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TOGETHER: Policy and Participation Officer

  • Full time (35 hours per week)
  •  £29,047 - £31,904
  • Temporarily remote. Otherwise central Edinburgh.

The Policy and Participation Officer plays a crucial role in advancing Together’s mission to ensure that all babies, children, and young people in Scotland have their human rights respected, protected, and fulfilled. This role supports the Legal and Policy Manager by enhancing policy development and ensuring robust participation of babies, children, and young people in all aspects of Together's work. The Officer will assist in policy advocacy, engage in public affairs, and strengthen the engagement of babies, children and young people in Together’s activities, including the Rights Detectives.

Key areas of responsibility include:
• Supporting policy development and analysis by assisting with Together's annual State of Children's Rights report and the #RightsOnTrack programme, monitoring developments and recommendations from UN treaty bodies, drafting responses to relevant Scottish/UK Government and Parliament consultations, and developing policy briefings.
• Supporting the development of participation projects and leading desk-based research that ensures babies, children, and young people’s views are at the heart of Together’s policy and advocacy.
• Facilitating collaboration with members and supporting partnership activities with organisations across the UK, Europe and internationally.
• Supporting the Legal and Policy Manager with public affairs tasks and working with the Membership and Social Media Officer to coordinate strategies to enhance Together's social media presence.
• Supporting the Legal and Policy Manager in policy meetings and events, actively engaging in team meetings, and assisting in the development of funding proposals.

Throughout the role, the post-holder will be expected to involve Together’s membership – including children and young people – whenever possible and appropriate.

Find out more about this opportunity

Closing date: 12 noon on Tuesday 6 August 2024

Interviews: Interviews are expected to take place remotely on 15th August 2024.

Vacancy details

Please visit the vacancy section on our member's website.

Further details

Member organisation

Please click here to visit the Together website

Visit website

Job vacancies with Children in Scotland

See what vacancies and opportunities Children and Scotland have on offer

Take a look

Our membership offer

Be part of the largest national children's sector membership organisation in Scotland

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Have your say - Consultation on funding approach for the third sector

18 Jul 2024

Children in Scotland invites members to contribute to its response to the consultation opened by the Social Justice and Social Security Committee at Scottish Parliament which examines Scottish Government's funding approaches for the third sector.

The Social Justice and Social Security Committee at the Scottish Parliament has opened a consultation to examine how the Scottish Government’s approach to fair and efficient funding can contribute to the continued effectiveness of the third sector. This is part of the Committee’s pre-budget scrutiny.

From speaking with our members, we know how recent challenges have made sustainable funding a priority area as so many third sector organisations struggle to build and maintain resilience.

Children in Scotland will be submitting a response to the consultation sharing our experience and learning from members and partners working across the children's sector.

We understand that some of our members may struggle to write a full response to the consultation due to pressure on staff capacity and the short turnaround. For this reason, we have created a short survey providing an opportunity for members to further contribute to Children in Scotland's response and help us to build our evidence base.

Questions in the survey ask members to consider the impact of different approaches to funding including a shift to longer-term, more flexible funding patterns, inflation-related uplifts, and the challenges of delivering the Real Living Wage and Fair Work for employees.

Respondents do not need to answer every question listed in the survey. You also have the option to ask us to anonymise any responses you submit.

The survey will close at 5pm on Monday 5 August 2024.

Click here to begin the survey

If you wish to respond to the Committee’s consultation directly, click here to visit Scottish Parliament’s website -> 

Contribute to our response

We invite members to complete our short survey providing your views on funding approaches for the third sector.

Complete the survey

Our membership offer

Be part of the largest national children's sector membership organisation in Scotland

Click here for more

A momentous moment for children's rights in Scotland

16 Jul 2024

Today, as the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024 comes into effect, we celebrate a monumental step forward for children’s rights in Scotland. While we all take a moment to celebrate the culmination of years of determination and hard work demonstrated by children, young people and their supporters, alongside a few of our members, we share our hopes for what incorporation will mean for children and young people across Scotland. 

