The post holder will be required to become a PVG Scheme Member in relation to regulated work with vulnerable children

Are you passionate about helping young people live a better life? At Voluntary Action Orkney (VAO), our values and people are at the heart of everything we do including how we recruit our staff. It is important for us to find people who share our values, which are:

• Empathy (listen to and understand an individual’s needs and circumstances)
• Respect (treat others the way they wish to be treated)
• Integrity (be honest and have strong moral principles)
• Caring (show kindness and concern for others)

Action Orkney (VAO) provides responsive and innovative support and representation for the Third Sector in Orkney.

The Young People’s Befriending Project (YPBP) supports young people aged 5 – 18 years old who are facing a challenging time in their lives by matching them to a trained volunteer Befriender.

We are looking for a person to provide maternity cover up to the end of February 2024 for the job share role of Project Co-ordinator. This role will promote, manage and develop the YPBP and will include the recruitment, training and support of volunteers, the assessment of young people, and the management and supervision of the Befriending matches.

Applicants will have experience of working with young people and demonstrate knowledge of and empathy with the issues that affect young people. They should have excellent written and oral communication skills, and be educated to degree level or have equivalent experience.

Bavs is an independent charity providing community development services in Berwickshire for over 50 years. We have reached an exciting new stage of development and have been consulting with communities on our new strategy. Bavs new focus will be:

• Developing our charity shops to become zero waste hubs.
• Work with other community groups and organisations to support the development of local projects aimed to reduce waste and promote re-use, upcycle using second-hand items.
• Continue to support voluntary action to create positive change within the organisation and with partners across Berwickshire.
• Facilitate networking and enable collaboration.
• Support the development of grass roots community projects in line with Bavs strategy.
• Support the transition of Berwickshire Wheels to the Borders Community Transport in year 1.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for an Executive Officer to lead us into the next phase of our development. We need someone with a proven track record of achievement at a senior level, with at least three years in a senior role leading, developing and managing teams. A creative thinker, you’ll have developed visionary strategic plans and delivered transformational implementation projects and plans.

Experience of working collaboratively and building partnerships is as well as excellent communication skills, including public speaking and using all media channels.

Your background will include working with a Board of Trustees or similar to offer guidance and advice to ensure their decision-making is robust.

You’ll have financial management skills, such as budget setting, business planning and monitoring income and expenditure. You will also have a track record in developing and implementing a fundraising strategy or business development and income generation.

You will also need to demonstrate your leadership abilities and the expertise to motivate our staff and volunteers.

You’ll be self-motivated, self-disciplined and be a problem solver. You can demonstrate enthusiasm and commitment and work to high ethical standards and values.

What you will be doing

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the new phase of Bavs. The priorities for this role are:

• Developing the organisation
• Strategic development, planning and reporting
• Finance and income generation
• Governance and supporting the Board of Trustees
• Leadership and motivation of the staff and volunteers

You will be responsible for delivering an ambitious strategy and securing funds to support it, as well as overseeing sound financial planning, organisational development and operational management. You’ll provide leadership, management and motivation in a positive and collaborative culture that develops and supports staff and volunteers.

Working with the Board of Trustees, you will develop a financial strategy to support the design, delivery and development of high-quality services. You will submit funding applications and tenders to enable us to meet our ambitions, and implement the strategic day- to-day financial management of the organisation.

Working with the Board, you will ensure that effective governance, monitoring and reporting systems are in place.

What you will get

The salary is £38,000 pro rata for 22.5 hours per week, plus essential car user’s expenses. You will get 25 days annual leave as well as 10 days public holidays. This is a permanent post.

There’s a pension contribution and enhanced sickness pay.

We offer a flexible working policy to support the work/life balance of our employees. This post is hybrid, working between home, office and the three shops across Berwickshire.

We are looking for a Community Engagement Officer to deliver capacity-building development support services to all service users and encourage and empower inclusivity within Mental Health support services specifically for BAME, LGBTQ+ and other minority community groups.

Imagine being a part of an organisation whose common purpose is to support Children and Young People throughout Lanarkshire who have been impacted by grief, loss, and trauma.

This is a new role within the organisation for an individual to grow and build upon as they progress and make their own.

The Community Engagement Officer will be a passionate individual who wants create communities that inclusively support the mental health needs of each Child and Young Person no matter their race, culture, background. The role will initially start off with the purpose of capacity build and engage with individuals to identify the needs and barriers faced by minority groups to better support such ones and make services more accessible.

