It does not matter whether your route into leadership has been through children and families services, youth work, social care, community support, housing, education, health or the voluntary sector. If you care about young people being safe, supported and able to stay connected to the people who matter to them, and you know how to lead a team with compassion, clarity and confidence, this could be the next move for you.
Right There is developing a Highland-wide Intensive Family Support Service for young people aged 12 to 18 who are at risk of criminal exploitation, or who may be at risk of being accommodated away from their families. Working intensively over 12 weeks, the service will provide flexible support that builds on each young person’s and family’s strengths, helping them access the right support at the right time.
The team will work across Highland in close partnership with Social Work, Police, Education, Health and voluntary sector partners to offer multi-agency, wraparound support that helps young people stay safe and families stay together wherever possible.
Right There has spent 200 years standing alongside people in Scotland. Last year, we supported almost 4,000 people to stay in their homes and stay connected to the people they love. We provide tailored support for people living with the effects of homelessness, poverty, addiction or family breakdown, meeting people where they are with no judgement and walking alongside them at the right time.
What you’ll do
- Lead with care and confidence. You will lead, support and develop a team of Family Support Workers, creating the conditions for colleagues to do their best work.
- Keep children and families at the centre. You will make sure support is flexible, strengths-based, psychologically informed and grounded in GIRFEC principles.
- Support safe, high-quality practice. You will help ensure child protection, safeguarding and professional boundaries are understood, followed and reviewed.
- Build strong partnerships. You will work closely with Social Work, Police, Education, Health, funders, referrers and voluntary sector partners to support joined-up outcomes.
- Manage service delivery well. You will oversee planning, performance information, quality assurance, reporting, complaints and continuous improvement.
- Support learning and development. You will facilitate supervision, reflective practice, team meetings, training and ongoing professional development.
- Use resources responsibly. You will help manage budgets, meet funder requirements and make sure the service is delivered within agreed specifications.
What you’ll bring
You may already be managing a children and families, youth support, social care, community or third sector service, or you may be ready for a wider leadership role where your judgement, organisation and values-led practice can make a real difference. We are interested in the experience you bring, how you work with people and your commitment to learning.
- You hold SVQ 4 in Social Services and Health Care, SVQ 4 in Social Services Children and Young People and SVQ 4 in Management, or an equivalent qualification at SCQF level.
- You have experience of managing, coaching, supervising or developing people.
- You understand current legislation, policy and practice relating to children, young people, wellbeing and safeguarding, including GIRFEC and the Children and Young People Scotland Act 2014.
- You have knowledge of child protection and safeguarding protocols, including responding to concerns in practice.
- You understand some of the key issues facing children, young people and families in Scotland today.
- You can plan, prioritise and make thoughtful decisions, including when situations are complex or urgent.
- You communicate clearly and respectfully, in writing and in person.
- You can build positive working relationships with colleagues, partners, funders, referrers and the people we support.
You do not need to have followed one fixed route into this role. Experience in children and families services, care experienced young people’s support, community development, youth work, social work, counselling, psychology, service planning, quality assurance or partnership working could all be relevant. If this role excites you but you do not meet every point, we still encourage you to apply.
Our offer
- Full-time, permanent
- 35 hours per week, worked Monday to Friday between 9.00am and 5.00pm, with a one-hour unpaid break.
- Salary up to £38,896 per annum.
- Core place of work: 34 Station Square, Inverness, IV1 1LE, with travel across Highland as required.
- Annual leave of 210 hours, equivalent to 6 weeks, rising to 280 hours, equivalent to 8 weeks, after year one. This includes public holidays.
- People’s Pension, subject to eligibility.
- Flexible working around programme needs.
- Access to wellbeing support, learning and development, funded qualifications where appropriate, Cycle to Work, Health Shield, Blue Light Card and other employee benefits.
If this sounds like the kind of role where your leadership, values and commitment to children, young people and families could make a real difference, we would love to hear from you. Please tell us about your experience, what matters to you about this work and how you would help create a service where young people, families and colleagues feel respected, supported and able to thrive.
Applications will be considered as they are received, so we encourage you to apply early as the advert may close before the advertised closing date.