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 deliver lifelong advocacy to Care Experienced people via our helpline.  You will also work alongside volunteers who are an integral part of our helpline team. 

Lifelong advocates provide independent advocacy support for Care Experienced people.  This means listening to what they say and supporting them to amplify their voices on a variety of topics. At the heart of the advocacy relationship is trust – built through transparent, honest, accountable, and reliable interactions with a skilled and knowledgeable Lifelong Advocate.   

You will help ensure that the voices of Care Experienced people are heard by Corporate Parents and communities, creating positive change. Working closely with partners, council services and with other public services, your role will help to ensure that Care Experienced people have access to decision-makers and are able to create new opportunities, whilst developing existing ones.  You will also be adept at developing positive relationships with people over the telephone and/ or email. 

You will be joining Who Cares? Scotland and working within South West team, but our helpline covers the whole of Scotland. 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 lifelong advocacy for Care Experienced people who contact the helpline or help inbox. 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.  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 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 also flexible, given the remit of the role, with 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 Sharon Berrie, our South West Advocacy and Participation Manager sberrie@whocaresscotland.org.

Closing date for applications is Sunday 15th October. 

Interview dates to be confirmed.