Crisis activity centre manager jobs in Edinburgh

This is an exciting opportunity to build and lead a trusted online peer support service that people affected by Motor Neurone Disease (MND) rely on.  As an Online Communities Lead, you will have the autonomy to shape how the forum develops. You will take ownership of a live online service, with clear accountability for moderation standards, platform governance and overall service quality.

As an Online Communities Lead, you will make independent moderation decisions, including assessing safeguarding risks and applying proportionate escalation in complex situations. You will be comfortable holding responsibility for service-level risk, working within clear governance frameworks while acting decisively when it matters most.

You will act as product owner and primary administrator for the platform, managing configuration, permissions, workflows and continuous improvement. The Online Communities Lead will also lead and support a team of online volunteers, ensuring their wellbeing while maintaining consistent service standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Take ownership of and lead the day-to-day delivery of online peer support services
• Act as primary administrator and product owner of the community platform
• Manage moderation, safeguarding concerns and complex risk escalation
• Ensure compliance with GDPR, Online Safety Act and organisational standards
• Analyse community data to inform service development and reporting
• Grow reach and improve accessibility
• Manage external suppliers supporting the platform
• Lead, recruit and support online community volunteers
• Maintain service continuity plans and respond to incidents

About You

Essential:

• Experience managing online community platforms and tools
• Strong knowledge of GDPR and Online Safety Act requirements
• Experience handling complaints and crisis situations, including content moderation, escalation protocols
• Ability to analyse community metrics and report on impact
• Confident communicator, able to represent community voices
• Experience managing or supporting volunteers, including remote management

Desirable:

• Understanding of person-centred and accessible digital support
• Experience developing or improving online services
• Experience working with external partners or agencies
• Background in a charity or peer support environment

Hybrid working expectations: This role is home-based with occasional travel to our Northampton office

Further information about MND Association and full job description is available in the attached Candidate Pack.

We are committed to equality, diversity, and inclusivity. We work to remove barriers for everyone affected by MND, employees, volunteers, and stakeholders.

As part of the Disability Confident Scheme, we guarantee interviews for disabled applicants who meet the role's requirements.

What We Offer

• 28 days holiday, increasing to 33 days after 5 years, plus Bank Holidays
• Access to UK Healthcare, including dental, eyecare, health screenings, and therapies
• 24/7 GP access via phone and video
• Life assurance and confidential counselling helplines
• Salary sacrifice schemes (Cycle to Work, Buy/Sell Annual Leave)
• Access to Benefit Hub for discounts on everyday shopping
• Enhanced pension scheme
• Opportunities for training and personal development

About Us

Motor Neurone Disease moves fast. It takes away time, it takes away independence and it has no cure. Every day we support people affected by MND. We fund ground-breaking research. We campaign for better care. We’re here for everyone who needs us. Because with MND, every day matters.

About Us

People’s Economy aims to build the agency and power of people facing injustice and working for social change so that they have the expertise, capabilities and resources to develop their own analysis of how the economic system is a root cause of the injustice they face, develop strategies to change it and then take action with others. Our vision is for a world with economies that meet the needs and priorities of people currently experiencing economic injustice.

About the Role

This role leads our work across Birmingham at an exciting moment. We are developing a participatory, community-centred approach to analysing the city's economy, identifying opportunities for change and coordinating alliances to act on them. This means bringing together mixed groups, including grassroots changemakers, researchers, funders and other partners, and facilitating processes that help people make sense of complex information together, find common ground and make decisions about collective priorities. The role requires someone who can hold these processes well: strong facilitation skills, communicating complex ideas accessibly, building trust across groups, sustaining momentum over time and helping diverse coalitions move from analysis to strategy to action.

The Senior Programme and Network Lead will develop and deliver initiatives that support a growing movement for economic justice across the city, with a particular focus on building support and engagement amongst grassroots changemakers and communities experiencing economic injustice. It will manage projects and resources, conduct programme development and delivery, oversee outreach and partnerships, changemaker recruitment and contribute to fundraising, ultimately playing a key role in shaping our regional impact. This position is crucial in coordinating our work across Birmingham and driving meaningful collaboration with local and national stakeholders, in particular working collaboratively with Economic Justice Brum, a long-standing initiative working on local economic systems change.

Online Open House

Come and meet us! Candidates are invited to attend an information webinar and to meet some of the team on Wednesday 13th May at 12pm or Wednesday 21st May at 5pm. Both webinars will cover the same content, so there is no need to attend both.

For the full role description, Open House registration information and details on how to apply please visit our website by clicking 'How to Apply' below.

The Therapies Caseworker will be responsible for supporting delivery of Ben’s therapy provision including Ben’s 24/7 support line and onward therapy referrals. This role requires strong administration and caseworking skills, a level of specialist knowledge or experience and a commitment to providing person centred, compassionate support for those who are struggling or in crisis.

