Wellbeing peer practitioner jobs in Edinburgh

The Charity and The Vision.   

Scotty’s Little Soldiers is a UK-based charity dedicated to supporting military children and young people (0 to 25 years) who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the British Armed Forces. Founded in 2010 by Nikki Scott following the death of her husband, Corporal Lee Scott, the charity offers a unique blend of emotional, practical, and educational support to over 800 young people.  We are currently embarking on an exciting journey which will see the charity evolve to support anyone affected by a military-connected bereavement and ultimately empower a community of more than 25,000 bereaved individuals and their families by 2035. 

We are proud of our vibrant, non-traditional culture, which puts the needs of the bereaved military community at the heart of everything we do. We embrace innovative approaches, are committed to creating smiles and believe in the power of community, resilience, and connection.   

Scotty’s is seeking an experienced bereavement counsellor, with a strong focus on Scotty’s adult community, to join our small but effective team. The role involves supporting adults, and also children and young people affected by bereavement, which may include death in service, illness, or suicide. 

We want everyone affected by military connected bereavement to have: 

• Access to the very best emotional health and wellbeing support.   

• Outstanding development opportunities.   

• The chance to smile again.  

• Confidence and clarity in navigating their entitlements. 

We call these our Promises. Our promises align with our four programmes: START, SMILES, STRIDES and SUPPORT.

• The START Programme ensures that there is a single point of contact for adults who need to gain confidence and clarity in navigating their entitlements following a bereavement. 

• The SMILES Programme provides children and adults with the chance to smile again.

• The STRIDES Programme provides children with outstanding development opportunities.

• The SUPPORT Programme provides the very best emotional health and wellbeing support to children and adults who are struggling to cope following a bereavement.

Our Bereavement Counsellor will be a valuable member of the SUPPORT Programme, delivering online 1:1 and group support to those who need it most.But all four programmes work closely together (we call this the Families team).

Role Mission:

The Scotty’s Bereavement Counsellor will work with our adults, children and families who are struggling with their grief to help them understand their feelings, develop coping skills and build their new life. 

This role will be accountable for: 

Providing emotional support, counselling and therapeutic interventions to individuals and families coping with grief and loss. The role involves working compassionately and ethically with anyone affected by military connected bereavement, helping them process their emotions and find ways to adjust to life after a loss.

The Bereavement Counsellor will work collaboratively with the SUPPORT team and the wider Families team to ensure that all work undertaken by Scotty’s is delivered in a supportive and sensitive manner and that the whole Scotty community receive exemplary care.

What are the 3-month goals for this role: 

• Within three months the Counsellor will have developed their knowledge of the range of services that Scotty’s offers to our community so that they can advise and support individuals and families in their case load.

• Will have begun to learn and understand the Scotty Values and the Scotty Way (we do things a little differently and our culture is very important to us and our community!). 

• Would have begun supporting the community members assigned to their caseload by the Head of SUPPORT.This will be through online 1:1 delivery, and some group online sessions, drop ins or workshops. 

• Will have completed all necessary safeguarding training and be part of the Scotty’s Safeguarding team.

• Begun attending peer supervision sessions with the SUPPORT team. 

What are the 6-month goals for this role: 

• Will have established a caseload across the Scotty community, as assigned by the Head of SUPPORT.

• Will have begun to support the wider Families team by attending Scotty events.At Scotty events, a SUPPORT team member often attends to provide support to any families who may need it on the day (this may require occasional weekend or evening work). 

• Will be working cohesively with the Families team and the wider Scotty team to share knowledge and skills.Scotty’s values a culture of learning and strives to ensure team members can learn from one another’s expertise. 

• Will be contributing to peer supervision sessions to ensure all SUPPORT team members are able to give the best support to families.

• Regularly meeting with your selected external supervisor.

What are the 9-month goals for this role: 

• Will be supporting a caseload as assigned by the Head of SUPPORT, with emerging impact data showing the outcomes of your support.Scotty’s uses a range of practitioner and impact measurement tools to monitor the impact of SUPPORT team’s work.

• Will be a valuable member of the SUPPORT programme, Families and the wider Scotty team. Providing high-quality bereavement counselling and support directly to the Scotty Community and by working collaboratively with other team members. 

• Will be contributing to developing resources and workshops that support the Scotty Community. 

What are the key responsibilities of this role:  

• Managing a caseload and delivering one to one counselling sessions as assigned by the Head of SUPPORT. This will predominantly be online delivery using Teams video calling but also other formats as needed by community members. 

• Facilitate group therapy or support groups when appropriate. 