Cathy McCulloch OBE, Director of Children’s Parliament:

“In 1992, children called for a “children’s parliament; a place where children are taken seriously and where we can talk about things that are important to us, not just to adults”. Thirty-two years later, Article 12 of the UNCRC is about to be embedded in the new Act. But our excitement is about much more than a child’s right to have a say.

What we will have at the heart of all we do with, and for children, is the right for every child to have their human dignity respected and their best interests served. For a country that often tolerates, rather than values, children, Scotland now has an opportunity to ensure environments around children are based on love, kindness and understanding; environments where children blossom, habits of a lifetime begin, and we begin to see the culture change to which we aspire.”

David Mackay, Head of Policy, Projects and Participation at Children in Scotland:

“This is an exciting week! So many children and young people (and their workforce allies!) have campaigned tirelessly for the incorporation of the UNCRC over the years. Unfortunately, we know that just because something is in law, it doesn’t mean it automatically happens, so the hard work starts here to ensure children’s rights are truly respected and upheld.

"I hope that UNCRC incorporation will be an important tool for protecting children and families and tackling the stark inequality we see across Scotland. I also hope it will raise the profile of children’s ‘voices’ and act as a guiding light for other parts of the UK. But before the hard work, we will allow ourselves a small celebration and, of course, some cake!”

Dr Judith Turbyne, Chief Executive of Children in Scotland:

“Time to get the party poppers out. Children and young people’s rights as outlined in the UNCRC will be made part of law in Scotland. This is truly a moment to stop, take a deep breath and smile. It has taken a lot of effort and energy from children, young people and adults to make this happen.

So yes, let’s celebrate, and then let’s roll up our sleeves and start the very important work to ensure that this really makes a positive difference for all children and young people across Scotland.”

Georgette Cobban, Senior Development Officer (The Promise) from ACVO TSI:

“As an organisation which supports the third sector, we are hopeful that incorporation of the UNCRC in Scots Law will focus the minds of decision makers on the delivery of The Promise for children across Scotland, and help communities in their ongoing fight for fairness.

"The third sector can only do so much with the limited resources it has, however, this Act presents an opportunity to force systemic change at a national level for some of the most serious issues facing society such as child poverty. At this stage we can only be hopeful. The record of successive local and national political administrations has failed to deliver the wholesale changes required to ensure that for every child, they have what they need to grow up loved, safe and respected.”

Marie Harrison, Senior Policy Officer (Children’s Rights), My Rights, My Say service, Children in Scotland:

“With UNCRC being incorporated into Scots law, it is our hope that children across Scotland will be more able than ever to exercise their rights.

"As a network, My Rights, My Say supports children aged 12-15 with additional support needs to share their views and experiences related to their education and the support they receive in school. The limited reach of the Additional Support for Learning Act, however, means that only children aged 12-15 or 16 and over have specific rights. For example, to request assessments or make a reference to the tribunal, children outwith these age groups cannot access statutory advocacy and support to share their views in formal processes.

"It is our hope that the UNCRC Incorporation Act will facilitate a change in this and ensure that all children, regardless of their age, and regardless of how they communicate, will be able to access services like the ones My Rights, My Say currently provide. We realise this will not happen overnight but My Rights, My Say provides evidence that a structural support mechanism must be in place if rights are to be actioned in practice, and not just remain a theoretical concept.”

 

Participation and engagement work

Find out more about how we embed the inclusion and participation of children and young people in our work

Click here for more

Our services

We offer a range of services that provide support, advice and representation for children and families

Click here for more

The benefits of spending time outdoors this summer

9 Jul 2024

The National Trust for Scotland is a charity that cares for over 100 places across Scotland. Its aim is to ensure that people of all ages have the opportunity – both now and in the future – to discover new places, make memories and learn more about Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage, all while experiencing the positive wellbeing impact of the outdoors. In this blog, Sarah Cowie highlights the importance of spending time outdoors this summer.

During the month of June, my role took me across the country to meet different school groups as they explored our amazing places. From measuring the age of a tree at Crathes Castle, to mimicking a seal’s banana balance in Brodick Country Park, each visit sparked laughter, questions, and huge enthusiasm for outdoor learning. One class teacher told me that working with our staff to learn more about how we care for the outdoors had developed her pupils mentally and physically and had given them a stronger connection to their local area.

