Lead youth engagement worker jobs in Edinburgh
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
ABOUT THE CLINK CHARITY
The Clink Charity, founded in 2009, aims to prevent and reduce reoffending through training, rehabilitation, and support. We deliver hospitality and horticulture training behind the prison walls and in the community by creating an environment where our students are supported to gain the skills, confidence and qualifications they need to rebuild their lives.
Since that time, we have trained approximately 5,000 people in prison and delivered 2,600 City & Guilds qualifications in a variety of hospitality and food courses.
What makes The Clink so unique is our post-release support and mentoring programme that rehabilitates an offender back into society through assistance with health and mental health issues, housing, employment, family connections and friendships.
The charity operates an award-winning fine-dining restaurant open to the public inside HMP Brixton, training kitchens in the prison estate, horticulture projects at HMP Send and HMP Erlestoke, a commercial bakery in Brixton, and a bespoke delivery service, Catered by Clink.
Additionally, Clink Events is our social enterprise catering business with food produced by the women in HMP Downview and also in an additional kitchen at Herne Hill and then served by alumni on front of house at some of the best venues in London including: the Guildhall, the Science Museum, Cutty Sark, Kew Gardens and the Camden Roundhouse. In 2024, across 218 events, The Clink fed 36,000 people.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Support and Employment Worker will provide a high quality and responsive mentoring and advocacy service which creatively addresses the needs and risks of our students and graduates to enable them to avoid further offending and to obtain and maintain employment upon release.
Our students and graduates will come from multiple prison sites across the London and the South East region, so careful diary management, logistical planning and travel are key components of the role.
This is a flexible role, mostly based at HMP Brixton, but will also include travelling between
HMP Downview and HMP Send multiple prisons and our Clink Training Café site in Herne Hill, with some working from home and managing a community caseload of graduates who have been released.
The Support and Employment Worker will develop action plans with each student in prison to support them in obtaining employment upon release and also in developing independent living skills to work towards their long-term goals and aspirations.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As a Support and Employment Worker at The Clink, you are responsible for:
•Mentoring, supporting and being the point of contact for students and graduates as they transition from our hospitality and horticulture training programmes in prison and in the community for up to 12 months.
•Working with and supporting people in prison and students prior to and after release from prison, or from graduation in our community café, to empower them in finding and maintaining accommodation, employment and a drug-free, offence-free lifestyle.
•Building relationships with Clink Chef Trainers, HMPPS Resettlement and Employment Teams, HMPPS Officers and Governing Teams in the prison and all parties invested in the training, support and employment of our learners.
•Working with students and graduates to identify their needs and risks, and to identify short and long-term goals.
•Motivating and engaging students and graduates and to provide practical and emotional support.
•Liaising with employers to secure opportunities for our students and for continuity of employment for graduates upon release.
•Supporting people dealing with drug and alcohol problems and to make referrals to other services as required.
•Undertaking risk assessments for each student, to recognise changes in risk level and take appropriate action.
•Maintaining case records and report on students' progress to external agencies and for our own Clink records on Clink Connect, our CRM system.
•Working in partnership with the team to enhance overall delivery of the service.
•Maintaining a professional approach that enhances the reputation of the charity.
DESIRABLE SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE
- Experience of prisons and/or the criminal justice system. This can be lived experience.
- Experience of working with a variety of client groups both in custody and in the community, including men, women and 16-25-year-olds.
- Experience of working with young people in gangs and/or at risk of exploitation and county lines.
- Experience of working with neurodivergent people and those with disabilities and additional needs.
- Experience and skill in using a trauma informed approach with vulnerable people who present a risk of harm, including knowledge of mental health issues, drug and alcohol use and offending behaviour.
- Experience in setting up a strong employer network and using this to support our graduates into employment post-release.
- Experience referring to other services and using a multi-agency approach.
- A level of numeracy sufficient to carry out tasks such as budgeting with clients, calculating benefit entitlements and understanding rent arrears.
- An understanding of safeguarding issues and PREVENT Duty and the ability to assess risk in consultation with line manager.
- Some knowledge of the benefits system and ability to deal with housing agencies and landlords
- Driver with clean licence.
- IT literate - will need to maintain records about our students on our in-house CRM system and complete assessments for HMPPS.
- Able to adopt a supportive, confident and motivating approach to the client group.
