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.

Do you have experience as a gardener or horticulturalist and have a passion for growing fruit and vegetables and inspiring others? This is an exciting opportunity to join a new project that aims to actively improve the health of children and their families, and their understanding and interest in the environment and biodiversity. The project will span four Primary Schools in Rosyth. Where children will learn and participate in their schools sowing, planting, growing, harvesting, tasting, and cooking fruit and vegetables. They will take this learning home – growing and cooking and eating fruit and vegetables at home.

You will join an Education Officer and a Project Support Officer and be supported by the General Manager of EATS Rosyth. The gardener will lead on the planning, creating and maintaining of the growing spaced in the 4 Rosyth Primary Schools . Example of some of the main duties will include:

• Work with the Education Officer and schools to design and create the growing spaces.
• Prepare the growing aspects of the project, with the Education Officer, and plan to meet the agreed timescales of the education programme.
• Maintain the growing spaces within each school and manage the soil fertility, crop rotation, sowing, irrigation, pest and disease control etc.
• Prepare for the education programme lessons so that the Education Officer has the necessary equipment and materials ready to use with the children.
• Work with the Project Administrator Officer to support how the project is communicated, for example taking photographs for promotion on social media.
• Involve families and carers in the project and work with them through out.

Please see the job description for more details and we warmly welcome inquiries by email at info@eatsrosyth.org.uk or by phone to Charlotte Oakley (General Manager) Tuesday – Thursday on 07396734859 or 01383 341260

This role will primarily work to provide administrative support to the Land and Estates team within the General Trustees. This role will however work as part of the wider Business Support Team and will provide administrative support across the General Trustees.

The post will work in a hybrid manner, with 50% of a working week required in the office and the remainder from home. There is a preference for office days to coincide with other members of the Lands and Estates team.

For a full job description, please download the recruitment pack below.

Want to help children and young people from armed forces communities to realise their potential and thrive?

Deliver life-changing experiences to develop new skills, build confidence, and forge friendships through a sense of belonging, shared experiences, and collective purpose.

Co-produce impactful projects, services, and campaigns that amplify lived experience, transform attitudes, and lead toward meaningful change in local communities in the West of Scotland and for over 12,500 peers across Scotland.

Establish and maintain a network of youth forums in Helensburgh, West Dunbartonshire, and Lomond. Promote and develop active involvement to reach and support greater numbers from early learning settings and with additional support needs (ASN).

Some of the essentials we are looking for in candidates

A relevant qualification, to a minimum standard of HNC/SVQ 3 (SCQF level 7) in a discipline related to working with children and young people, or equivalent work experience.

Ideally, you will have experience working with children in Early Years settings.

You will also need a minimum of two years’ experience working in youth work, community, or education settings, as well as demonstrate knowledge of co-production, child protection, participatory decision-making, and much more.