Learning Network West is a unique organisation, supporting Social Work Education and developing practice learning opportunities across the West of Scotland. We work closely with HEI and Local Authority funding partners across the West of Scotland to fulfil three core functions: the Mental Health Officer Award Programme, The Professional Development Award in Practice Learning, and social work student placement matching and development. As part of this existing work, the Network is working closely with stakeholders, including Scottish Government, SSSC and our partners, to ensure continued contribution and commitment to the on-going development of social work education in Scotland.

Due to the ending of a secondment, we are excited to be seeking appointment for a Practice Learning Development Officer (PDAPL Co-ordinator). The post holder will be responsible for working in partnership, to plan, deliver and evaluate the PDAPL programme. The successful candidate will be responsible for the practice elements of the programme, including the strategic developments and operational oversight. The post holder will represent Learning Network West as a conduit in Social Work Education across Scotland.

Learning Network West is committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion among our workforce, and eliminating unlawful discrimination. Secondments welcome.

Purpose of post: The post holder will be responsible for working in partnership, to plan, deliver and evaluate the PDAPL programme. The successful candidate will be responsible for the practice elements of the programme, including the strategic developments and operational oversight. The post holder will represent Learning Network West as a conduit in Social Work Education across Scotland.

Main responsibilities:

• Co-ordination of candidate selection, including standardisation between SQA centres, cohort adverts, facilitating information session, reading all applications and chairing selection panel, writing decision letters and providing one to one feedback for unsuccessful candidates.
• Undertake assessment and internal verification of candidates.
• Co-ordinate assessment and verification activities, including assessor and verifier induction and registration, annual CPD records, chairing portfolio and standardisation meetings (approx. 18 meetings a year), ensuring assessment and verification adheres to both award standards (SSSC) and validation requirements (SQA).
• Development and review of course materials, including assessment instruments, methodologies and portfolio, handbook, selection materials, teaching materials, policies and strategy documents. To be cognisant of legislative, policy and practice developments and ensure programme continues to meet the broad needs or partners, regulatory and validating bodies.
• Co-ordinating ongoing CPL activities for assessors and verifiers.
• Co-ordinating and tutoring on a taught programme (covering topics including assessment, supervision, adult learning, reflection, emotional intelligence, evidence based practice, leadership, evaluation and change processes).
• Evaluation of all programme activities.
• Maintaining accurate, up to date candidate and assessment records, including candidate progress and deferrals.
• Producing annual quality assurance monitoring, external verification and systems verification reports.
• Collating, analysing and producing a range of monitoring information for stakeholders, including the West Learning partnership (12 local authorities and 5 HEI’s).
• The design, facilitation and evaluation of assessor and verifier induction programmes.
• Chair Practice Learning Award Management Group and undertake any tasks allocated – over the next year this will likely include the implementation of revised Group Award Specification (following recent SQA review) and subsequent amendments to portfolio handbook and taught materials.
• Co-ordination and investigation of complaints and misconduct procedures.
• E-portfolio induction programme, monthly e-portfolio surgeries and ongoing/ as and when support for candidates, assessors and verifiers.

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.

We have an exciting new opportunity for an individual who is passionate about community development lead and volunteer coordination at The Salisbury Centre. We are recruiting a Community Development Lead and Volunteer Co-ordinator.

As our Community Development Lead and Volunteer Coordinator, you'll be instrumental in collaborating with our committed community members, volunteers, centre attendees, and outreach initiatives. In your role as volunteer coordinator, you'll lead the recruitment, organization, administration, and engagement of volunteers, with a strong emphasis on ensuring each volunteer feels valued, supported, and aligned with the Centre’s core values. As a Community Development Lead, you'll guide and empower individuals and groups to pursue their interests and aspirations within the Centre. This involves mentoring individuals to participate in community events, volunteer work, and share their skills.

Essential Skills

• Excellent communication skills including networking.
• Strong interpersonal skills, to manage a diverse range of people.
• Experience in volunteer coordination, recruitment, training and/mentorship.
• Facilitation experience – hosting and supporting community events.
• Capacity to inspire and motive others.
• Experience in community outreach.

Desirable Skills

• Experience working with vulnerable groups.
• Relevant volunteer qualifications/training
• Experience managing, mentoring, and evaluating mentorship and volunteering.

The Young Women’s Movement is Scotland's national organisation for young women and girls' leadership and rights.

Young women are at the heart of everything we do and we work collectively to equip with them the resources, networks and platforms to lead meaningful change and create a more equal society.