- Willing to engage in training and development of your own knowledge and skills.
- Able to pass a prison security clearance.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
- Confident and resilient personality, with the strength of character to work in complex prison settings and with highly vulnerable people.
- Perseverence and tenacity — a desire to see our students be successful and to advocate strongly on their behalf which often requires a relentless optimism.
- Highly organised and efficient person - able to juggle multiple responsibilities, manage your own time and schedule, and be a consistent source of support for our beneficiaries.
- A strong networker - your key responsibility will be to manage stakeholders in the prison, in probation, in other third sector support groups, and with employers to advocate for our students to have the chance of quality employment outcomes.
- An assertive communicator - you will need to be patient, kind and compassionate and to communicate with our students with sensitivity and clear expectations.
REPORTING LINES MANAGEMENT EXPECTATIONS
You will report directly to the Support Lead for London and the SE, the Executive Leadership Team, but also work closely with the Operations team in the prisons and related Clink project leads in the community.
GENERAL CLINK CHARITY INFORMATION
All staff are expected to:
- Comply with all current legislation
- Comply with all prison operational policies
- Comply with The Clink Staff Handbook
- Undertake such other duties within the scope of the post as may be requested by your Manager
Special Requirements:
- Must be able to pass prison security vetting process to be able to draw keys.
- Must have a valid driving licence .
Benefits:
- 28 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Company pension scheme
- Free meals on duty when based in a restaurant or visiting for business
HOW TO APPLY
If you would like to apply for this post, please send your CV and a supporting statement (maximum 2 sides of A4) to Lizann Barnwell.
In your supporting statement you should ensure that you try to address the desirable criteria set out in the person specification for the role. Make sure you give evidence which shows how you meet the criteria, not just telling us that you did it.
Interviews will be arranged on a rolling basis for this role, so early applications are encouraged. The deadline for applications is Friday 6 Feb at 0900.
We do not send individual acknowledgment of applications due to the high volume we receive, and we will only contact candidates who are shortlisted for an interview. If you do not hear from us within two weeks of the closing date, your application has not been successful on this occasion.
If you would like an informal chat about this role, we can offer a call with a member of The Clink Team. Even if you feel you do not meet some of the criteria listed above, we would still welcome applications from passionate candidates who are keen to make a difference.
Appointment process
Applicants who have demonstrated that they meet the desirable criteria set out in the person specification will be contacted and interviews arranged on a rolling basis.
Interview
If you are shortlisted for interview, you will be invited to a selection process. A panel of two or more, including the recruiting manager conducts all interviews. If there are any special arrangements associated with the selection process e.g. tests or presentations, you will be informed accordingly.
Interview outcome
If you are invited to attend an interview, you will be informed either verbally or in writing of the outcome. The successful candidate will have the decision confirmed in writing as an offer of employment. Unsuccessful candidates will be offered the opportunity for feedback.
References
If you are successful in your application, you are asked to provide us with the details of two referees. We only contact referees with your permission after an offer of employment has been made.
All offers of employment are conditional upon the receipt of references that are satisfactory to The Clink Charity, verification of right to work in the UK and where applicable, verification of qualifications and Disclosure and Barring Service (where required).
Personal information
The personal information that you have supplied will only be used for recruitment and selection purposes. You should refer to the Privacy Notice on our website, which sets out how The Clink Charity will deal with the personal and sensitive data you have provided in your application form and supporting information.
EDI
We welcome all applicants and are keen to enhance our team to reflect the diversity of the UK and the communities we serve. We would like to encourage applications from disabled people, those from LGBTQIA+ and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds and those experiencing other forms of marginalisation, as they are underrepresented at this level. In addition, as this role works directly with people in prison and those at risk of offending, those with lived experience are encouraged to apply.
Accessible recruitment
The Clink Charity is committed to making our recruitment process and workplace accessible to all. If you are an applicant with a disability and/or have any specific needs or adjustments that you would like us to consider, at application, interview, or appointment stage, please make us aware in your application.
Please ensure you submit a Cover Letter/Supporting Statement. You should ensure that you try to address the desirable criteria set out in the person specification for the role. Make sure you give evidence which shows how you meet the criteria, not just telling us that you did it.
Thank you!
