VOCAL - Voice of Carers Across Lothian - seeks two enthusiastic and experienced Carer Brokerage Practitioners to join its busy and expanding team to provide brokerage support to carers across Edinburgh and Midlothian.

VOCAL is a carer-led organisation and provides a wide range of services to support unpaid carers in their caring role. Postholders will be expected to work as part of a team, improve outcomes for carers and maximise uptake of VOCAL and community services.

Postholders will be part of a SDS focused project, VOCAL about Independent Living funded by Support in the Right Direction, Inspiring Scotland. They will liaise with staff, relevant organisations and the funder whilst running the project, including Lothian Centre for Inclusive Living (LCiL) who will also have a funded post as part of this project . SDS carer support is already well established at VOCAL, and postholders will be able to benefit from the expertise of the practitioners who have been involved with SDS support to date.

Applicants will evidence excellent people, and communication skills, brokerage and person-centred support work. Applicants will also demonstrate awareness of the diverse range of caring situations, the impact of caring on peoples’ lives and barriers carers face at different points of the caring journey. Good working knowledge of health and social care will be expected, with preference given to candidates with applied knowledge of self-directed support. Applicants will be digitally competent and effective communicators with individuals, carer groups and partner agencies.

We are recruiting a Recovery Development Coordinator to deliver and develop the Inverclyde Recovery Communities Service across Inverclyde.

The post holder will be responsible for the strategic and operational delivery and development of our 7 days a week, including evenings and weekends Recovery Communities Service, with support from our staff team. This includes;

• Delivering and developing of our 7 day Recovery service, with support from our Recovery staff and volunteers, ensuring we meet the outcomes of the Recovery Communities Services contract.
• Co-ordinating and developing recovery activity incorporating a range of partner services and supports.
• Day to day line management, support, supervision, and development of our recovery staff. This will include the completion of relevant paperwork and follow up actions accordingly.
• Supporting the delivery and development of our volunteer recruitment, training, support and supervision, ensuring compliance with policies and procedures.
• Accurately recording and producing regular activity, progress and evidenced based reports, incorporating monitoring and evaluation processes.
• Actively participate and bring the lived experience collective voice to the Alcohol & Drug Partnership and associated strategic planning and development groups.
• Work closely with partners to develop and review effective pathways and process for referrals and partnership working.
• Ensure relevant risk assessments are completed, implemented, and reviewed.
• Adopt and promote Trauma Informed Practice.
• Triage referrals, including self referrals and carry a small case load.
• Deliver and develop awareness raising campaigns and organise community events.

The post holder will also be responsible for line managing and supporting the recovery staff team to deliver the outcomes of the Recovery Communities service. This will include supporting them to;

• Provide both one to one and group peer support
• Utilise an enabling approach to empower individuals
• Provide practical assistance to enable individuals to access treatment and harm reduction services.
• Connect individuals referred to the service to a wide variety of community support.
• Build the capacity and knowledge of individuals to enable them to make an informed choice
• Offer emotional support build confidence and connections to empower individuals to share their experiences and develop support networks
• Enable individuals, through a peer relationship model, to utilise recognised coping, self-help and management techniques.
• Delivery and development of volunteer recruitment, training, support and supervision, ensuring compliance with policies and procedures.
• Work as part of a team alongside colleagues from a range of statutory and voluntary services
• Challenge negative self-talk and promote self - belief and confidence to achieve their own recovery
• Support and develop the Lived Experience Network, capturing feedback on issues/barriers, and ideas for developing solutions, to inform future service delivery
• Work to address stigma and barriers to community integration and recovery

Person Specification

Required abilities and experience

• Experience of delivering a similar service
• Knowledge and understanding of Recovery Orientated System of Care and recovery approaches, tools and techniques
• Ability to play a leading role in contributing to the development of Recovery Communities across Inverclyde.
• Experience of managing and supporting staff.
• Good organisational, planning, monitoring, and evaluation skills
• Effective communication skills across a range of diverse situations and environments, setting and maintaining high professional standards and values.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills including digital tools and system literacy.
• Knowledge and understanding of Recovery models including the role of Peer Mentors.
• Understanding of the impact of substance misuse on individuals, their families and communities.
• Good team working skills.
• Strong values of empathy and understanding relating to individuals, families and communities affected by alcohol and drug misuse.