The benefit of the being outdoors extends well beyond children and young people. A survey carried out for the National Trust for Scotland showed that 97% of Scots believe access to the outdoors is important for their mental health. The research also found that 95% of those surveyed said spending time outdoors was effective at reducing their stress levels, with 89% stating that it enhances their quality of life.

The Scottish coast topped the polls as the preferred place to spend time outdoors (58%), followed by 50% who favoured woodland spaces and 48% choosing country parks or gardens. The popularity of a wide range of landscapes, and their value to people’s wellbeing, has highlighted the importance of our charity’s work to care for, protect and share Scotland’s outdoor places.

My role is about extending and enhancing our work with schools across the many special places cared for by the Trust. That includes developing and promoting the huge range of outdoor learning experiences we offer, which are often led by our knowledgeable Ranger teams. I recently learned from our Rangers that we care for over 1 million seabirds! By engaging children in schools, we can establish that connection with our outdoor places at a young age. We can also encourage pupils to return with their families and we’re hoping many of them do that this summer.

This year, the National Trust for Scotland has launched Our Big Scottish Summer to showcase the incredible experiences available at its places across the country. From breathtaking beaches and iconic mountains to gorgeous gardens and super-fun play parks, there is something for all members of the family to enjoy over the school holidays! Click here for ways to experience and enjoy the best of what Scotland has to offer this year.

My top five places to spend time outdoors as a family this summer are:

  • Drum Castle, Aberdeenshire – crawl, slide and swing through our new Little Oaks natural playpark
  • Greenbank Garden, Glasgow – escape Glasgow city centre and explore family-friendly woodland walks
  • St Abbs Head, Borders - experience ‘seabird city’, with Coldingham Bay beach nearby
  • Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Ayr – children’s trails, a Poet’s path, and a Scots Language themed playpark mean this is a full day visit!
  • Brodie Castle and Estate, Moray – everyone can get involved in the fun in our Playful Garden, before exploring the wider estate.

Click here to find out more information on the National Trust for Scotland website.

Click here to find out more about the National Trust for Scotland's work with schools including information for teachers.

About the Author

Sarah Cowie is Senior Heritage Learning Advisor at the National Trust for Scotland.

Click here for more

Participation and engagement work

Find out more about how we embed the inclusion and participation of children and young people in our work

Click here for more

Our membership offer

Be part of the largest national children's sector membership organisation in Scotland

Click here for more
Back

Play Therapy Base: Trustee/Board member

  • Approximately 2 hours every 2 months
  • Voluntary position, unpaid
  • Meetings will be held at premises in Eskbank, Dalkeith, with remote access during instances when a Trustee is unable to attend in person.

Our Trustees are essential to the running of our service and we are looking for passionate individuals to join us. Ideal applicants will have specific knowledge and experience in one or more of the following areas:

Finance –support of voluntary agencies in establishing good practice in line with legislation, and of developing self-sustaining business practices.
Strategic Planning
IT- technical support and/or client database systems
Voluntary sector – as practitioner or board member
Children's mental health - as practitioner or policy maker
Fundraising

If you would like to support our service by applying to join our Board or would like to find out more about our organisation and the role of our Board members, please get in touch with Linda Cuthbert, Service Manager, via one of the contact methods below.

Email us at linda@playtherapybase.co.uk with a short description of your knowledge/skills and why you would like to join us.

Call us on 0131 454 9713.

Download the application form

Closing date: Monday 2 September 2024

Vacancy details

Download the Trustees information pack

Further details

Member organisation

Please click here to visit the Play Therapy Base website

Visit website

Our membership offer

Be part of the largest national children's sector membership organisation in Scotland

Click here for more

Job vacancies with Children in Scotland

See what vacancies and opportunities Children and Scotland have on offer

Take a look

Scottish Government seeks views on charity regulation review

19 Jun 2024

Scottish Government has launched a 12-week consultation to gather views on whether current charity regulation needs to be reviewed.

As 2025 marks 20 years since the first Scottish charities Act was passed by Parliament, Scottish Government is considering whether regulation is still working for everyone by asking the charity sector if change is needed.