• Conduct initial assessment to determine clients’ needs and suitability for counselling.

• Maintaining accurate and confidential case notes in a timely fashion using our CRM in accordance with data protection and organisational policies. 

• Adhering to all safeguarding requirements and operating as part of the Scotty Safeguarding team to maintain the highest standards across the charity.

• Part of a team creating and developing resources and materials for the whole Scotty community.

• Working collaboratively within the SUPPORT team, including peer supervision. 

• Working collaboratively within the Families team to ensure that Scotty community members and families are directed to the appropriate services in a timely fashion.This could include directing people you are working with towards our educational grants, our respite breaks, our events, our START support or our advocacy.

• Liaise with other professionals such as GPs, CAMHS, social workers, education or other professionals where appropriate to ensure holistic care and management of risk. 

• Attending at least six (mandatory) face to face team days, normally located in the East of England, alongside some in person team meetings.

• Participate in regular clinical supervision and continuing professional development.

Skillset and Experiences Required:  

Essential 

• Member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) or United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP).We may consider applications from practitioners with HCPC or NCPS membership too.

• Level 4 Counselling / Psychotherapy Diploma or above. 

• Significant experience (post qualification), providing bereavement counselling to adults and some experience of counselling with children and young people (0-25yrs). 

• Experience and training with NICE-approved talking therapies.

• Strong understanding of grief, bereavement, trauma and the impact of loss, and experience supporting traumatic bereavement or more complex grief presentations. 

• Demonstrable safeguarding knowledge and experience 

• Confident in professional judgement, boundaries, safeguarding and confidentiality.

• Willing and able to support lower-level emotional support needs as well as more complex presentations, depending on service demand. 

• Experience of managing a complex caseload effectively.

• Ability to work flexibly, including occasional evenings for drop-ins, later appointments or events in line with service need. 

• Excellent computer literacy. 

• Ability to engage with peer supervision and external supervision (organised by Scotty’s) effectively. 

• Ability to engage with a culture of continuous learning and support the learning of others.

• Reflective, curious and open to feedback. 

• Willingness to work flexibly as part of a team and independently to meet the needs of the service.

• Commitment to professional standards and ethical practice. 

Desirable 

• Military-connected experience or knowledge would be an advantage but not essential if you have a willingness to learn. 

• Experience of group work and peer support delivery would be helpful. Willingness to lead on these sessions as required. 

• Experience in end-of-life care and pre-bereavement work. 

• Experience of online counselling.

• Experience and training in counselling linked to suicide and suicidal ideation. 

• Knowledge of or experience using assessment tools such as WEMWBS or CBSQs. 

• Knowledge of statutory services and systems.

Additional Information 

• The role may require evening or weekend work from time to time 

• Enhanced DBS check required 

• Travel will be required to events and team training days 

• APPLICANTS MUST BE BASED WITHIN 2 HOURS TRAVEL OF CAMBRIDGE

The Scotty’s Way 

At Scotty’s, our personal performance is only 50% of what success looks like. Our culture is equally important. When you join our team, you sign up to The Scotty’s Way, rooted in our four core values:

1. Families Come First 

1. Everyone a Supporter, Every Supporter a VIP 

1. Love What You Do 

1. Remember, Every Day 

Our values are further supported by our four non-negotiable behaviours of Show Respect, Speak Up, Take Ownership and Actively Collaborate. We are looking for an individual who embodies these values and behaviours. 

Thank you for your interest in joining our team, we are an equal opportunities employer, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees are treated with respect and given equal opportunities for employment and advancement.

We do not discriminate based on race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability or any other protected characteristic.

We encourage all qualified individuals to apply for employment within our charity, and we provide a fair and inclusive recruitment process for all candidates. 

Who Are We Looking For? 

We are seeking an experienced Associate Trainer to deliver high-quality training and workshops across Northern Ireland on behalf of Ygam. Although remote working, they would need to be living in NI for travel and delivery purposes. This position is offered on a self-employed associate basis (contract for services). The post holder will facilitate engaging learning experiences, maintain high standards of safeguarding and quality assurance, and contribute to Ygam's mission by helping professionals understand and respond to gaming and gambling-related harms affecting children and young people.

The role is ideal for an experienced trainer, educator or youth practitioner with strong facilitation skills and knowledge of safeguarding, education or public health, who is passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people.  You will be confident working independently and remotely, while also collaborating effectively as part of a team.

You will be skilled at adapting training delivery to meet the needs of different audiences and contexts, ensuring sessions are inclusive, engaging and responsive to participant needs.