How will you make a difference:

• Maintain up to date knowledge of best practice in voluntary and community development and engagement sector activity.
• Maintain statistics in respect of the development support provided and provide reports as and when requested.
• Work actively to achieve the targets in The Miracle Foundation SCIO Business Plan
• Engage in the monitoring and evaluation procedures laid down by the Miracle Foundation SCIO
• Comply with the policies and procedures set by the Miracle Foundation SCIO.
• Provide organisation and project development and business planning.
• Work within legal structures and charity status
• Comply with all applicable regulations.
• Undertake Community engagement, surveys, and action plans (geographical communities and communities of interest).
• Develop networks and arranging activities/events for networking, socialising, and support within minority community groups.
• Disseminate information as appropriate.
• Attend a range of partnership meetings in respect to the local areas and communities.

We are looking for an individual who has:

• Relevant educational qualifications and/or significant experience particular in Community Development and Engagement or something similar.
• An understanding of the Third Sector and the environment in which it operates (including charity regulations and good governance).
• Ability to engage with volunteers and staff in the Third Sector and Public Sector.
• Ability to produce written reports.
• Ability and track record of establishing and maintaining effective, informal networking and multi-agency working.
• Ability to organise and manage events and activities within networking groups and the community for service users.
• IT literate with good knowledge and experience of Microsoft Office applications and online databases.
• Knowledge and experience of planning, target setting, monitoring and evaluation.
• Able to work independently and pro-actively with a minimum level of supervision.
• Good time management
• A driving licence and access to a car.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of support for our staff as we recognise their Mental Health and Wellbeing is of high importance. Some of our benefits include:

• Contributory Staff Pension
• Flexible Working
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Mileage allowance
• Birthday Leave (+1 additional annual leave)
• Long Service Leave
• Staff wellness activities throughout the year

Who Cares? Scotland is Scotland’s only national independent membership organisation for Care Experienced people. Our mission is to secure a lifetime of equality, respect, and love for Care Experienced people in Scotland and we currently have over 3500 Care Experienced members.

At the heart of Who Cares? Scotland’s work are the rights of Care Experienced people, and the power of their voices to bring about positive change. We provide individual lifelong relationship-based independent advocacy and a broad range of imaginative participatory and engagement opportunities for Care Experienced people across Scotland. We work alongside Corporate Parents and communities to broaden understanding and create change. We work with policy makers, leaders and elected representatives locally and nationally to shape law, policy and practice, working together to build on the aspirations of The Promise and secure positive change.

This unique role offers the opportunity to listen to and work directly with children and young people with experience of care, in an individual relationship-based advocacy role, and within participation and group activity across our Lanarkshire region.

The post-holder will be a key member of the Advocacy and Participation team within South Lanarkshire, supporting young people from across the region and wider Local Authorities to ensure their rights are upheld and their voices are heard. In this role you will have the opportunity to provide independent advocacy, children’s rights, and participation opportunities for children and young people who are looked after, Care Experienced or subject to formal processes and structures. The role will see you actively participating in child’s plan meetings, children’s hearings, and other formal processes across South Lanarkshire, as well as assisting children and young people to prepare for them. In partnership with professionals, carers, and organisations, you will help to achieve the best outcomes for children and young people by keeping detailed records of the work you undertake, writing liaison reports, and monitoring statistics.

As a vital part of the work of Who Cares? Scotland, your role will include facilitating group opportunities for and with children and young people within South Lanarkshire/Lanarkshire alongside the Corporate Parenting Partnership. This includes providing engagement and participation opportunities throughout the Who Cares? Scotland local and national network, as well as meeting with care experienced children and young people to introduce the service in agreement with the local authority. Raising awareness of Who Cares? Scotland and its services with children, young people, professionals, and carers you will also be responsible for facilitating training amongst care corporate parents, including schools.

The right candidate for this post will be able to form positive relationships with children and young people and have good interpersonal skills. You will feel confident communicating with individuals and groups, both in writing and verbally, and be able to adapt to a wide range of contexts. Secure in making effective plans, as well as evidencing your work, you can prioritise and meet deadlines. You take enjoyment from working collaboratively with partners, believing in equal opportunities and inclusive working. Committed to children’s rights, you are someone who knows that all young people can make transformative change happen in their lives if given the opportunity. You can demonstrate knowledge of the current structure, developments, policy, and practice in relation to children and young people experiencing care in Scotland. You are also flexible, given the remit of the role, as some evening and weekend work will be necessary, along with a full driving licence and access to transport.

While we would welcome the knowledge gathered through relevant qualifications, we are just as interested in relevant work experience. We welcome and encourage applications from those with experience of care.

The successful candidate will be joining Who Cares? Scotland and working within the South Lanarkshire locality team at an exciting time, when the voices of those who are in or have experienced care are growing in power, individually and collectively - bringing with them insight, challenge, hope and change.