Key responsibilities

• • Provide access to information, advice and guidance regarding Ben’s 24/7 support line and therapy provision.
  • Supporting the Therapies Co-ordinator to manage therapy referrals for service users, helping to ensure that support is delivered in a timely and effective manner.
  • Facilitate referrals to external providers and third parties as applicable to meet service user needs.
  • Review referrals from Ben’s external provider of 24/7 support line and counselling services to assess and provide casework that require ongoing contact whilst receiving therapy support and collaborate with internal and external stakeholders a required, including Ben’s Support Case Managers should this be required.
  • Advocate for service users should this be needed to help ensure the appropriate and effective support and care can be accessed.
  • Help to ensure all service users receive appropriate and effective support and care throughout their engagement with Ben’s support line and therapy provision.
  • Provide emotional support and crisis intervention for service users should the need arise.
  • Maintaining and updating accurate service user records in maintaining confidentiality and GDPR requirements.

· To communicate in a professional and sensitive manner clinical and non-clinical advice and guidance within the scope of the service and practice to both internal and external stakeholders.

· Support Ben’s Urgent Response Service offering briefings, providing listening ear activity and therapeutic activities as and when required.

• • Support with the ongoing management and expansion of Ben’s therapy directory of providers and associates as required.

· In the absence of Therapies Co-ordinator or when needed may be required to set up new providers and associates, including due diligence checks which are also in line with new supplier requirements for financial administration.

· Support with the collection of management information and service user client outcomes and satisfaction data and insights.

· Collaborate on initiatives and projects that advance Ben’s charitable mission and objectives.

· Ensure any associated targets, SLA’s are worked towards and achieved and any underperformance is escalated accordingly.

· There may be times when the Therapies Caseworker may be required to support additional duties or projects. This will be discussed with them and agreed with their line manager.

Whilst this role does not specifically require the individual in post to be a clinician, this would be a desirable and enable the postholder to deliver internal therapeutic support for specific cases, providing telephone / virtual counselling sessions to identified individuals. In this instance, the postholder would also be required to maintain their professional registrations and CPD (Continuing Professional Development) as applicable, this will be supported by the organisation also.

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities and will be regularly reviewed and amended, as necessary.

Job Specific Competencies

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport and establish positive relationships with service users, colleagues, and external partners.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple cases and priorities effectively and maintain accurate and detailed records.
• Proficiency in crisis intervention techniques and the ability to provide emotional support and guidance to service users in distress.
• Ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and external stakeholders, and to represent the organisation effectively in professional settings.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to coordinate referrals to third parties.

• Compassionate and empathetic, with a genuine desire to support individuals and families affected by mental health issues and provide them with the care and support they need.
• Resilient and adaptable, with the ability to remain calm and composed in high-pressure situations and effectively manage stress and challenging circumstances.
• Ethical and professional, with a commitment to upholding the highest standards of confidentiality, integrity, and ethical conduct in all aspects of work.

· Collaborative and team-oriented, with a willingness to collaborate with colleagues, share knowledge and expertise, and contribute to a positive and supportive team culture.

· Commitment to ongoing learning and professional development, with a willingness to stay informed about emerging trends, research, and best practices in counselling and therapy.

· Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks, manage multiple responsibilities, and meet deadlines.

• Proficient in the use of Microsoft 365 Products such as CRM & SharePoint

Should the postholder have a clinical background:

• Excellent clinical skills, with the ability to assess client needs, develop treatment plans, and provide evidence-based counselling and therapy services.

Qualifications required

· It is not an essential requirement to hold a specific qualification for this role

· It would be desirable for the postholder to have or be working towards a minimum Level 4 Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling or equivalent, or alternatively registered as a health, mental health, or social care practitioner e.g. BACP/UKCP/HCPC/BABCP or equivalent

· It would be desirable for the postholder to have a level 3 or 4 IAG qualification

· Commitment to ongoing learning and professional development, with a willingness to stay informed about emerging trends, research, and best practices in counselling and therapy.

Experience required

• Experience of providing case management / casework support
• Experience of delivering emotional or mental health triage or relevant assessment services
• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of issues affecting individuals with a broad range of psychosocial and mental health concerns, lifestyle, and wellbeing.
• Working knowledge of the legal framework in which counselling and talking therapies sits e.g. GDPR, Safeguarding & SASH (Suicide and Self-Harm) Policies and procedures.
• Experience of working in a health, mental health, social care setting.
• Experience in working effectively with people from diverse social and cultural backgrounds.
• Knowledge of mental health issues, trauma-informed care, and best practices in counselling and therapy, with a commitment to person-cantered and culturally sensitive care.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport and establish positive relationships with clients, colleagues, and external partners.
• Experience in crisis intervention, suicide prevention, or similar support line services is highly desirable.
• Ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and external stakeholders, and to represent the organisation effectively in professional settings.
• Shows commitment to Ben’s vision, purpose, and mission, with a passion for supporting individuals and their families.

Our Values

· Passionate

· Respectful

· Inclusive

· Driven

· Empowered

This job is suitable for someone who…

· Can demonstrate flexibility and be adaptable

· Is conscientious and motivated to deliver to deadlines

· Shows creativity and takes a solution focused approach

· Is open and honest and demonstrates integrity

· Has the desire to help and support others

· Is approachable

· Is passionate about the services we deliver

· Is seeking to enhance and continuously improve self and the services we provide

· Shares our ambition to save the lives of our automotive family

· Is passionate about making a positive difference to people’s lives

· Is passionate about people and their importance in making an organisation successful

· Is proactive and enjoys interacting with people from all walks of life