Advocacy & Participation Worker – Dundee

Who Cares? Scotland is Scotland’s only national independent membership organisation for Care Experienced people. Our mission is to secure a lifetime of equality, respect, and love for Care Experienced people in Scotland and we currently have over 3000 Care Experienced members.   

At the heart of Who Cares? Scotland’s work are the rights of Care Experienced children and young people, and the power of their voices to bring about positive change. We provide individual relationship-based independent advocacy and a broad range of imaginative participatory opportunity for Care Experienced young people across Scotland; we work alongside corporate parents and communities of all sorts to broaden understanding; we work with policy makers, leaders and elected representatives locally and nationally to shape law, policy and practice on the basis of all that can be learnt from the voices of those with experience of care – working together to build on the aspirations of The Promise and secure positive change.

This role offers the opportunity to work directly with children and young people with experience of care in a variety of settings including at home, in residential care, kinship care or secure care.  The Advocacy & Participation Worker will provide individual relationship-based advocacy support and will be a key member of the Advocacy and Participation team, supporting young people across the Dundee area to ensure their rights are upheld and their voices are heard. 

In this role you will have the opportunity to provide independent advocacy and participation opportunities for children and young people who are looked after, Care Experienced, or subject to formal processes and structures. The role will see you actively participating in child’s plan meetings, children’s hearings, and other formal processes.  In partnership with professionals, carers, and organisations, you will help to achieve the best outcomes for children and young people.    

The role will also include facilitating group opportunities for and with children and young people within the Dundee area. This includes providing engagement and participation opportunities, throughout the Who Cares? Scotland local and national networks.  

The post holder will raise awareness of Who Cares? Scotland and its services to children, young people, professionals, third sector partners and carers.  You will also help facilitate training to Dundee’s Corporate Parents alongside our national Corporate Parenting team.  

The right candidate for this post will be able to form positive relationships with children and young people and have good interpersonal skills. You will feel confident communicating with individuals and groups, both in writing and verbally, and be able to adapt your approach to a wide range of contexts.  Secure in making effective plans, as well as evidencing your work, you will prioritize and meet deadlines. You will take enjoyment from working collaboratively with partners, believing in equal opportunities and inclusive working. Committed to children’s rights, you are someone who knows that all young people can make transformative changes happen in their lives if given the opportunity. You can demonstrate knowledge of the current structure, developments, policy, and practice in relation to children and young people experiencing care in Scotland.  

You will be flexible in your approach, be able to work occasional evening and weekends (with prior agreement), and have a full driving license, and access to own transport.  

While we would welcome the knowledge gathered through relevant qualifications, we are just as interested in relevant work experience. We welcome and encourage applications from those with experience of care.  

If this sounds like the role for you, we would love to hear from you. For an informal conversation about this opportunity please contact Leanne Murdoch, Advocacy and Participation Manager lmurdoch@whocaresscotland.org.