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 3500 Care Experienced members.  

At the heart of Who Cares? Scotland’s work are the rights of Care Experienced people, and the power of their voices to bring about positive change. We provide individual lifelong relationship-based independent advocacy and a broad range of imaginative participatory and engagement opportunities for Care Experienced people across Scotland. We work alongside Corporate Parents and communities to broaden understanding and create change. We work with policy makers, leaders, and elected representatives locally and nationally to shape law, policy, and practice, working together to build on the aspirations of The Promise and secure positive change.  

The purpose of the post is to ensure that children and young people involved in Children’s Hearing processes in Moray are able to engage with independent advocacy supports. The successful candidate will ensure that the voices and views of children and young people are considered in Children’s Hearing processes and are at the heart of decision-making.   

Children’s Hearing Advocacy Workers provide independent advocacy support to children and young people involved in Children’s Hearings.  This means listening to what they say, supporting them to amplify their voices, and ensuring that their views are heard regarding all decisions which are being made about their lives. At the heart of the advocacy relationship is trust – built through transparent, honest, accountable and reliable interactions with a skilled and knowledgeable Children’s Hearing Advocacy Worker.     

You will be joining Who Cares? Scotland and working within Moray as a representative of the North team, with opportunities to interact with our events across the whole of Scotland. Your role will also see you raise awareness of Who Cares? Scotland and our services amongst children and young people, professionals and carers. As a Children’s Hearing Advocacy Worker, you will contribute to liaison reports which evidence the work and advocacy supports provided within the Moray area. You will be starting with the team at an exciting time, when the voices of those who are in or have experienced care are growing in power, individually and collectively – bringing with them insight, challenge, hope, and change.  

The right candidate for this post will be able to provide high quality independent advocacy supports for children and young people in Moray who are involved in Children’s Hearings. You will feel confident communicating with individuals and groups, both in writing and verbally, and be able to adapt to a wide range of contexts, recognising where there may be barriers to communication.  Secure in making effective plans, as well as evidencing your work, you can prioritise and meet deadlines. You take enjoyment from working collaboratively with teams, believing in equal opportunities and inclusive working. You are equally prepared to work independently, with an awareness of the skills involved to work within a geographically dispersed team based in the North of Scotland.  You can demonstrate knowledge of the issues affecting young people in care, as well as awareness of the care system in Scotland. You also possess an understanding of housing and homelessness structures, policy, and practice in relation to children and young people experiencing care in Scotland. You are flexible, given the remit of the role, and understand that some evening and weekend work, as well as overnight stays will be necessary. 

While we would be interested to learn about the knowledge gathered through relevant qualifications, we are just as keen to hear about 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, our Advocacy and Participation Manager – North at lmurdoch@whocaresscotland.org.