Desirable

• Relevant qualification or at least 2 years’ experience in a similar role.
• At least 2 years’ experience of people or volunteer management skills.
• Experience in leading and managing change and implementing new practices.
• Experience in Assets Based Community Development work.

“Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another and feeling the heart of another”

Alfred Adler

| Compassion | Integrity | Respect | Realising Potential | Inclusion |

Health in Mind is one of Scotland’s best-known and trusted Mental Health Charities. Established in 1982 we have evolved in response to need which means we actively promote positive mental health in local communities across Scotland. Our vision is straight forward, we build hope and live life through our values because people are at the heart of what we do.

We have a great opportunity for a number of experienced practitioners to join our team. You will bring compassion, integrity, positivity and reflection, delivering effective and high-quality support to those individuals who access support from Future Pathways.

Future Pathways offers support to people who were abused or neglected a child when they were in the Scottish care system. The service was established alongside the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry and has expanded considerably since its start in 2016. Future Pathways’ aim is to help people live well. To change paths, enjoy life, succeed and grow.

Reaching our shortlist is straightforward providing you can say ‘yes’ to our list of ‘must haves’. You can start your journey now by simply downloading an application pack from our website but before you start your travels, please kindly make sure the following ‘fits’ into your career and personal attributions rucksack because life is a journey.

• We’d like a degree in Health and Social Care, Social Work or equivalent but, if you hold a recognised, relevant professional qualification at a minimum SVQ Level 4 with relevant workplace experience this works too.
• Up to date child and vulnerable adult protection knowledge together and ideally completion of suicide prevention training such as ASIST.
• You are an exceptional compassionate individual with experience of working with those in society who’ve faced personal challenges, childhood disturbance, abuse, separation, institutional care and trauma
• Curiosity, empathy and a focus on learning, empowerment, collaboration and self- awareness.
• Experience of personal outcomes focused approaches, working in partnership with people to set goals, agree plan and support people to achieve their potential.
• Able to hold hope and walk alongside someone on their journey, you are good at nurturing self confidence and supporting people to make positive changes in their lives
• Worked with staff in accordance with the statutory framework and requirement including GDPR, BACP, the SSSC and the Care Inspectorate.
• Knowledge of and positive engagement with Impact Evaluation and Quality Assurance Frameworks for the purposes of continuous improvement. and practice development.

With a great range of benefits including 30 days annual leave plus 10 public holidays and 2 wellbeing days, we work fulltime 36.25 hours per week.

Committed to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, we embrace and encourage people from all walks of life, including welcoming applications from Neurodiverse individuals. It is important to us that you feel comfortable and confident and, as such, we are willing to adjust or adapt our application, interview and selection process to suit your needs, including working patterns and hybrid working wherever and whenever we can. Simply contact us and we’ll come back to you.

This role does, however, require periodic but not continuous office presence.

A fantastic opportunity has become available within the Fundraising & Engagement Team to deliver significant income from two key income streams and sustain our mission to ensure nobody faces dementia alone.

The Fundraising & Engagement Coordinator will report to the Fundraising & Engagement Leader, contributing to the delivery of our strategic objectives.

Whilst the role will work collaboratively to support all income streams, we are particularly keen to hear from anyone who has prior Corporate Partnership and/or Major Donor experience.

We are looking for someone who is naturally optimistic and empathetic, with a can-do attitude. You will be a self-starter, comfortable working independently, who thrives on building meaningful relationships. Applicants should enjoy and have a track record of working in a fast-paced and varied environment.

Successful applicants will have a positive attitude towards dementia, along with excellent communication skills and a caring manner. A pro-active approach to learn and participate in training will also be expected.