Mental health link workers jobs in Edinburgh
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Specialist & Expert Advocate for Children - based in Scotland
Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse AAFDA
Remote – Based in Scotland with regular travel across Scotland
Salary – £33,000 pa
Full-time
Fixed term for 12 months (potentially 36 months dependent on funding)
Closing Date – 10th April 2026
AAFDA is a growing charity, and we are looking for a specialist Children’s Advocate to be based in Scotland. Although home based, travel will be required across Scotland. We welcome applications from candidates who are registered social workers and who have professional experience of working with people who have experienced domestic abuse.
We are also committed to diversity and strongly encourage applications from those with Black and/or Minoritised backgrounds.
AAFDA was founded by Frank Mullane in memory of his sister Julia Pemberton and her son Will who were both killed by her ex-partner in 2003.
Scotland is expected to introduce Domestic Homicide and Suicide Reviews (DHSRs) in April 2026. We are looking for a candidate with a good understanding of the Scottish legislative system and good understanding around domestic abuse and how it impacts on children to join our growing charity. Each year, in Scotland, around 25 families lose a loved one to fatal domestic abuse, perhaps one third of this number being domestic homicides and the others being suicides following domestic abuse. The actual number of domestic abuse related suicides remains unknown.
Many of these families suffer significant problems including relationship breakdown, job difficulties/loss and mental and physical health issues. The Children’s advocate will provide expert advocacy, specialist peer support to children, and other services, helping them practically and emotionally. This may include helping them to contribute to DHSRs and providing opportunities to recover from harm for example via trauma therapy and other services.
Through trauma-informed approaches, you will help the children bereaved by fatal domestic abuse:
-To enhance their voice after fatal domestic abuse including by helping them to contribute to domestic homicide and suicide reviews and formal / informal meetings with various professionals.
-By providing residential peer support events, or access to these events for both the children and their carers.
-Via virtual support tools and other resources.
-By developing pathways into groupwork programmes for carers of bereaved children.
-Cope and recover by direct support and by linking into other services, for example, specialist trauma therapy.
In return for joining us, we will offer you:
· 25 days annual leave per annum, plus bank holidays
· Excellent development and training opportunities
· Pension Scheme
· Healthcare Scheme
· Employee Assist Scheme
Application Instructions
To apply for this role, please submit a supporting statement along with your CV. The closing date is 10th April 2026. Please note that this job advert may close early due to screening applications on an ongoing basis. We advise applying as soon as possible for your application to be taken into consideration at the early stages
Applicants will be shortlisted according to how well they meet the criteria in the person specification. Please highlight and explain how you meet these in your supporting statement. If you have been shortlisted for interview, you will be informed by email. Regrettably, we are normally unable to acknowledge unsuccessful applicants.
Please note that we will not progress applications where the supporting statement does not address the criteria for the role being applied for.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
About the role
The Side-by-Side project supports children in care and care leavers to have the same opportunities as those who have not experienced care.
For many young people, navigating the care system and especially the transition to leaving care can be complex, isolating, and overwhelming. Too often, care-experienced young people are expected to face adulthood before they are ready, without the safety nets of family, friends, and community networks that many of us take for granted.
The project provides a mentoring and befriending service, offering consistent, trusted relationships that help young people feel less alone, build confidence and life skills, and navigate key life changes as they move towards independence.
Side-by-Side supports young people with a range of needs, including those who may be at risk of exploitation, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, and young people living with identified mental health challenges. The project is guided by strong safeguarding practice, built on trust, and delivered through trauma-informed, person-centred approaches.
As a Community Engagement Worker, you will work directly with young people through engagement sessions, group activities and co-designed initiatives. You will also work alongside volunteers, supporting them to safely and effectively engage with young people. This role does not involve acting as a young person’s key worker or holding a caseload. Instead your focus is on enabling connections, strengthening community networks and creating opportunities for young people to thrive across Hertfordshire, Luton and Bedfordshire.
About you
We are looking for a compassionate and motivated individual, to work 21 hours per week that has strong local knowledge and a commitment to community-based support. You will be confident working directly with care-experienced young people, including those who may be at risk of exploitation, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children, and young people living with identified mental health challenges.
You will live in or have strong connections to Hertfordshire, Luton, or Bedfordshire, and be confident working across these communities.
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Build community links: develop relationships with local venues, services, and partners to support young people and Side-by-Side activities.
- Support volunteers: recruit, train, and guide volunteers, helping them signpost young people to relevant services.
- Engage young people: deliver activities, gather feedback, and support co-designed initiatives to ensure young people shape the services they receive.
- Live our values: all work is guided by trust, reducing loneliness, providing practical and emotional support, and delivering person-centred approaches.
How to apply
In your application, you will need to evidence, using specific examples, how your skills and experience meet the criteria laid out in the person specification, within the job description attached.
For further information and to apply, please visit our website.
Employee benefits
We offer the following employee benefits:
- 26 days, increasing to 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata for part time)
- Occupational sick pay (subject to completion of qualifying period)
- Enhanced pay for family friendly leave
- Free parking at some of our offices
- Employee assistance programme
- Group stakeholder pension scheme
- Access to BHSF health cash plan
- Cycle to work scheme
- Support and supervision from your line manager
- Learning and Development opportunities
Safeguarding and Compliance
NYAS operates robust safe procedures to ensure the protection of the children, young people and adults at risk we work with. To comply with NYAS’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy, candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, references and a Digital Risk Assessment.
In accordance with UK immigration law, NYAS is required to ensure that all prospective candidates have the legal right to work in the United Kingdom. Therefore, proof of eligibility to work in the UK will be required as part of the recruitment process.
We reserve the right to close the advert early should the right candidate be found before the closing date.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
At NYAS, we listen to what children, young people and vulnerable adults want. We empower them to have their voices heard.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.