Looking to hear from the organisations, networks and people that make up the 25,000 charities currently registered in Scotland, the consultation is comprised of 10 short questions which explore the need for a review, as well as what the purpose and parameters of a future review should be.

Those interested in learning more about the consultation, will have the opportunity to attend a webinar hosted by the Scottish Government on Wednesday 26 June (3-4pm) which will provide further information on the questions and allow space for a discussion on the issue. To sign up for the webinar, please email charityreview@gov.scot

Scottish Government’s Charity Law Team Leader, Caroline Monk says:

“Next year will be 20 years since the Scottish Parliament passed the first Scottish charities Act, the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005. That year saw the then Prince Charles’ marriage to Camila Parker-Bowles, Angela Merkel becoming the first female Chancellor of Germany and Pope John-Paul II’s death. A lot has changed since then. So, we’re asking you if charity regulation in Scotland needs to change as well.

“We know that finding the time and the energy to respond to consultations can be challenging but we hope that by including some quick questions, more people will be able to respond.”

Children in Scotland’s Chief Executive, Dr Judith Turbyne says:

“A lot of our members, and many other organisations working with and for children and young people across Scotland are charities. Even if your organisation is not a charity, you may well work closely with one. Although the regulation of charities might not seem like the most exciting topic, it is fundamental to the way charities operate so should be of interest to us all.”

The consultation is open until midnight on 22 July 2024 and responses will help the Scottish Government to decide the next steps in its commitment to strengthening charity law.

Click here to find out more and read a short consultation paper.

Click here to share your views and complete the consultation. 

Review of charity regulation

Find out more about the consultation on the charity regulation review.

Click here for more

Participation and engagement work

Find out more about how we embed the inclusion and participation of children and young people in our work

Click here for more

Our services

We offer we offer a range of services that provide support, advice and representation for children and families

Click here for more

Today a ‘quiet childcare’ revolution is taking place

28 May 2024

Next month, professionals, funders, policy makers and leaders will gather to explore whether Scotland is Keeping The Promise when it comes to Dads.

Ahead of the Seminar, Douglas Guest, Development Manager at the Circle, explores why, despite the advances in the ‘quiet childcare’ revolution, fathers still face an uphill battle in being recognised for their positive role in children’s life.

The Promise is about generational transformational change, it seeks to be bold and ambitious and by 2030 realise a better care system and family support around it.

Being a parent is challenging, possibly the most important and hardest role we ever do. Sometimes we get it wrong, often we do and being a good enough parent is often what we achieve. Add in factors like intergenerational trauma, violence, addiction and poverty and it becomes even more stigmatised and difficult.

Thus, it’s imperative we start asking questions in our organisations, services, communities and families.

  1. what are we doing well for dads?
  2. What’s not working well?
  3. What are the barriers and opportunities to #keepingthepromise?
  4. What do dads need in 2024 and what would we/dads like the promise to achieve by 2030.

Today a ‘quiet childcare’ revolution is taking place. A recent survey (click here to view) of over 1,000 fathers, revealed that more fathers than ever before are prioritising time with their family. Despite increasing financial pressures severely impacting dads work-life balance and family life, 49% of dads with dependent children are now spending more than 25 hours a week playing with their children and supporting their learning, the highest we have ever recorded. For those living in Scotland's most deprived communities (SIMD1) this figure increases to a staggering 64%, a rise of 17% from our 2022 survey.

Men from the most deprived communities face additional public stigma, often portrayed as dangerous or risky, they can face both direct and indirect discrimination. In Professor Anna Tarrant’s 2021 publication ‘Fathering and Poverty’ she notes that “myths of workless, absent and feckless fathers remain largely unchecked and unchallenged and rarely consider the complexities of men’s lives.”  Professor Tarrant concludes that: “Men do not just become ’bad dads’ over time and abandon their children, as broader stereotypes such as ‘absent’ or ‘feckless’ fathers would suggest. They have strong aspirations to be involved in their children’s lives from a young age”. (Click here to visit the Innovation in Fatherhood and Family Research website)

An advisory board on Fathers led by Scottish government and Health Scotland, met for several years and out of this Year of the Dad, more Dad inclusive services and father friendly work policies emerged. Now Dads are now routinely asked about birth trauma and post-natal depression, and some industries are enhancing their paternity leave policies to recruit and retain Dads. Dads are more often seen as assets to be engaged with and dads’ voices are sought for new policies like Child protection guidance by CELCIS recently.

