Employability Support Project Worker
Salary £ 23,690 pro rata
Dumfries / Annan
Vacancy listed 2025-06-23
Application deadline 2025-07-09
Details
Location: Dumfries/Annan
Salary: £23,690 pro rata
Salary Band: 1.2
Hours: Part-time, 21 hours per week
Contract: Fixed-Term to 31st March 2026, with potential for extension dependent on funding
Reports To: Service Manager
Disclosure & Barring Check: This post will be subject to a PVG check for working with vulnerable Children & Adults.

About Us
Change Mental Health is a leading national mental health charity providing non-clinical, person-centred support to people in communities across Scotland. With over 50 years’ experience, we are fighting for a future where no one faces mental illness alone. We are changing society by changing attitudes, fighting stigma and influencing government to ensure a better of quality of life for those affected by poor mental health and mental illness. As a charity supporting over 10,000 people year, we believe everyone should have access to the support they need, when they need it and in a way which works best for them.

About the Project
We use a person-centred and intergenerational approach to build a clear plan for people to reach their employability goals. People participate in meaningful group activities and one-to-one support at our location on Dumfries’ Munches Street, our Stranraer base in the Millennium Centre on George Street, or at our resource centres in Annan and Castle Douglas.

Individuals accessing this support across Dumfries and Galloway engage in a range of activities that are closely aligned with their own interests. Skills development opportunities are embedded into all group activities, allowing people to learn new skills or improve existing ones while doing something they enjoy.

About the Role
As a Project Worker, you will support service users to achieve their identified goals by facilitating structured group and one-to-one activities that allow those taking part to improve existing employability skills as well as develop new ones. You will contribute to personal planning for individuals who require immediate or ongoing emotional, practical or vocational support to deliver the best possible outcomes.

Within the area team there is a clear line management structure which supports and shapes the Project Worker’s practise. You will work closely with other members of staff to achieve outcomes as defined by your line manager. You will also ensure that the Project provides a safe environment where people can relax, re-establish social skills, develop new ones and enhance their employability options and overall quality of life. 

Who are we looking for?
The ideal candidate should be someone who can work as part of a team, be creative in their approach to working with people, have excellent communication skills and have a sense of humour. They should be educated to SVQ Level 2 or its equivalent, and be willing to complete an SVQ3 after probation.

Key Responsibilities:
•       Working as part of a team building positive working relationships
•       Implementing outcome focussed development plans in partnership with service users, as designed/overseen by your line manager to enable service users to achieve their identified goals
•       Employing a number of appropriate intervention strategies including positive communication skills to achieve desired outcomes.
•       Developing ongoing risk assessments to ensure the wellbeing of service users
•       Using group work skills to bring people together in a safe environment 
•       Adhering to and understanding appropriate professional boundaries including confidentiality 
•       Contributing to service user goals and outcomes by working in partnership across a number of organisations sourcing appropriate community support and opportunities

Skills & Experience
Essential:
·        Educated to SVQ level 2 or have relevant experience working in health and social care
·        Ability to plan and prioritise your own workload
·        Professional self-awareness with the ability to ask for support and advice from your line manager appropriately and participate in supervision and support meetings positively
·        An empathetic approach
·        A personal and professional value base consistent with the aims and objectives of Change Mental Health
·        A practice firmly based within a model of recovery
·        Ability to demonstrate genuine regard for service users and their families 
·        Good I.T. skills and can produce accurate case notes 
·        Enthusiastic to develop your knowledge and skills to develop in the role

Desirable:
·        Experience of working with people affected by mental illness
·        Experience of working in a SSSC Registered Service
·        A learning and development portfolio evidencing your skills and knowledge

General Duties:  
·        Act in accordance with Data Protection legislation.  Ensure all records, personal, staff and client data are managed in line with Data Management and Information Governance policies.
·        Comply with legal and regulatory requirements such as provisions set out in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
·        As with all employees, workers and volunteers; to encourage people to join Change Mental Health as a member, donor or activist.
·        To act in accordance with the charity’s Health & Safety and Safeguarding policies and to notify a line manager promptly if there are any concerns.
·        To participate in regular supervision and appraisal and undertake any relevant training as appropriate to the role.
·        To work in accordance with the charity’s national policies and local operating procedures and those of external regulators or professional bodies.
  
This job profile and list of duties is not exhaustive and serves only to highlight the main requirements. The line manager may stipulate other reasonable requirements and projects commensurate with the general profile and grade of the post.
 
Please be aware that it is classed as an offence if you apply for this role and are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to vulnerable children & adults. 


Benefits

• 24/7 access to an award-winning Employee Assistance Programme providing free legal, financial, and medical advice as well as support with life’s challenges.
• A 35-hour working week
• Travel season ticket loan.
• A great work life balance with flexible and blended working environment.
• Access to purchase a Blue Light Discount Card
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Enhanced sick pay and leave entitlements.
• Generous 37 days’ holiday.
• 2 paid Mental Wellbeing days.
• Professional development including funded opportunities.

Notes

Applicants are advised to apply as soon as possible, and all applications must be received by midday on 9th July 2025. Interviews are due to be held from 14th – 18th July.

Please don’t delay your application to avoid any disappointment, as we reserve the right to close this advert earlier or later than stated.

We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds. If you consider yourself to have a disability, please inform us of any arrangements that we may make to the interview process.

If you have any questions or would like an informal chat, please reach out to John Scott at john.scott@changemh.org

Please note, the salary has been set at the upper limit of our salary band for this role.

Attached documents
Title File
Job Description Employability_Support_Project_Worker_Dumfries.docx
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