We exist because we want young women and girls’ needs and rights to be met. We believe in a society where everyone has the opportunity to live their lives to their fullest and we will continue to strive until that society is secured.

To help us achieve this, the Learning & Engagement Worker role has been created to:

• Extend our reach to even more young women and girls through a range of engaging youth work programmes that build skills and create change
• Support the delivery of our programmes and training for both young women participants and our volunteers
• Create safe spaces for young women to engage and learn, encouraging supportive and meaningful relationships to develop

Everyone who works at Young Women’s Movement:

• Has equality at the heart of everything they do
• Takes a participatory approach to our work. We are for young women and by young women
• Builds communities of friendship and support networks, finding joy in our collective actions and connections
• Understands the impact of challenging inequality on those most affected by it. We lead with kindness and empathy, putting collective wellbeing at the core of our organisation
• Delivers our work with integrity and are proud of the work we do
• Are bold and brave. We do not shy away from challenging the status quo and taking radical steps to make gender equality a reality in Scotland

How you'll help to create a fairer Scotland for young women and girls:

• Deliver our Learning and Engagement programmes e.g. Empowering Pathways using a youth work approach to reach more young women and girls and support their participation in the movement
• Support the development, session planning and delivery of new youth work initiatives and activities that support young women & girls
• Support the Learning & Engagement Coordinator to reach and engage young women and girls in our spaces and services
• Work with young women and girls on our programmes and signpost them to opportunities for their continued engagement both within our movement and in communities/wider society
• Assist the Learning & Engagement Coordinator with support to our volunteers
• Undertake administrative tasks to support the planning, onboarding, preparation, delivery and evaluation of our Learning & Engagement programmes
• Gather Learning & Engagement content to share with our Comms Team e.g. photographs, stories, videos etc.
• Create safe, sustainable spaces with and for young women
• Commit to an intersectional feminist approach and break down the barriers to young women’s participation, ensuring our spaces and programmes are accessible and inclusive to all
• Comply with the YWM’s procedures and practice including Health and Safety, Safeguarding and Data Protection
• Work collaboratively across the organisation, and where appropriate support colleagues in other teams
• Undertake any other duties that may arise

Let’s talk about you - you will already have or be working towards:

Essential

• Experience working with young people
• Knowledge and commitment to an intersectional feminist way of working
• Commitment to delivering high quality and meaningful experiences for young women on our programmes and our volunteers
• Passionate about enabling change for young women and girls through a range of learning interventions and programmes
• Strong time management and organisational skills
• An engaging and warm facilitation approach to build confidence and opportunities for young women that have the potential to create positive change, locally and nationally
• Willingness to work flexibly and travel across Scotland when necessary - our delivery is often in the evenings or weekends. Currently most of our programmes are delivered in Glasgow and the surrounding areas
• Commitment to own continuing professional development
• A flexible and adaptable approach

Desirable

• Experience and knowledge of youth work principles and approaches
• Experience of youth participation / delivering programmes that are co-designed with and for young women
• Ability to evaluate projects meaningfully and effectively for maximum impact.
• IT skills and experience of using Microsoft Teams, Word, PowerPoint & Excel, and Canva
• Experience of using social media platforms for awareness raising and system-changing campaigns
• A full, clean driving license and access to a vehicle

Why you should want to work with us!

• We operate a 4-day working week, which means full-time is 28 hours
• We offer flexible working options and patterns, including the option to work hybrid from anywhere in Scotland (our co-working space is in Edinburgh)
• Our annual leave entitlement is 28 days a year, including public holidays
• We provide 1 additional day of annual leave for your birthday (or to take another time that you would like to celebrate)
• All staff members are enrolled in our Employer Life Assurance Scheme
• You can access a range of benefits and discounts through our life assurance app
• We are committed to supporting staff development through training and coaching opportunities
• Wellbeing and mental health support are a priority, all of our staff can access counselling through our EAP provider.
• We have a number of feminist policies to support our staff
• You’ll be joining an intergenerational team that will embrace your ideas and support and encourage you to bring your whole self to work

Due to the nature of our work with children and young people, successful applicants will be required to undergo a disclosure check through the PVG Scheme.

Don't meet every single requirement?

Studies show that women and Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic people are less likely to apply for a job unless they meet every qualification. So, if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with the job description, we'd love you to apply anyway. You might just be the perfect person for this role, or another role within The Young Women’s Movement family.

Reporting to: Learning & Engagement Lead

Location: Hybrid – Our co-working space is in Edinburgh with delivery taking place across Scotland, specifically Glasgow and the surrounding areas.