Yet despite their increasing commitment, and evidence that their care is vital for child development, fathers still face an uphill battle to be recognised for the positive role they play in their children’s lives.

That’s why we’re hosting “Keeping the Promise for Dads” in June, bringing together professionals, funders and policy makers to tackle these issues and to ensure dads get the support they need.

Click here to find out more and book your place

About the Author

Douglas Guest is Development Manager - The Promise at Circle

Click here for more

Keeping the Promise for Dads - Seminar

Join the upcoming seminar to explore what dads need on 12 June.

Register your place

Annual Conference 2024

Join us on 29 & 30 May at Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh

Click here to book

Participation and engagement work

Find out more about how we embed the inclusion and participation of children and young people in our work

Click here for more

Understanding the key issues parents in Scotland face today

24 May 2024

To understand the key issues parents and those in a parenting roles face today, Parenting across Scotland worked with social research agency, The Lines Between, to examine research involving over 4000 parents and carers in Scotland. With the final report launching on 4 June, Policy and Engagement Officer, Arran Goodfellow, explains how report findings will be used to influence change.  

Over the next few years Parenting across Scotland will be working hard to bring the parenting voice to national and local policymakers and to service providers, setting and illuminating the agenda for what needs to change, and catalysing improvements in policy and practice.

With a new staff team recently in post, one of our first objectives was to understand the key issues, challenges and priorities faced by parents and those in a parenting role in Scotland today. Before conducting any of our own work, it was important for us to understand the research that already existed to get an idea of the current landscape.

After a competitive invitation to tender process at the end of last year, we commissioned The Lines Between, a social research agency, to conduct a review of research focusing on the lived experience and needs of parents and those in a parenting role in Scotland in 2023.

Their final report examines research with over 4000 parents and carers across 26 local authorities in Scotland. There are various groups of parent-carers involved, including:

  • single parents,
  • black or minority ethnic parents,
  • disabled parents or parents with disabled children,
  • refugees,
  • parents seeking asylum,
  • carers,
  • parents with care experience,
  • parents who have had a child put into the care system,
  • adoptive parents

Many of the key challenges facing those in parenting roles in the report came as no surprise to us – particularly poverty, financial insecurity, mental health, education and childcare. But they are still shocking nonetheless.

We are heartened to have a diverse range of voices reflected in the report, and are aware that with intersectionality, some families will face even harsher realities than those presented. Our hope is that the final report provides a strong basis of existing knowledge for the third sector to draw on and something that we at Parenting across Scotland can use to help influence change, our work and policy priority areas.

We will be launching the report at a webinar on Tuesday 4 June from 1:30-2:30pm. This will include a presentation from the authors, The Lines Between, who will share the report’s key findings and give attendees a chance to ask any questions. If you are interested in joining, please email info@parentingacrossscotland.org

About the Author

Arran Goodfellow is the Policy and Engagement Officer at Parenting across Scotland.

Click here for more

Annual Conference 2024

Join us on 29 & 30 May at Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh

Click here to book

Participation and engagement work

Find out more about how we embed the inclusion and participation of children and young people in our work

Click here for more

Safety. Sorted! Helping families to keep their children safer this Child Safety Week

21 May 2024

Ahead of Child Safety Week (Monday 3 – Sunday 9 June 2024), Katrina Phillips OBE, Chief Executive of the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) outlines how you can help to make children safer by sharing helpful, practical advice with the families you work with.

Child Safety Week is the Child Accident Prevention Trust’s annual community education campaign, aiming to equip and empower families with the confidence and skills to manage the real risks to children’s safety.

We want all children to have the freedom to grow and learn, safe from serious harm. However, in many disadvantaged communities, families have less opportunities to learn about safety, meaning children are at greater risk of a serious accident.