Salary: £26,650 - £32,600 per annum
Hours: 35 hours per week, with one late evening and occasional weekends
Contract: Permanent
Location: Various local authority locations across Oxfordshire/Community settings
Job reference number: 1636
About Us: Here4YOUth Oxfordshire, part of Cranstoun, is a social justice and harm reduction charity with a global ambition. Our vision is to be a world-class leader in rebuilding lives, and our purpose is to inspire and empower people to live healthier and safer lives. We value being ambitious, creative, compassionate, collaborative, and respectful.
A word from one of our team members…
“ Being part of the Here4YOUth team at Cranstoun is incredibly rewarding. Every day, I see the difference we make in the lives of families and young people. The support, encouragement, and genuine care from colleagues creates an environment where you can truly grow and help others thrive.”
Job Purpose: Support families affected by substance use by delivering a whole family programme. You will help strengthen family resilience, improve communication, and support positive change for children, young people, and their families in Oxfordshire.
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Deliver the Cranstoun Here4YOUth Whole Family Programme, including comprehensive whole-family assessments exploring challenges, coping strategies, and readiness for change.
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Lead the co-ordination of group interventions for children, young people, and whole families.
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Contribute to service evaluations and service level reporting
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Mentor and participate in induction for volunteers within the family service.
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Provide guidance and peer supervision to team members working with children and young people who are affected by substance use
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Use trauma-informed and evidence-based approaches in your work and facilitate practical activities for engagement and skill-building, including mindfulness and grounding techniques.
Person Specification:
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Experience of community engagement and delivering group work.
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Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team as well as a strong ability to liaise with and build effective working relationships with other agencies.
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Good written and verbal communication skills.
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Experience working with families and young people affected by substance use or similar challenges is highly desirable.
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Willingness to undertake relevant training (e.g., Drawing & Talking, group skills, internal programme delivery).
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Excellent understanding of safeguarding, harm reduction principles, and multi-agency working.
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High standard of IT and case management skills and ability to support others through basic IT tasks as needed.
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Ability to manage own time, prioritise activities, and maintain accountability and support others to do this.
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Cultural awareness, sensitivity, and ability to work non-judgementally in all arenas.
Benefits: As part of joining Cranstoun, and successfully completing your probation period, you will be able to access a diverse benefits package including access to store discounts, a car lease scheme, gym membership discounts, health cash plans and a yearly wellbeing day on top of annual leave.
To find out more about this role and to apply, please visit the website via the apply button.
Closing date: 26 January 2026.
Additional Information: This post will be subject to an Enhanced DBS Disclosure. Due to the nature of the role, being a driver is essential, with access to a car and business insurance required.
We are an inclusive employer, committed to promoting equality and diversity in all areas of our work.
Registered Charity No: 1061582
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Do you have what it takes to be part of the Walking With The Wounded team? We have a fantastic opportunity for a Financial Controller with experience of running the day-to-day financial operations of a dynamic charity. We are an ambitious charity with ambitious goals that needs a Financial Controller to support the charity in achieving these goals. If your attitude matches this, you will find a perfect home within our Finance team.
This is a broad role that will include a wide range of responsibilities. The Financial Controller is responsible for managing the daily and weekly tasks of the Finance team, as well as periodic tasks that are less frequent. These tasks include (but are not restricted to) all aspects of bank and cash, raising of invoices, generating BACS payments, all Finance input into payroll, VAT returns, Gift Aid claims and response to ad hoc queries from our front-line staff. The Financial Controller managers one Finance Assistant and reports into the Head of Finance. The Head of Finance leads on budget setting, forecasting and monthly / quarterly / annual reporting, and the Financial Controller will support where needed. The Financial Controller will also be the lead contact with external auditors following year end.
The tasks outlined here and in the job description will not remain static and can be tailored to the experience of the successful applicant, therefore this role is ideal for someone who is looking for a challenge and to develop their skills in a supportive and dynamic environment.
For an informal discussion please contact Marc Brady, Head of Finance.
Registered Charity
51 - 100
Walking With The Wounded deliver employment, mental health & care coordination programmes to veterans & their families in collaboration with the NHS.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
This is an exciting and pivotal leadership role at the heart of Kinship’s digital transformation. You’ll lead a talented and ambitious team to deliver and develop live digital services, accessible content and user-centred products that kinship carers rely on to access support.
