Policy and practice advisors jobs in Edinburgh

About the role

Join a charity that’s passionate about safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. If you want your work to have a real-world impact, this is the role for you.

What You’ll Do:

You’ll be part of our Disclosures & Training team, working collaboratively to provide administrative and customer service support. Please note we are looking for someone with experience of processing large volumes of DBS checks.

 This is a front-line role where you’ll:

• Deliver excellent customer service, offering advice and guidance to callers and managing enquiries via phone, email and post.
• Process disclosure applications accurately, ensuring legal compliance and liasing with the Disclosure and Barring Service or AccessNI.
• Maintain and update customer and membership records using Microsoft Dynamics, resolving queries and discrepancies as needed.
• Support team operations through triage participation, reporting, training, and adherence to GDPR, organisational policies, and health & safety standards.

This role offers a valuable opportunity to apply specialist knowledge alongside practical problem-solving - supporting efficient, compliant, and high-quality disclosure services across thirtyone:eight.

Why You’ll Love Working Here:

• Purpose-driven work: Everything you do helps protect children and vulnerable adults.
• Flexible working options: Balance your life and work with hybrid arrangements.
• Professional growth: Opportunities to learn, innovate, and lead.
• Supportive culture: Join a friendly, collaborative team that values your ideas.

If you enjoy delivering excellent customer service, handling detailed processes, and contributing to work that makes a meaningful difference, we’d love to hear from you.

Main Responsibilities

• Provide advice and guidance to members phoning the Disclosure Service and to give a consistently high level of customer service. 

• Maintain computer records relating to the provision of thirtyone:eight membership and disclosure service

• Participate in an effective and appropriate triage system operated for callers to the training team.

• Processing disclosure application forms ensuring that they meet legal requirements.

Specific Responsibilities

• Deal with incoming post, emails and telephone enquiries relating to the operation of the Disclosure Service.  

• Carefully check information received to ensure completeness, following up any enquiries necessary by post, telephone or e-mail.      

• Check and countersign online disclosure application forms and then forward the application to the Disclosure and Barring Service or AccessNI for processing.  

• Enter details of disclosure applications and members of thirtyone:eight on the database (Microsoft Dynamics). 

• Follow up all queries, discrepancies and other issues as appropriate with client churches/organisations and the Disclosure and Barring Service.  

• Participate in internal and external meetings and training events as required – mostly online but occasionally in-person.  

• Prepare reports and data information as requested.  

• At all times work within the policies and Code of Practice laid down by the Disclosure and Barring Service, thirtyone:eight and UK Data Protection Legislation and GDPR.

• Under the Health & Safety at Work Act and associated guidance, take adequate care for the health and safety of oneself and other persons who may be affected by an individual’s acts or omissions.

• Undertake any other reasonable duty or task in accordance with the objectives of the post.  

Person Specification

A) Essential Personal Characteristics and Qualities:

• Humility - Having a modest view of your own importance.
• Integrity - The quality of being honest and having strong moral principles.
• Openness - Acceptance of, or receptiveness to change or new ideas. 
• Collaborative - Involving two or more parties working together. 
• Solution-focused - Concentration in problem solving or dealing with a difficult situation.
• Learning - Knowledge acquired through study, experience, or being taught.
• Creative - Having good imagination, thinking differently, or having original ideas.
• Fair - Treating people equally without favouritism or discrimination. 
• Committed - Dedicated to a certain course, cause or policy.
• Passionate - Having or showing strong feelings or beliefs. 

B) Essential Experience:

• Experience of processing large volumes of DBS checks.

• A detailed understanding of the legal eligibility for Enhanced DBS checks within a faith setting.

• Broad-based experience of working in an office environment.  

• Experience of dealing with clients/customers over the telephone. 

• Good computer skills (MS Office applications as a minimum).

C) Essential Abilities, Knowledge & Motivation:

These are the skills we regard as essential for the role:

• Significant working knowledge of DBS Eligibility

• Excellent telephone manner

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to be self-motivated and to work with the minimum of supervision

• Ability to identify with and accept the aims of thirtyone:eight as a Christian social work organisation

• Calm, non-judgemental attitude with sensitivity and tact to enable an appropriate initial response to people in need ringing thirtyone:eight

• Meticulous as to detail

• Ability to work to deadlines

• Flexibility and a good team worker

• Ability to deal confidentially with matters of a private and sensitive nature

D) Desirable Skills and Knowledge:

• Experience of working on a database 

• Good typing skills 

• An understanding of the Disclosure and Barring Service 

• An awareness of Christian organisations and church structures

• Experience of using Microsoft Teams