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The Role
Job Title: Youth Worker
Reference: CF26-33
Hours: 3 hours per week*
Starting salary: £25,155 per annum, pro-rated to £2156 yearly (includes holiday entitlement)
Sessional Rate: £15.49 per hour (includes holiday pay)
This is an exciting opportunity to support our Midlothian service, with children, young people and their families in a group-based environment. We are looking for enthusiastic, warm, creative and relational workers to compliment our team and support community-based activities for the families connected with us.
Experience of working with young people in a community setting is preferable, along with an understanding of how to build trusting relationships with children and their families. You will be fun, creative, adaptable, hardworking and be comfortable in a play-based setting, predominantly with children from birth to 12 years.
The role is an opportunity for anyone interested in exploring a career supporting children and their families to develop their skills and understanding in a supportive environment. Our current workers shared their own experience:
"It is very satisfying to be part of a team with like-minded colleagues…I have learned a lot from the other professionals and the children about strategies I can use to support children’s needs. This has been helpful to me in my other roles."
"it’s been very satisfying to see how much the children and carers enjoy the supported sessions and the wider support of children first. Looking after children can be challenging and I think Children First make a huge difference in such circumstances"
*Hours: 3 hours on Thursday evenings 4 – 6.30pm with 30 mins travel time.
There are 2 roles available:
- Weekly term time support: You will be expected to work weekly during school term time.
- Sessional: You will provide cover ad hoc during the school term times, providing cover for holidays and sickness
Closing date: 29 July 2026
Interviews: week commencing 3rd August
Children First has a long tradition of valuing and involving volunteers. To find out more about volunteering with us, please visit our website.
The selection process will include seeking PVG Scheme information.
Children First is the working name of the Royal Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Registered Charity No: SC 016092
Equal opportunities matter to Children First
FULL JOB DESCRIPTION
Role Summary
The post holder will support the delivery of age-appropriate activities primarily for children aged 1-12 years within our Women’s Supper evenings.
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The post holder will work alongside colleagues from Children First as well as other agencies in providing a supportive play-based environment for children up to the age of 12 and their mothers within the playroom setting.
The postholder will provide direct play-based support and adult supervision of children in the setting, enabling children to engage in fun play-based opportunities safely. The setting provides a supportive space for children and their mothers to meet other families, have access to food and play on a weekly term time basis.
The postholder will be expected to communicate fully with the lead worker regarding planning and delivery of the weekly play session
Key Results Areas
- Delivery of flexible, age-appropriate group based support for children, young people and their families
- Positive engagement of children, young people and their families in the design, delivery and evaluation of activities
- Contribute to the safety of children and young people by observing their needs and updating lead worker of any needs identified
- Contribute to the planning of activities through creative engagement and review of resources
- Participation in group and individual debrief and review sessions with lead worker and line manager
- Development and sharing of good practice with service manager
What We’re Looking For
- Someone who is warm, friendly and enthusiastic
- Someone who has a passion for working with children and their families
- Someone who is reliable, consistent and who will bring their whole self to the role
- Someone who has a sense of fun, who is a good listener and who understands the basic needs of children
- Someone who is willing to learn and improve
What You’ll Get From Us
- A workplace with values of with love, with purpose and with strength
- 40 days annual leave, inclusive of bank holidays
- Pension scheme and wellbeing support
- Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
- Access to Westfield Health, giving colleagues and their families confidential counselling support, wellbeing resources, and access to health and lifestyle benefits to support physical and mental wellbeing.
- Blue Light card discount
- A Fair Work accredited wokplace
- Corporate Responsibility
- Be committed and adhere to Children First vision, mission and values.
- Comply with Children First Safeguarding policies and procedures.
- Comply with Children First Code of Conduct and any relevant professional standards relating to the role.
- Actively consider the involvement of children, young people and families with whom we work, in all areas of practice and to implement the Children First Participation Standards.
- Actively consider the involvement of volunteers in all areas of our work and to implement the Children First Volunteer Development Policy.
- Observe all health and safety requirements.
- Work within and promote policies in relation to Diversity Equity and Inclusion and anti-discriminatory practices.
- Undertake any other reasonably required duties as instructed by line manager or someone acting on their behalf, in addition to the role specific responsibilities detailed below.
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Need to Have
There are no formal qualifications required for the role, however it is desirable that you have had some previous experience of working with children in a play based role or setting.
Need to Show
- Good listening skills
- Flexibility and adaptability
- Good communication skills
- An ability to be organized
- An ability to respond to children’s needs at different ages and stages of development
Need to Know
- That children have different needs based on their age or stage of development
- How to respond to a child at different ages / stages
- How to support children in their play
- How to raise a concern that you have for a child or their family
Need to Be
- Warm and approachable
- Friendly, reliable, consistent
- Open and honest
- Committed and responsive
- Have a sense of fun
You need to demonstrate core personal values which align with Children Firsts core values or “with love, with strength and with purpose”
What kind of people are we looking for?
What kind of Family Wellbeing team member will you be?
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Why us?
Salary, Conditions, Pension
About us
Children First is Scotland’s national children’s charity. We stand up for every child because all children should have a safe childhood. We protect children from harm and support them to recover from trauma and abuse through our national and local services. We help children, their families and the people that care for them by offering emotional, practical, and financial support. We give children hope and a safer, brighter future.
Our core values guide how each one of us works in our individual day to day job:
- With love, we put children first.
- With purpose, we transform children’s lives together.
- With strength, we do whatever it takes to protect Scotland’s children.
These values are reflected in everything we do. If you share our vision and values and would like to join our team then we would love to hear from you.
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