East Ayrshire Carers Centre is experiencing exciting change and growth with an expanding social impact.

As a carer led organisation we helped unpaid carers in East Ayrshire access over £1.6 million in unclaimed benefits in the last year alone.

Following a skills review of our current board, we are looking for passionate individuals with strong financial skills and/or business leadership experience.

You will be working with our current board members and our co-chief executive officers to drive these changes forward while keeping carers at the heart of our organisation.

VOCAL is the Voice of Carers across Lothian, a Scottish charity run by carers and for carers since 1994.

VOCAL's COSCA recognised Counselling Service provides counselling to adult carers (18 and older) who provide unpaid care to a family member, partner, relative or friend who requires help to manage a long term illness, disability, physical or mental health problem or drug/alcohol addiction in Edinburgh and/or Midlothian.

We are seeking a qualified and experienced counsellor to provide counselling sessions face to face and digitally, in line with existing counselling service models and as stated in the Service’s Code of Practice for Counsellors.

The appointed counsellor will hold a postgraduate diploma in Counselling from a recognised educational establishment and ideally have 250 post-qualifying hours (minimum 150); and be registered with a professional body, i.e. COSCA, BACP, UKCP or equivalent. The diploma course must be validated by COSCA or equivalent.

VOCAL - Voice of Carers Across Lothian is seeking an enthusiastic and knowledgeable person to join its busy Edinburgh Family Support Addictions team providing casework support to carers affected by another person’s alcohol or drug use. The postholder will manage VOCAL’s Family Support Addictions service and will work to strengthen carer engagement with drug and alcohol services across Edinburgh, working across the Edinburgh Alcohol and Drug Partnership to do so. In particular, the post-holder will work initially to support implementation of the Medication Assisted Treatment Standards in relation to the involvement of family members and carers.

The role would suit someone with experience of working in the alcohol and drugs field in Scotland and who understands relevant current policy and practice in this area, ideally with experience of supporting relevant clients and/or carers. It would offer a positive development opportunity for the right candidate, for instance, those seeking to extend into a management position or wishing to gain more experience working directly to support carer involvement.

Applicants will evidence excellent people, leadership and communication skills, ideally with experience in staff/volunteer management, casework and person-centred support work. They will have an understanding of the needs and supports of carers affected by another’s alcohol or drug use, the impact of caring on peoples’ lives and barriers carers face at different points of the caring journey. Applicants will be digitally competent and effective communicators with individuals, carer groups and partner agencies.

The successful applicant will have responsibility for working alongside unpaid carers of all ages and disabled people to ensure that they are key partners in service planning and improvement in Dundee.

This will include supporting individuals and groups to work in partnership with key agencies in Dundee such as third sector, schools, community groups and statutory partners to improve outcomes for carers and their families.