This is an exciting opportunity to be part of the East Lothian Family Support Team. Children 1st have supported children, young people, and families within East Lothian for a number of year and are well established service.

Children 1st along with partners share a determination to act upon the recommendations from The Independent Care Review and deliver The Promise for children and young people. We are also determined that the full incorporation of the UNCRC means that children will have their rights respected in all areas of their lives and will have a real say in the way they are supported.

What kind of person will make a great Administrator for Children 1st?

• will possess excellent administrative, IT and financial skills to support the work of Children 1st
• provide a front-line reception service, as the first point of contact to external visitors and telephone callers, answering questions and responding to queries using own initiative as appropriate to ensure a relational and responsive service is provided
• ability to maintain diaries, schedule and coordinate meetings and appointments
• able to record, process and analyse data
• a cool head and clear minded at times of pressure
• thinks it’s a privilege to work for and on behalf of children and families and
• is kind and compassionate and places people at the heart of their work

Above all else, the most important thing to us is that you are someone that will support the team who are doing the right thing for children and their families at every turn.

If you have an interest in supporting the activities of a compassionate and committed staff team then we would like to hear from you. In particular, we are seeking to further enhance our diversity from the perspective of ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender and disability.

Base

You will be office based within our two bases within Musselburgh MECA and Fisherrow Community Centre.

Our core hours are Monday-Friday 9am – 5pm working days are flexible.

Salary, Conditions, Pension

We will offer you a competitive salary, generous annual leave entitlement (40 days (pro rata) inclusive of 7 public holidays) and a contributory pension scheme. In addition, we offer further benefits ranging from a cashback health plan to a Cycle-to-work scheme.

BACKGROUND

The Association for Fostering, Kinship and Adoption Scotland (AFKA) is an independent charity that promotes and facilitates evidence-informed best practice in fostering, kinship care and adoption, through advising, training, and influencing practitioners and policymakers, and supporting them to improve outcomes for children and families.

Our Vision is a future where every practitioner working with children, young people and their families is knowledgeable, skilled, confident, and empowered to support the safe, secure, and loving care to which every child has a right.

Our services support agencies and professionals to implement child centred, evidenced informed practice that involves children and their families in decisions about their lives, protect their rights and promotes inclusion. Through our multi-disciplinary communities of practice, we enable social workers, lawyers, and health professionals to work effectively across professional boundaries to meet the needs of children, their families, and their Carers. As a membership organisation, AFKA Scotland uses its links with professional bodies and agencies across the country to contribute to the development of policy and practice at a local and national level. We have a collaborative agreement with CoramBAAF.

AFKA Scotland’s multi-disciplinary team has a wealth of experience and up-to-date expertise in practice relating to kinship care, fostering and adoption and delivers a wide range of workshops, training and consultancy, post qualifying courses, and conferences to assist professionals to develop the knowledge and skills they require when working in this specialist area.

We work closely with our research colleagues in AFKA Scotland, and our research underpins our evidence informed approach. We are committed to #keepthepromise, have been instrumental in promise funded work and have been on a journey to adapt to the changing landscape of care in Scotland.

We are seeking to recruit a highly experienced and motivated individual to the role of Administrative Assistant. This role is key in supporting the Business Support and Finance Manager in the day-to-day operational activities of the organisation and to the smooth delivery of our Forums, training and workshop activities.

JOB SPECIFICATION

PURPOSE

To provide administrative support to the Business Support & Finance Manager on a day-to-day basis and to support the overall work of the organisation.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

National Practitioner Forums and Consortia - in conjunction with lead facilitator, manage the arrangements for the full range of forums and consortia meetings, including setting dates, sending out agendas, formatting and sending out final notes, collating meeting papers, and keeping distribution lists up-to-date.

Support training and development events (Commissioned Training, Conferences and workshops) – in conjunction with Trainer/Consultants, provide administrative support for management of events including: finalising training materials for training booklets, creating and sending out booking forms; logging bookings and maintaining database; preparing attendance certificates for participants at all external events; create , collate and analyse evaluation form returns.

Information Technology – Support staff in their use of IT apps and platforms when they are producing materials or delivering training.

General Administration – Undertake a range of administrative tasks to support the work of the organisation including:

• In conjunction with the Business Support & Finance Manager plan and monitor the action required to run the planned programme of events.
• Telephones - answer the phone and pass messages to staff as appropriate.
• Email - check generic emails and respond / forward messages as appropriate.
• Photocopying – where required, photocopy training materials / meeting papers for all events.
• Banking/Post Office – posting office mail and banking cheques when required.
• Library – maintain database and record when books taken out on loan.
• Take notes at staff meetings.

Scotland’s Adoption Register - provide administrative support to Register staff including support for the running of family finding events when required.

Advice Line Enquiries – record all enquiries, forward to staff, follow up as required, maintain records of completion dates and provide statistical information to Business Support & Finance Manager.

Participation in conferences and other external events – provide administrative support for the running of events as part of the AFKA Scotland team.

Experience

Essential

• A working knowledge of an office environment
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Ability to work on own initiative

Desirable

• Personal or professional experience of the care system
• Experience of working as part of small enterprise or charity

Knowledge, skills and abilities

Essential

• Computer literate in a range of computer processes which must include Microsoft Access, Word, PowerPoint and Excel and have proficient keyboard skills
• Familiarity with Microsoft 365 including MS Teams
• Working knowledge of social media platforms
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and telephone manner
• Ability to collate and analyse information and to produce accurate, well presented documents
• Self-motivating with excellent organisational skills

Attitude and beliefs

Essential

• Positive, problem solving and resourceful
• Clear understanding of the need to maintain confidentiality
• Flexible working approach

Base: Office - 3 days / Home - 2 days (if desired).

Organisational Relationships:Line Managed by the Business Support & Finance Manager / Responsible to the Executive Director.

Pregnancy Counselling and Care (Scotland) is currently looking to recruit a Baby Bank Development Worker to support the running of our Baby Bank, to enable us to increase the capacity of the service.

We have recently moved to the Gyle Shopping Centre which is giving us greater space to work within and access to volunteers and baby items donations. This role will work closely with the other Baby Bank Development Worker to enable the service to open all weekdays, as currently it is only open Mon to Wed.

This post will also have a particular focus on; firstly, supporting the marketing of the charity, working with volunteers to deliver regular posts on social media, and secondly, on supporting volunteering opportunities through working with third sector partners and corporate organisations.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and organised person with volunteer management and marketing experience to join our friendly team. The post will be managed by our Operations Manager.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Stepping Stones North Edinburgh is a third sector organisation that supports children and families across North Edinburgh. Our aim is to support families to improve their wellbeing, build resilience and reduce the isolation that families can experience.

This is a exciting opportunity to join the Stepping Stones Family Wellbeing team in a new development. This position will primarily be based within Pirniehall Primary School supporting learners and their families who can benefit from a holistic whole family support approach. You will work closely alongside both the Pirniehall School community and Stepping Stones to meet the needs of local families.

If you would like to discuss this role further before applying, please email moragwilson@steppingstonesnorthedinburgh.co.uk.