Peebles and District CAB is looking for a dynamic self-starter, who will develop our outreach service and work as part of the advice team to deliver generalist and holistic advice and support to clients accessing our service at outreach locations. This will involve initially using strong organisational skills to develop the service and sensitive listening and questioning skills to encourage clients to explain their issue(s) and empower them to set their own priorities in terms of a resolution. It will be necessary to work as part of a team, but also to be highly motivated and able to work alone. Some work at events in the community will be required, which will involve occasional weekend working. The successful applicant will require to have a driving licence and regular access to a car.

This role will allow the bureau to develop an outreach presence and provide a high standard of advice to the public, in locations in Tweeddale other than Peebles. The post holder will: -

• undertake a scoping exercise across Tweeddale to source suitable outreach locations
• develop the outreach service
• complete the CAB adviser training programme
• deliver the advice service in outreach locations
• support the bureau in the recruitment and training of new volunteers

We are looking for an enthusiastic, dynamic and motivated person to join our team. The Session Supervisor has day-to-day operational responsibility for the delivery of the advice service and also ensures that the quality of advice delivered is in line with the Scottish National Standards and Citizens Advice Scotland’s Membership Standards.

The post holder will have the skills and experience to manage and support a team of volunteers, communicate and liaise with varying organisations, deliver advice and information services to clients and will have completed the CAB Adviser Training Programme.

In addition, they must be able to work under pressure and use their initiative as well as working as part of a larger advice team. They will have excellent organisation, communication and IT skills and be willing to develop the service to meet growing consumer technological needs. The successful applicant will be encouraged and supported in their personal development by our Training and Development Manager.

The Citizens Advice network in Scotland is the largest independent advice service in the country. Citizens Advice Scotland is a charity within this network – we act as a national organisation supporting and representing the service as a whole and the interests of citizens. At the heart of the network there are 59 individual citizens advice bureau across Scotland, all operating as independent charities in their own right, which focus on providing support and advice directly to clients. Each of these organisations is a member of Citizens Advice Scotland. We believe that every citizen should have access to free, impartial and confidential advice that helps them make informed decisions, whenever they need it and however, they choose to access it.

Our vision is for a Fairer Scotland where everyone has the advice and information they need to realise their rights, and that the barriers to accessing those rights are effectively challenged.

Citizens Advice Scotland runs a series of national specialist services as projects which require centralised project support. You will work as an integral part of the national projects team, with your primary role being to support the continuous improvement, evaluation and review as well as the future execution and delivery of projects through proactive engagement, communication, planning and reporting with participating member organisations of Citizens Advice Scotland and other key stakeholders

As the Project Engagement Officer, you will ensure regular collaborative communication with both external and internal stakeholders on matters relating to service delivery and reporting, service development and changes, new projects and related implementation,. You will foster a member-focused culture, and support colleagues to communicate and engage members effectively on related matters.

This role offers you the opportunity to work at the heart of supporting Scotland's largest independent advice network and to make an invaluable contribution to citizen’s lives.

Employee benefits

Citizens Advice Scotland offers excellent terms and conditions. We want our people to have a great work life balance and we have designed our working practices and benefits to support this. Here are some of things our employees benefit from: a 35-hour full time working week, 40 days annual leave, genuine flexibility in working hours with a flexi-time system, and blended/hybrid working opportunities for every role.

Citizens Advice Scotland is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies and flexible working arrangements to support all our staff. We are also committed to equality of opportunity for all and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

CAS provides options for blended working to allow employees to balance their time attending the office with time working from home. The number of days you will be able to work from home each week will be dependent on your job role and can be discussed as part of the recruitment process.

Do you want to help make a difference to the lives of families affected by another’s imprisonment – this is a group of people often marginalised and severely impacted, practically, emotionally and financially by the actions of another. Want to learn new skills in the process? - you can by becoming a volunteer Board Member for the Croft HMP Barlinnie’s Visitors Centre.

Background

In 2012 local churches and the community recognised that the families of prisoners in HMP Barlinnie had nowhere to go for help on what was happening to their loved one, how to go about arranging a visit, what information and support was available to their family and them.

The Croft Visitors Support and Advice Centre was established as a charity whereby volunteers and support workers met with families prior to and after their visits to get the support and information they needed on whatever issues they were facing. As time has gone on there is now a support service at every Scottish prison, core funded by Scottish Government. The Scottish Government recognised the importance of the centres and created the National Visitors Centre Framework for Scotland which we all follow, stating that -

The service they provide is accessible to all family members and visitors to the prison including those who do not go into the prison to visit their family member.

They achieve positive outcomes for prisoners’ families and friends and for prisoners themselves by fulfilling three core functions:

• They improve the visits experience for people visiting their family member or loved ones in prison.
• They help families access independent and impartial advice, information and practical support, which meets their needs.
• They voice the needs of families affected by imprisonment to the prison they work alongside.

The Croft provide a wide range of support to visitors on an emotional, practical and informative level and are looking for volunteer Board Members to help govern the charity and shape its future whilst making a different to the lives of families affected by imprisonment and often punished for a crime they did not commit. We are looking to redesign our services and expand our provision so this is an ideal opportunity to help shape the future of the charity.

What we are looking for

We are looking to recruit a number of Board members. We welcome applicants from any background and experience but are particularly looking for people with the following skills –

• Treasurer - Accounting/Finance
• Branding
• Fundraising / Funding Applications
• Lived experience of being a family member impacted by another’s imprisonment

What you get from being a Board Member

1. The chance to give something back into the community and make a real difference to the lives of families impacted by imprisonment - Becoming a Trustee is a fantastic way to give something back to a cause you care about. You’ll be playing an integral part in the way the charity is run, ensuring it remains sustainable and financially viable. The help you provide will be invaluable.
2. Meet new people - joining a new organisation or charity is a fantastic way to meet new people from a range of different personal and professional backgrounds. There will be annual meetings to attend, day-to-day tasks to complete with other volunteers and staff at the charity, events or activities to do within your local community, as well as many other opportunities to meet new and interesting people.
3. Learn new things - getting involved as a charity Trustee is a great way to put your professional skills to use, but can also be a fantastic opportunity to learn new things. You’ll get great insight into what’s involved in the management of charities and gain skills on working well within a leadership role.
4. Improve your CV and enhance your professional development - from learning how organisations are run to planning finances and attending meetings, this experience can be the perfect way to boost a CV and set you apart from the crowd.