Social Work, Health, Court and recovery support services based under one roof.

This service demands a leader who is driven by children’s rights, is passionately committed to trauma responsive models and who has a background in delivering child centred, family minded support and multiagency services. You will lead our team of Rights, Advocacy and Trauma Recovery Workers and ensure the effective and efficient running of the Bairns Hoose. As a member of the Aberdeenshire Bairns Hoose partnership, you will build on the progress made to date and work towards achieving fully the aspiration of a Bairns Hoose for children and their families. As a key member of our Bairns Hoose Team, you will support our ambitions to have the highest quality Bairns Hoose delivering the greatest impact in the lives of children and families.

Our charity is a people and culture organisation. We put children’s rights and relationships at the heart of everything we do. We have ambitious plans for our Bairns Hoose to deliver on the Bairns’ Hoose National Standards, offering support to recover from the point at which children report abuse or harm, minimising the re-traumatisation of the justice and child protection system.

The Bairns Hoose Coordinator role is challenging due to the complexity of the systems change that Bairns Hoose seeks to achieve, requiring significant multiagency partnership working. The role also provides an exciting opportunity for you to develop new approaches to practice within child protection and justice that helps inform the way forward for Bairns Hoose in Scotland. You will shape and lead a high performing team focussed on achieving the best outcomes for children and their families. You will be an excellent communicator, creative, collaborative, inclusive and willing to work alongside our brilliant partners and leaders in Aberdeenshire to achieve our shared strategic vision for Bairns Hoose.

This is an exciting and unique opportunity to join us and play a critical part in transforming the lives of children and families in Scotland, ensuring that children’s voices are at the heart of our Bairns Hoose development and support.

About you

You will have substantial experience of leading a team delivering trauma sensitive support to children, young people and families. You will fully understand the ways in which the current justice and child protection systems retraumatise young people. You understand that ambitious change requires a clarity of purpose and vision and that as a leader it is your responsibility to communicate this. Your leadership and decision making are founded on a strong value base of doing the right thing by children and families at all times. You understand that strong professional, working relationships are the foundation of quality outcomes for children and families and high quality practice within your own team and with external stakeholders.

Knowing our ambition for children and young people, you will:

• Want to transform children’s lives
• Understand trauma and know that with the right support children and young people can recover – there is always a way
• Be able to build strong relationships, work collaboratively with partners and manage tricky conversations
• Be resilient and calm when under pressure – modelling a clear and accountable approach to leadership
• Be an outstanding communicator
• Be enthusiastic, driven and able to motivate and develop a professional team, inspiring colleagues to be even better
• Have a fierce passion for children’s rights and belief in working with children and families; not ‘doing to’
• Believe that it is a privilege to work with and on behalf of children and families and that their voices should be at the heart of service design
• Be kind and willing to bring your whole self to the job: heart and mind, above all else, you are someone who will do the right thing for children and their families at every turn.

If this sounds like you and your values align with ours then we would love to tell you more. An informal conversation with our Assistant Director can be arranged for interested candidates.

Further information

This a full-time role of 35 hours per week. You will work across the Aberdeenshire area. As you will be leading and developing a new service. Children1st are a relationship based organised and we need you to be a physically present ‘hands on leader’ of an amazing team who are similarly ‘hands on’ and ‘in person’ in their support of children and young people and families. The role may also involve occasional travel across Scotland.

Salary, Conditions, Pension

We will offer you a competitive salary, generous annual leave entitlement (40 days inclusive of 7 public holidays), flexible working opportunities and a contributory pension scheme. We also have a cash healthcare plan, cycle to work scheme and access to a credit union.

Benefits:

A generous annual leave entitlement of 29 days PLUS bank holidays

• Up to 5 more days leave for continuous service plus the option to buy and sell leave.
• Gain professional qualifications with excellent training, and development opportunities.
• Flexible maternity, adoption, and paternity packages.
• A pension with a up to a 7% employer contribution rate. Plus, if you pay in to the pension you will receive life assurance cover.
• Staff discount portal with your favourite brands.
• Blue Light Card eligibility with 15,000 discounts from national retailers.

Vulnerable children in the UK need your help

Wherever you work in the Action for Children family, you'll be helping to change the lives of the most vulnerable children in the UK.

Last year, we helped more than 670,000 children and families across the UK. From direct work in communities to national campaigning, we are focused on making sure every child has a safe and happy childhood, and the foundations they need to thrive.

Why Action for Children?

Working here is more than a job. Everyone in the Action for Children family is passionate about protecting and supporting children. It's the sense of purpose that drives us every single day. Because we know that, when we work together, we can make a huge difference to bring lasting improvements to vulnerable children's lives.

A bit about the role

“Supporting mental health and wellbeing is a big part of what we do. We help young people talk about how they're feeling, and make sure they don't feel alone.”

Are you passionate about supporting young people's mental health and emotional well-being? We are seeking a dedicated Wellbeing Practitioner to join our fantastic team in Glasgow. As part of the Glasgow Secondary Schools Counselling and Blues Service, you'll play a crucial role in delivering high-quality, school-based professional counselling and group work services to secondary school children aged 12-18 years who are negatively affected or are at risk of being affected by poor mental health.

The Blues Programme is an internationally acclaimed wellbeing programme for young people. Over six weeks, it teaches emotional resilience, and reduces low mood and anxious thoughts. Crucially, it gets teenagers talking.

As a Wellbeing Practitioner, you'll effectively engage with young people to deliver group work support, predominantly within a school setting but there may also be a requirement in a local community. As part of a supportive team, you'll work alongside trained Action for Children Blues specialists who are committed to making a positive impact in what is a truly rewarding role.

From helping students overcome anxiety to supporting their social interactions, your work will make a real difference.

How you'll help to create brighter futures

Some key responsibilities for the role of a Wellbeing Practitioner are;

• Delivering a complex and specialist interventions with children, young people or families on a 1:1 basis, group or community setting.
• Focussing on resilience and wellbeing at an early intervention level.
• Working with families as indicated by schools and group work.
• Working with our partners to achieve fantastic outcomes for young people and their families mental health.
• Providing lead case/care planning management, including undertaking assessing, reviewing and managing risks.

Let's talk about you

• An understanding of the mental health issues faced by children and you people.
• Working within a multi-agency social care, early years or health environment and applying safeguarding procedures.
• Ability to keep the child and or young people as the focus and ensure their feelings and wishes are represented in meetings and record keeping.
• Ability to communicate effectively and engagingly and to maintain independent professional relationships, boundaries.
• Demonstrable application of working with a diverse community and promoting the principles of equality.

Good to know

Application Process

Please note we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

There are five sections to complete: Personal Details, CV, Supporting Statement & Information, Equality & Diversity, Submission & Declaration.

Talent Pool

We know talent when we see it. But sometimes we find the right person but not for the right job. We'd love to keep your details for when the right job comes up. Let us know if you'd rather we didn't.

Contact: If, for any reason, you need support with your application, please contact Laura McCarthy at Laura.McCarthy2@actionforchildren.org.uk. We'll be happy to give you any support you require.

Diversity, equality and inclusion

At Action for Children, we're dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace. We actively encourage applications from Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic and disabled candidates as they are under-represented within Action for Children. We want to take deliberate and purposeful action to ensure equal opportunity to all groups in society and for Action for Children.

Don't meet every single requirement?

If you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with the job description, we'd love you to apply anyway. You might just be the perfect person for this role, or another role within the Action for Children family.