Sadly, one Scottish child dies each month due to an accident, and 1 in 13 emergency admissions to hospital are caused by accidents (Public Health Scotland). So reaching families and giving them the skills and knowledge to keep their children safe is vital.

With your help, we can make all children safer.

Safety. Sorted!

We want to make it as easy as possible for families to get safety sorted. For parents and carers to feel confident that, with just one small change, they can stop a serious accident happening. And for families to be clear what they need to do to keep their children safe.

That’s why this year’s Child Safety Week theme is “Safety. Sorted!”

We’re sharing small, easy-to-make changes that fit with hectic family life. Our Child Safety Week Parents’ Pack contains bite-sized facts and safety tips on the main accident risks to children, allowing families to make simple changes that can fit into busy routines.

We appreciate how much families value the crucial support of practitioners in their community in helping them to navigate the early years and stay one step ahead of their child’s development.

We also understand that there are real pressures on your time spent with families. With this in mind, we’ve made it easier than ever to get involved with Child Safety Week and help families keep their children safe.

Everything you need, all in one place

To help you get safety sorted for Child Safety Week, we’ve brought all our resources for practitioners together in one place.

Visit our resource centre, packed with free downloadable resources covering all topics, whatever you choose to focus on this Child Safety Week, or in your accident prevention work throughout the year. You can search by safety topic and resource type, so however you share information with families, you can find what you need.

Brand new for this year, we’ve launched a display pack of colourful posters covering many safety topics to help you create an eye-catching Child Safety Week display for families visiting your setting.

And if you’re looking for inspiration and ideas on how to bring Child Safety Week to life, whether you’re running an event or putting on a display in your setting, you’ll find everything you need on our Child Safety Week hub to help support you in your work with vulnerable families.

Let’s work together to get safety sorted.

Click here for more about Child Safety Week

Click here to grab your free Child Safety Week resources

Click here to sign up to get safety alerts, top tips and resources straight to your inbox.

About the Author

Katrina Phillips OBE is the Chief Executive of the Child Accident Prevention Trust

Click here for more

Child Safety Week

Looking for inspiration on how to bring Child Safety Week to life, explore the hub.

Click here for more

Annual Conference 2024

Join us on 29 & 30 May at Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh

Click here to book

Children in Scotland responds to the UNCRC Statutory Guidance Consultation

16 May 2024

Children in Scotland has today (Thursday 16 May) responded to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child Statutory Guidance Consultation.

While welcoming the actions of the Scottish Government as bringing Scotland another step closer to UNCRC incorporation, Children in Scotland has also highlighted concerns about the length, accessibility and complexity of the proposed information and how this will impact engagement with the guidance.

The draft guidance, issued by Scottish Government earlier this year, outlines changes to Part 2 and Part 3, Section 18 of the UNCRC, which provides significant detail on who is required to comply under the Act, what their requirements and duties are, and how the Scottish Government will utilise the Act to better children’s access to their rights.

Through its Supporting the Third Sector project (click here for more), Children in Scotland consulted with staff from Scotland’s Third Sector Interfaces to inform its response to the draft guidance.

While there was enthusiasm and understanding of the strengthening that incorporation will bring to children’s rights in Scotland, many members had concerns around the lack of accessible support available for the third sector, especially when considering the limited capacity that many organisations have to deliver on their compatibility duties.

Sharing concerns about the accessibility of guidance, Children in Scotland’s advice and information services, Enquire (click here for more) and My Rights, My Say (click here for more), highlighted the difficulties service users already face when accessing redress under the current education system and emphasised the importance of new guidance not adding complications to the current system. My Rights, My Say have also submitted a whole service response to this consultation.

Children in Scotland’s response also highlighted where the guidance delivered succinct and clear information and offered its full support and commitment to work with the Scottish Government, members and sector partners as the UNCRC incorporation comes into effect over the coming months.

Click here to read Children in Scotland’s response to the UNCRC Statutory Guidance Consultation

Our response

Read our full response to the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2024: Statutory Guidance on Part 2 and 3,

Click here for more

Our services

We offer we offer a range of services that provide support, advice and representation for children and families

Click here for more

Participation and engagement work

Find out more about how we embed the inclusion and participation of children and young people in our work

Click here for more