Regional Co-ordinator – North Lanarkshire

Last updated: 23/09/2024

Key info

Location: Based at OPFS North Lanarkshire

Salary: OPFS Scale Point 22 – 26 (£36, 123 – £39,984)

Hours: 24.5 hours per week

Closing Date: Closing date Thursday 17th October 2024 at 12 noon.

Reports to: Head of Service, Support for Families and National Programmes.

Qualification Required: HNC or SVQ3 in Relevant Field

Please email jobs@opfs.org.uk for further information about this role.

The successful post-holder will be expected to operate in line with our values which are:

Justice, Equity, Trust, Collaboration and Compassion.

Overview

OPFS was founded in 1944 and since then we have been at the forefront of shaping policy and services that support the 144,000 single parent families in Scotland. OPFS HQ is in central Edinburgh, there are local services in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Falkirk, Edinburgh and Dundee with National digital and helpline services.

The Regional Coordinator role will contribute to the organisation’s vision of a Scotland in which single parents and their children are valued and treated equally and fairly by coordinating components which contribute to the North Lanarkshire service. The role holder will, working alongside colleagues in OPFS Management Teams, be responsible for strategic direction and delivery of services tailored for single parent families in North Lanarkshire.

All roles at OPFS contribute to our mission of working with and for single parent families, providing support that enables them to achieve their potential and helping to create lasting solutions to poverty and barriers facing single parents and their children. Our core values of Justice, Equity, Trust, Collaboration and Compassion are at the heart of everything we do and underpin all aspects of our work.

OPFS Lanarkshire Support for Families Service

Our Lanarkshire based service provides a range of support for single parents and their families, which currently includes:

  • Family Support: assisting families with everyday situations and through more complex and difficult times.
  • Mental Health & Wellbeing: advice and practical support around looking after yourself and your family and therapeutic support, including the provision of counselling.
  • Young Parents: pathway of specialist family and employability support for young parents and their children.
  • Employability: specialised and comprehensive support for single parents to support progression and wrap around support for additional barriers

Equal opportunities and family friendly employment

  • OPFS aims to be an equal opportunity and family friendly employer and flexible working requests will be considered. OPFS has Investors In People status and Living Wage accreditation.

Key tasks, personal specifications and terms and conditions

The job description is a broad picture of the post at the time of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties, as jobs change and evolve over time.

Main duties

Responsible for the management, day-to-day running, and adequate resourcing of OPFS Lanarkshire service. This includes:

  • Leading, directing and managing our well-established Lanarkshire Support for Families Service to ensure that single parents have the opportunity and support to make choices that enable them to lead a full life and promote wellbeing and that their rights are at the heart of all service developments and improvements.
  • Responsibilities for the performance and development of the Lanarkshire Support for Families service.
  • Working with service users, external partners and providers and be responsible for all aspects of the specialist services provided, ensuring positive outcomes for single parent families.
  • Contributing to development of service provision regionally and nationally, including leading on a specific thematic issue for single parents.
  • Leading on funding applications for the service, working with, and supported by, OPFS Business Development team, managing budgets and reporting back to funders.
  • Managing the Lanarkshire service income and expenditure in line with annual budgets and liaising with the OPFS Finance Manager on preparation of budgets.
  • Working closely with OPFS Communications team, developing digital channels and the marketing and promotion strategy for the service.
  • Establishing and maintaining effective liaison with relevant statutory and voluntary agencies, including developing partnership initiatives.
  • Working collaboratively with colleagues in Support for Families to ensure OPFS provision nationally is cohesive, high quality and effective.
  • Representing the work of OPFS to external agencies and developing new areas of work.
  • Any other relevant duties as requested by the Directorate or the Board.

Personal specifications

Please ensure you identify how you meet these within your personal statement.

Essential Experience:

  • Relevant HNC or SVQ 3 level qualification or equivalent experience in a related field.
  • Experience of staff supervision and monitoring of family support services.
  • Experience of partnership and multi-agency working.
  • Experience of supporting the development of new services.
  • Understanding of the roles of key statutory and voluntary agencies supporting families.
  • Ability to present to a range of audiences using a variety of communication styles.
  • Ability to demonstrate excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Competent use of standard IT packages.
  • Knowledge of issues affecting single parents in Scotland.
  • Knowledge and understanding of current legislation around families and children.
  • Commitment to professional development.
  • Ability to plan, record and evaluate through reports.
  • Flexible to meet the needs of the service.
  • Clean driving licence and access to a vehicle.

Desirable

  • Experience of working in the Third Sector.
  • Understanding of single parent challenges.

Terms & conditions

  • Confirmation of Appointment: Confirmation of appointment is subject to 2 references, one from the most recent employer being received, Standard Disclosure Scotland Check and satisfactory completion of a 3-month probationary period, ending when a probationary review has been completed.
  • Salary: OPFS Scale Point 22 – 26 (£36, 123 – £39,984) for 35 hours a week calculated pro rata for 24.5 hours is £25,286 – £27,989.
  • Hours of work: Hours of work will be 24.5 hours per week and will be flexible to meet the needs of the service and may include evening and weekend work.
  • Holidays: Annual leave entitlement is 25 days and 12 Public holidays, 259 hours, pro rata for part time. An additional 5 days, pro rata for part time, is added after 5 years’ service.
  • Pension: You will be auto enrolled in our pension scheme with a 3% contribution from you and 7% from OPFS.
  • Training and support and supervision: You will receive induction training and frequent support in the first three months. Thereafter you will receive monthly individual support and supervision from the Head of Service. Regular team meetings will be held, and staff will have access to internal and external training.

Further information

Please contact info@opfs.org.uk or 0131 556 3899 if you require a paper application form and ensure that you allow plenty of time for posting. Completed paper applications should be sent to Recruitment, One Parent Families Scotland, 2 York Place, Edinburgh EH1 3EP.

Completed Word applications should be sent to jobs@opfs.org.uk by the closing date Thursday 17th October at 12 noon.

Download application form