This role does not own all services delivered through digital channels. It owns selected shared digital products while also enabling teams across Kinship to deliver their work effectively through digital platforms, content and journeys, while teams retain ownership of their services and outcomes. You’ll provide leadership on standards, user experience, accessibility and innovation.
Context:
Kinship is expanding its reach and digital capabilities, and our digital platforms are central to how we deliver services at scale. In 2024, we launched a new website bringing together all content and services under one home, and introduced Kinship Compass, a postcode search tool that helps kinship carers find relevant local and national support.
Alongside this, we have been developing a new AI-powered tool to help kinship carers access trusted information quickly and accurately, 24/7. You will lead the evolution of these digital services ensuring they are safe, ethical, resilient and data-informed, and that innovation is always grounded in reliability, safeguarding and user trust.
You’ll play a key role in the Department for Education funded national Training and Support Service, ensuring kinship carers can easily access and book high-quality training through our digital platforms.
You’ll oversee content design in collaboration with internal and external subject experts and kinship carers themselves and lead the digital and content streams for Kinship Minds, including the development and delivery of our e-learning platform and curriculum.
This role sits at the intersection of digital service delivery, product development and content design. At Kinship, content design is distinct from communications or marketing. It focuses on designing clear, accessible and trauma-informed information, learning content and user journeys that enable kinship carers to understand their options, make decisions and access support. Content is treated as part of the service itself and is central to the quality, safety and effectiveness of our digital platforms.
This is a role for a digital leader who is both strategic and operationally grounded. You’ll balance innovation with delivery, experimentation with governance, and ambition with accountability. You’ll champion inclusive, accessible and co-produced design, ensuring digital products support real-world service delivery and improve outcomes for kinship families.
You will work closely with colleagues in the Communications and Policy team (who sit in a separate department and lead external communications, campaigns and social media) and who own the external communications strategy. You will ensure clear alignment while retaining a distinct focus on digital service innovation, product development and content design.
What you'll be doing:
Digital leadership and strategy
- Lead the Digital and Content Design team, setting clear priorities and building a culture of high performance, accountability and continuous improvement.
- Own and deliver Kinship’s digital strategy and product roadmap, covering the website, Kinship Compass, Kinship Minds, the AI tool and other digital services, excluding marketing and social media.
- Provide digital leadership across Kinship, strengthening capability and effective cross-organisational working.
- Lead responsible digital innovation, ensuring AI and emerging technology are used where they clearly improve service delivery, accessibility and user experience.
- Take accountability for digital budgets, agency relationships and delivery against agreed outcomes, timescales and quality standards.
- Horizon scan and translate external digital developments into practical, service-led improvements for Kinship.
- Contribute to organisational planning, reporting and income generation linked to digital innovation.
Website, content and digital product development
- Lead the ongoing development and innovation of Kinship’s digital platforms to ensure they are user-centred, accessible and continuously improved.
- Oversee the content strategy and governance for Kinship’s website, Kinship Compass and new e-learning platform.
- Work with internal colleagues to improve our workshop booking system.
- Ensure a consistent content design approach across all digital platforms, grounded in user need, plain English, trauma-informed practice and continuous testing and improvement.
- Lead the content design team to develop content for strategic projects working collaboratively with subject experts and kinship carers.
- Work closely with Advice and Training teams to ensure digital platforms and content design support service delivery, quality standards and DfE contract requirements.
- Develop an excellent understanding of end-to-end audience experience and how the website, online content and digital products can drive effective online services and enhance the kinship ecosystem. Map the user journeys across our website and digital products leaving no dead ends.
- Ensure integration across all platforms (e.g. website, telephony, Salesforce, Kinship Minds) to create seamless user journeys for kinship carers and internal teams.
- Embed meaningful participation and co-production with kinship carers in digital service and content development.
- Drive accessibility and inclusion, ensuring our digital services reach and work for all kinship carers, including those with lower digital literacy.
- Ensure strong digital governance, accessibility, documentation and use of insight to continuously improve performance and impact.
- Oversee SEO, analytics and data-driven optimisation to improve engagement, performance and impact.
Type of person we’re looking for:
We’re looking for a service-led digital leader who is as comfortable with operational delivery as they are with strategy and innovation. You’ll understand that digital products are part of how services are delivered, not an add-on, and that reliability, accessibility and trust matter as much as creativity.
