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.  

As Development Officer – Volunteering and Participation, you will have a key role within the national Volunteering team. Helping to build and support a successful volunteer network, you will shape and deliver a volunteer programme across the organisation. You will also support the development of engaging, meaningful participation for Care Experienced people on a range of themes and work closely with teams across the organisation who involve volunteers in their work.

To succeed in this role, you will have demonstrable experience of coordinating the work of volunteers including recruitment, selection, training, support, and retention. Confident in your ability to create positive and supportive relationships with volunteers, you will be passionate about working with others and independently, retaining diplomacy whilst collaborating in a dynamic environment and with those who may hold differing opinions. Assisting in developing relevant and high-quality training for volunteers, this role will also see you take responsibility for volunteer projects, social events, presentations on the impact of volunteering for the organisation, as well as supporting and delivering local and national participation projects for Care Experienced people. As a crucial partner in implementing the volunteer and participation strategies as an ambassador for Who Cares? Scotland, you will also support in sourcing funding for the volunteer team and represent the charity at external forums.

As part of the Volunteer and Participation Development team, you will possess sound knowledge of current research and recommendations relating to volunteer issues, communicate clearly, and be well organised. With a background in the delivery of participation through a variety of methods, you will be confident supporting staff and volunteers with the planning and delivery of local and national participation. You will be strongly committed to the work of Who Cares? Scotland and our aims, and develop key contacts with Care Experienced members, Corporate Parents, Academics, and Third Sector agencies. Understanding that young people can make transformative change happen in their lives if given the opportunity, you will work in an inclusive and anti-oppressive way, engaging with continuing professional development to ensure that your awareness of different points of view, best practice, and policy continues to evolve. The post holder will be required to be flexible and work some evening and weekends to meet volunteer related operational needs.

There will be opportunities to work from home, but there will be a requirement for the post holder to be based in one of our Central Belt offices, working across the Central Belt.

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.  

The successful candidate will be joining Who Cares? Scotland and working within the Volunteer Development 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.  

If you have a genuine interest in volunteering, we would love to hear from you. For an informal conversation about this opportunity please contact Yvonne Atkins, our Volunteer and Participation Manager at yatkins@whocaresscotland.org. 

Closing date for applications is Thursday 24th August.

Interviews will be held on Thursday 31st August or Friday 1st September.