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.

Relationships Scotland is the largest provider of family and relationship support in the country. We offer relationship counselling, family mediation and child contact centres through a network of 21 Member Services across Scotland. Around 18,000 people receive a face-to-face service each year.

We are looking to appoint a new treasurer to join our Board. The treasurer will be responsible for overseeing financial matters on behalf of our Board and will be responsible for ensuring that the organisation has robust financial processes to ensure it meets its legal and constitutional requirements. While we encourage and welcome applicants of all backgrounds, we are keen to hear from candidates that have experience of charity financial management or are chartered in a suitable accountancy field.

This role would include four board meetings a year (currently a mix of in person and online), along with four online Office Bearer meetings each year, and our AGM.

We want our Board to reflect the diversity of the modern communities we work with, and value the benefits of having different experience and points of view on our Board. We particularly welcome applications from people living with a disability or long-term health condition, LGBTQ+ people, younger people and those from ethnic minority communities.

Barnardo's Highland are developing a new partnership service with the Highland Council, supporting care experienced children and young people with additional needs.

This is a new service within Highland which will look at the individual needs of children and young people and develop bespoke residential care packages using a right based, trauma informed approach working with the whole family around the child.

The team working with the children will enrich their lives through care, support and activities which will be aimed at raising self-esteem, promoting a sense of mastery, and enabling the children to access experiences that are individually tailored to their interests and nurture their talents. The team will work with the wider partnership to ensure that Educational and Health needs are met.

We are looking to appoint a Team Manager to join this service and who has the below experience.

• Excellent communication skills, verbally and written.
• Experience in working with Children with additional and complex needs.
• Experience working in a supervisory role.
• Experience of Leading and Managing Care Services.
• Ability to demonstrate a strong understanding of child protection, safeguarding and working with vulnerable children.
• The post holder must have an excellent working knowledge of Children in Care and Care Experienced Young People.
• Experience of chairing meetings, working in partnership with other agencies and staff supervision / coaching / mentoring is essential.
• Use of IT is significant and candidates must be able to use and maintain client record systems.

Some of the Key Responsibilities include:

• Providing a ‘duty' management role to the service, offering information, advice and support with operational day-to-day running of the service.
• Ensuring consistent use of policies, procedures and processes.
• Attending appropriately to the physical and emotional needs of children and young people, including health and safety aspects of equipment, environment and activities in consultation with Children's Services Manager.
• To establish fair, respectful, trusting, supportive and constructive relationships with parents and children, communicating sensitively and effectively

The post holder must have the Qualifications relevant to meet the requirement of the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and hold the Registration for the Care Inspectorate, or be willing to work towards this.

Do you have relevant experience of working with children and young people with a disability/and or autism or relevant experience in a similar sector or work environment?

About Aberlour Options Fife - Respite and Outreach

Options Fife Respite and Outreach provides a range of flexible support through outreach and overnight short breaks at weekends, evenings and school holidays to children and young people with complex learning disabilities and autism. We offer a high-quality child centred service providing positive and enabling experiences for the young people, supporting them through the challenges and complexities that enable them to work towards their individual outcomes and personal goals. We work closely with families and other professionals in providing support tailored around the child’s plan.

What we are looking for....

We are looking to recruit two Young People’s Worker Nights, working four nights on (10 hours per night) every second week. You will play a fundamental role in ensuring that the young people you work with have the best possible experience in working towards their objectives in line with their care plan, supporting children to progress within their individual outcomes. Whilst not without its challenges and demands, this is a highly rewarding role, where the work we do has a demonstrable impact on each young person's progress. Using a person-centred approach, you will provide enabling support ensuring the highest level of physical, personal, and emotional care. We support young people who have epilepsy, need personal care and need gastrostomy feeding. Aberlour, in conjunction with NHS, provides all staff with training.

We are looking for candidates who have a passion for working with young people with disabilities. It is desired but not essential that candidates hold a relevant qualification at an SCQF level 7 or above. Due to SSSC requirements you may be required to gain qualifications after starting with Aberlour.

At Aberlour we want to make sure every child and young person has the love, support and opportunity they need to reach their potential. If you share the same vision, we want you to join our team.

What we offer...

As well as a supportive team and excellent training opportunities, we want all our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, we'll recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers. Find out more about our Employee Benefits and our commitment to Equality and Diversity on our website.