Parkhead CAB is seeking applications for suitably experienced and enthusiastic individuals to join our staff team. This new exciting project funded by the National Lottery Community Fund will extend our work in Barlinnie prison for our new project to encourage peer to peer advice between prisoners and engagement with community volunteering on release.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced trainer and mentor to join Parkhead Citizens Advice Bureau. The post holder will work between Barlinnie prison and Parkhead CAB. The main aim of the post is to lead a programme of personal and social development including life skills workshops and to provide support and training to enable participants to be able to deliver advice and information to their peers. The ultimate aim will be to also give the advisers the confidence and knowledge to take the skills they have learnt and gain employment and or volunteering opportunities on release. The Training Officer will be responsible for forging links in the community for relevant future placements.

The post holder should have a knowledge of advice and information ideally in a CAB or similar advice giving setting.

The Citizens Advice network in Scotland is the largest independent advice service in the country. Citizens Advice Scotland is a charity within this network – we act as a national organisation supporting and representing the service as a whole and the interests of citizens. At the heart of the network there are 59 individual citizens advice bureau across Scotland, all operating as independent charities in their own right, which focus on providing support and advice directly to clients. Each of these organisations is a member of Citizens Advice Scotland. We believe that every citizen should have access to free, impartial and confidential advice that helps them make informed decisions, whenever they need it and however, they choose to access it.

The Digital Advice Content Team’s primary role is to provide digital advice content for Scotland. The successful candidate for this role will be:

• Comfortable using evidence, data and research to make the right content decisions
• Able to contribute to and use style guides and design patterns to produce consistent content
• Someone who puts users' needs at the heart of their work, to make people's interactions with CAS content as simple and speedy as possible
• Experienced in evaluating current content strategies based on the results of user research and data for constant improvement of existing content
• Able to build relationships and work closely with policy, legal and other expert colleagues to make sure content is accurate and consistent
• Capable of promoting user-centred content design within the department and beyond
• Experienced in communicating in a straightforward, honest and engaging manner, choosing appropriate styles to maximise understanding and impact
• Encouraging the use of different communication methods, including digital resources, and highlight the benefits, including ensuring cost-effectiveness
• Ensuring communication has a clear purpose and takes into account people’s individual needs
• Able to share information as appropriate and check understanding
• Someone who shows positivity and enthusiasm towards work, encouraging others to do the same
• Confident in ensuring that important messages are communicated with colleagues and stakeholders respectfully, taking into consideration the diversity of interests
• Alert to emerging issues and trends which might impact your work area and new opportunities

This role offers you the opportunity to work at the heart of supporting Scotland's largest independent advice network and to make an invaluable contribution to citizen’s lives.

Citizens Advice Scotland is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies and flexible working arrangements to support all our staff. We are also committed to equality of opportunity for all and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

*This role is based in our Edinburgh office. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis the majority of CAS staff have been working from home, but we have now started a transition back to the office and expect all staff to be attending the office in some capacity from the end of May 2022. CAS have introduced a blended working policy to allow our employees to balance their time attending the office with time working from home, and the number of days you will be expected to attend the office each week can be discussed as part of the recruitment process. Candidates should be prepared to attend the office on their first day for an induction, and to attend the office thereafter as required.

Employee benefits

Citizens Advice Scotland offers excellent terms and conditions, including a total of 40 days leave (including public holidays) and a pension scheme with an 8% employer contribution. We have a flexitime scheme which enables our employees to work flexibly in line with organisational requirements, and as an inclusive employer we are happy to consider other flexible working arrangements where appropriate. For more details of some of the other benefits on offer to our employees, please see the section on employee benefits in the Job Pack.

For more information, please refer to the Job Pack which can be downloaded below.

The Citizens Advice network in Scotland is the largest independent advice service in the country. Citizens Advice Scotland is a charity within this network – we act as a national organisation supporting and representing the service as a whole and the interests of citizens. At the heart of the network there are 59 individual citizens advice bureau organisations across Scotland, all operating as independent charities in their own right, and generally focusing on providing support directly to clients. Each of these organisations is a member of Citizens Advice Scotland. Also providing significant added value are the national elements of the service run out of Citizens Advice Scotland, such as the Extra Help Unit. We believe that every citizen should have access to free, impartial and confidential advice that helps them make informed decisions, whenever they need it and however they choose to access it.

As a Caseworker within the Extra Help Unit, you will carry out an important role by investigating and resolving energy complaints on behalf of vulnerable consumers. You will ensure that the consumer’s personal circumstances and any detriment caused by supplier failures are fully considered when negotiating an outcome. You will deal with a range of callers who are often upset, angry or stressed about their situation. Callers may also be experiencing financial difficulties, or have mental or physical health conditions. You will be expected to support consumers in a respectful, inclusive and non-judgemental manner.

The Caseworker role is both challenging and rewarding, with the majority of complaints and circumstances being complex in nature. You will get to work within a great team, and within a constantly changing energy market with the opportunity to make a difference to people’s lives.

*This role is based in our Glasgow office. Options for hybrid working are available. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis the majority of CAS staff have been working from home, but we have now started a transition back to the office and expect all staff to be attending the office in some capacity from the end of May 2022. CAS have introduced a blended working policy to allow our employees to balance their time attending the office with time working from home, and the number of days you will be expected to attend the office each week can be discussed as part of the recruitment process. Candidates should be prepared to attend the office on their first day for an induction, and to attend the office thereafter as required.

Employee benefits

Citizens Advice Scotland offers excellent terms and conditions, including a total of 40 days leave (including public holidays) and a pension scheme with an 8% employer contribution. We have a flexitime scheme which enables our employees to work flexibly in line with organisational requirements, and as an inclusive employer we are happy to consider other flexible working arrangements where appropriate.

Kidz-Eco CIC is a well established social enterprise in West Lothian providing effective support to children and their families, in their community, when they need us most. We have a new and exciting opportunity to recruit an Employability Officer to develop and facilitate our Next Stepz employability programme.

Purpose of the Job

Our Next Stepz Programme will help build a community of confident, motivated and inspired young people with a drive to search for and attain and sustain a working life, positively engaging with their community.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, driven individual to directly support young people with barriers to employment to make progress towards employment, further education or training through volunteering.

The successful candidate will provide one-to-one support to the young person and work together to develop an individual learning plan and develop skills in their chosen area: retail, warehouse, early years, community or food and health. The Employability Officer will work closely with our Shop Managers and other key staff who will provide on-the-job training and practical work experience.

A good working knowledge of the local employability landscape will be required and the post holder will be responsible for developing positive relationships with those they are supporting, but also fellow employability partners, and other third sector organisations and businesses.