Ygam is an equal opportunities employer. We value diversity and welcome applicants from underrepresented backgrounds, including people with lived experience of gaming and gambling harms, people with disabilities, people from minority ethnic groups, LGBTQ+ people, neurodivergent people and armed forces veterans. 

Main Role and Responsibilities

You will be responsible for delivering training across Ygam’s portfolio of programmes, including education, youth work, health, social care, community and sporting sectors.

You will lead workshops and training both online and face to face. The role will support professionals, parents, carers and young people to understand and help prevent gaming and gambling harms. It will focus on using education to increase awareness of the social, environmental and commercial influences, including the practices of the industries, that can shape behaviours and increase the risk of harm among young people.

A crucial element of your role will be updating all relevant records and CRM systems.

You will be required to market additional learning, resources, and training opportunities to delegates and to promote the work of Ygam at conferences and events.

Role Requirements

Duties will include but not be limited to:

Delivery 

· Deliver the Ygam portfolio of workshops (online and face to face)

· Provide high-quality training to a range of professionals and young people in line with Ygam’s quality standards and facilitator guidance

· Be responsive to delegates needs, providing excellent customer service and answering questions and queries in a supportive manner

· Provide regular feedback on training materials, recommending adjustments if needed for Northern Ireland

· Escalate safeguarding, wellbeing or reputational concerns promptly in accordance with Ygam policies and procedures

· Act as an ambassador for Ygam, ensuring all interactions with delegates and stakeholders reflect organisational values and professional standards

· Highlight further training and / or partnership opportunities for Engagement Managers through workshops and delegate contact.

Planning 

· Work with Engagement Managers to schedule delivery

· Ensure all resources and materials are up to date and be prepared for delivery

· Develop materials for information sessions and present to external stakeholders

· Ensure joining instructions are sent to all delegates

· Develop stakeholder relationships, providing ongoing support for those trained.

· Attend key events as arranged with Programme Lead to represent Ygam

· Maintain awareness of local priorities, policy developments and stakeholder networks within Northern Ireland to support effective delivery and relationship building

· Support Engagement Managers with networking and presentations for external stakeholders

· Work closely with Ygam colleagues to promote and collaborate across the programme portfolio

Outcomes:

· Ensure accuracy of data utilising the CRM system

· Encourage completion of post training surveys

· Remain up to date with the latest evidence-based research on gaming and gambling harms

Learning and Development:

· Work closely with The Programme Lead: Engagement, to develop objectives and review performance.

· Ensure all relevant CPD is completed and up to date on platforms such as IHasco

· Attend support sessions with line manager (both remotely and in person). 

· Record performance in your monthly 1-1’s with your line manager

· Engage in peer observation and feedback to encourage reflection on your practice and learning from colleagues.

Administration:

· Send out joining instructions via our CRM system to delegates prior to workshops 

· Record attendance and email delegates post workshop to gather feedback 

· Ensure all records are maintained in accordance with GDPR/data protection legislation

· Work in collaboration with your line manager to adapt and improve programme processes, administrative and training content.

· Manage workload, communications and administrative tasks in a timely manner to support effective delivery as an Associate Trainer

Person Specification 

Essential:

· Experience delivering training online and face to face training to both adults, children and young people

· Proficiency with online delivery and experience using MS Teams and Zoom to facilitate online learning

· Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and maintain high standards of organisation

· Understanding of safeguarding principles and their application within education, youth, health or community settings

· Ability to explain complex topics such as gaming risks, online behaviours and digital harms in a clear and accessible way.

· Public speaking experience

· Prior experience of working in education, public health or youth services, with a detailed understanding of children and young people’s services

· Excellent verbal and written communication skills

· Strong IT skills (MS Word, Excel & PowerPoint especially)

· Experience of driving projects to achieve agreed outcomes

· Ability to work in a highly organised manner with a keen eye for absolute detail.

· Ability to work as a self-employed associate and manage own schedule

· Employment rights to live and work in the UK

· Experience of working collectively as a team to meet targets.

· Willingness to travel where necessary for the role.

· Ability to capture outcomes and impact data, (quantitative and qualitative) to help inform practise.

Desirable:

· Knowledge of the Northern Ireland education and health system

· Strong interest / understanding of public health and prevention-based approach to harm reduction

· Knowledge of safeguarding arrangements and children's services within Northern Ireland

· Experience delivering training informed by a public health or prevention-based approach

· Strong networking and relationships building skills

· Experience utilising CRM systems, particularly Salesforce

The successful applicant will be subject to reference checks, an Enhanced Access NI check, and must have Employment rights to live and work in the UK.