Bipolar Scotland is at an exciting time in our story. We have recently launched our 5 year strategic plan “A Time To Move Forward” and are offering the opportunity for an exceptional candidate to play a key part in the expansion of the organisation.

The successful candidate will be a confident, professional individual with the drive and initiative to be part of a forward looking organisation and a new development team. The ideal candidate will have direct or indirect experience of living or working with mental health conditions, particularly bipolar, and of the key issues facing people with lived experience of the condition and their support networks.

They will have experience of designing and developing innovative services for people with lived experience of mental ill health and of developing and delivering new projects or initiatives, including project planning, monitoring and evaluation and reporting. For further requirements, please see the attached person specification.

Organisation Profile

Bipolar Scotland is Scotland’s charity for people living with bipolar. Our vision is for a good life for everyone in Scotland who lives with bipolar. We are member led, collaborative, advocates of peer support, focused on equality and rights based. See our website bipolarscotland.org.uk for further information.

Around since 1923, SAMH is Scotland’s national mental health charity.

SAMH has represented the voice of people most affected by mental health problems in Scotland for more than 90 years.

Today, in over 60 communities we work with adults and young people providing mental health social care support, services in primary care, schools and further education, among others. These services together with our national programme work in See Me, respectme, suicide prevention and active living; inform our policy and campaign work to influence positive social change.

SAMH is dedicated to mental health and wellbeing for all: with a vision of a society where people are able to live their lives fully, regardless of present or past circumstances.

SAMH Glenlora Service are looking for a support worker to be part of an innovative service which makes a positive impact on the lives of the people who use the service.

For Scotland’s Mental Health

As a Support Worker, you will carry key-worker responsibility for a number of service users, some of whom will require individual support. This will involve supporting people to develop outcome-focused action plans, carrying out assessments and reviews and contributing to the facilitation and development of therapeutic groups

Your attitude and personality matter as much as your skills and experiences. We are looking for initiative, creativity, energy and determination and the ability to motivate and inspire service users to develop their skills and self-confidence and realise their aspirations.

You will have excellent communication and inter-personal skills and knowledge and experience in supporting people with mental health problems. The post involves evening work which is covered on a rota basis.

Since 1981, Alzheimer Scotland has been campaigning for the rights and promoting the physical, mental and emotional well-being of people living with dementia, their families and carers.

The Community Activities Organiser is central to our success, in sourcing, planning, organising and facilitating social, recreational and therapeutic activities both digitally and in the local community ensuring that people living with dementia are encouraged, have access to, and can participate in a varied range of activities which are designed to enhance their quality of life and enjoyment.

The role

The key role of the Community Activities Organiser role is to:

• Understand the various community types that exist and consider the activities that will help each community to flourish
• Advertise and promote activities and events, to ensure that every person living with dementia in the locality is aware, feels encouraged, has access to, and knows they can participate in the activities at their will
• Lead the development and organisation of individual and group, social, recreational and therapeutic activities and interests
• Initiate, develop and maintain effective working relationships with other partners working in the field of dementia in the local voluntary, statutory and private sectors

The successful candidate will

• Be flexible, self-motivated and dynamic with excellent communication and influencing skills, and ability to work effectively without close supervision
• Have a proven track record of experience in each of the above elements of the role
• Be committed to collaborative working and learning from others
• Be experienced and show a good understanding of best practice in organising the provision of therapeutic interventions for people living with dementia, their families and carers

The location

This role will cover the West Dunbartonshire locality with a base within our Dementia Resource Centre at 6-8 Miller Street, Clydebank. A driving licence and access to a car during working hours is essential.

Why should you apply?

This is an exciting opportunity if you love supporting people to make a difference in their lives. The role enables you to bring your expertise and your network together to provide community activities that will enable people living with dementia to meet their individual outcomes.

Around since 1923, SAMH is Scotland’s national mental health charity. SAMH has represented the voice of people most affected by mental health problems in Scotland for more than 90 years. Today, in over 60 communities we work with adults and young people providing mental health social care support, services in primary care, schools and further education, among others. These services together with our national programme work in See Me, respectme, suicide prevention and active living; inform our policy and campaign work to influence positive social change.

SAMH is dedicated to mental health and wellbeing for all: with a vision of a society where people are able to live their lives fully, regardless of present or past circumstances.

For Scotland’s Mental Health

This is a new and exciting post created by the Delivery and Development team to support and embed a framework for practice within services, reporting directly to the Policy and Practice Development Manager. You will be expected to work closely with the Service Management Teams and other relevant personnel to ensure that services are delivered to a high standard and demonstrate evidence of continuous improvement.

This role includes supporting the Policy and Practice Development Manager to create, review or revise policies and procedures that affect operational activities. You would be responsible for creating audit tools and programs to review various processes in services to ensure standards are being followed. The role requires supporting and working with Service Managers to discuss and embed quality assurance needs according to their services and external regulation or monitoring and to share best practice throughout services.

Travel across Scotland is likely to be required which will be planned in advance, to support the development of core skills of staff through service assurance visits.

We expect the post holder to demonstrate positive leadership attributes, enabling positive team cultures and the ability to influence and effectively manage change and relationships within services teams.

*We are operating a flexible working policy at SAMH and will discuss with post-holder requirements of location office base, ways of working and travel