You’ll be curious, pragmatic and values-driven, with the judgement to know when to push innovation forward and when to prioritise stability, safety and user confidence.
You are likely to:
- Have led live digital services or products that people rely on, not just content.
- Be comfortable balancing innovation with delivery, and experimentation with governance.
- Think in terms of end-to-end service journeys, not just platforms or pages.
- Be motivated by improving outcomes for people, particularly families experiencing complexity or crisis.
- Value co-production, accessibility and inclusive design as core to good digital practice.
- Bring clarity, calm and consistency to teams working in complex environments.
- Be confident working across disciplines such as digital, services and delivery without needing to own everything.
- Care deeply about doing digital work ethically, safely and well.
- Show commitment to personal development and learning.
How to apply:
Please apply for the role of Head of Digital and Content by sending a tailored CV and responding to these 4 questions below in the online application process.
Closing date is midnight on Sun 18 Jan 2026, first interview online on Thurs 22 / Fri 23 Jan 2026 and second interview in person on Thur 29 Jan 2026.
- What attracts you to this role at Kinship, and how does your experience prepare you to lead digital services, content design and innovation in the context of kinship care and families experiencing complexity or crisis? (250 words max)
- Give an example of where you introduced or explored digital innovation (for example AI, automation or new platforms) in a service context. How did you balance innovation with reliability, safeguarding or user trust? (250 words max)
- Describe a time you used content and/or service design to help people understand complex information or access support. How did you identify user needs, test what worked, and ensure the content enabled action rather than just engagement?(250 words max)
- This role leads a small but mighty remote and dispersed team. How have you managed remote teams to maintain clarity, wellbeing, accountability and delivery? Please include a practical example. (250 words max)
What we offer you:
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Flexible working - we understand how important it is to balance family and work life.
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30 days annual leave, plus bank holidays (1 April to 31 March) pro rata (3 to be taken at Christmas shutdown).
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Employee Assistance Programme (24/7 confidential advice line and counselling).
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Charity Worker Discounts.
Registered Charity
21 - 50
We support kinship carers in their homes and communities, giving advice and helping them work through problems to find the best way forward.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
We are looking for an exceptional, value-driven candidate who can hit the ground running as our Legal Education Officer, working closely with the Director and the rest of our small and dynamic Right to Remain team.
The person must be someone who understands the Right to Remain ethos and is prepared to bring their whole self to our organisation. Needless to say, the role requires an impeccable grasp of the asylum and immigration system and its operation on the ground, including how it impacts our community of people seeking asylum, refugees, migrants, their families, friends and allies. It requires an ability to help and guide our community to navigate the complex and hostile asylum and immigration system.
You will be working closely with the Director and the rest of our small and dynamic Right to Remain staff team: another Legal Education Officer based in Leeds (generally) covering the North, the Organiser based in Manchester leading our mighty These Walls Must Fall, and the Engagement Officer based in London. In particular, the post holder will be closely coordinating their work with another Legal Education Officer in Leeds. The post holder is also expected to be already embedded in the local and regional asylum and migration field, familiar with its dynamics and able to tap into their existing relationships and connections with local groups and actors.
We are proud of Right to Remain’s unique and bold approach that really believes in collective power. We are focused on building knowledge, radical solidarity and the power of our community. We show up authentically at work and for our community, always giving our 100%. We are determined and calm amidst the crisis and chaos of the world. We know that now is not a ‘business as usual’ time, and we need to meet the moment as the anchor organisation for the migration justice movement. That comes with a lot of responsibility but we also carry it with lightness. We want our new team members to be similarly passionate, ambitious and compassionate.
With the rest of the team, you will be responsible for maintaining, developing, and increasing usage of our highly popular and accessible resources about the asylum and immigration system, most notably the Right to Remain Toolkit. You will deliver interactive workshops on the legal system for people navigating that system as well as professionals and volunteers. You will engage with our network of community groups to ensure that we are apprised of developments on the ground and we are communicating important changes to these support groups. You will also work with the Director and other colleagues to develop and deliver specific public legal education projects, when necessary. You must have outstanding communication skills and the ability to engage with a wide range of audiences, in a manner that reflects Right to Remain’s mission and values.
Registered Charity
6 - 10
Right to Remain is a national migration justice organisation, creating a world where everyone can exercise their right to remain where they need to be
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.