Firsthand Lothian, established in 1992, is now seeking a new CEO to take the organisation forward as the current postholder plans for retirement after 13 years in post.
The CEO will provide strong leadership and direction to enable Firsthand Lothian to achieve its strategic aims and objectives. A key responsibility will be identifying and securing sources of funding to sustain the continued operation of Firsthand Lothian. The CEO will also be responsible for developing services to meet family needs and funding availability. Other responsibilities include managing a small team, financial planning and management, reporting to funders, and ensuring that feedback from service users informs future service development.
Closing date 5pm on Monday 10th March 2025
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted with details of the interview by Wednesday 19th March 2025
Interviews will take place in person at our office in McDonald Road on Monday 31st March 2025
* On site: Edinburgh based with possibility of some home working
Are you passionate about empowering children and young people with disabilities?
The Yard offers play and short break services for children and young people with additional support needs and their families, both at our adventure play centres and through outreach in our communities. We design our services to support the whole family, building communities of support through our welcoming culture of inclusion. The Yard runs services for early years, schools, and families, holiday and youth clubs. In addition to play and family support, we offer expert training on play, inclusion, and disability.
We are looking for a Service Manager who is inspired by our ethos and is excited to bring their knowledge and experience to run our specialised Holiday Support service which is for children with complex medical needs. This service runs during school holiday periods, excluding Christmas and New Year, (Monday–Thursday) providing care for children aged 5-18 years based at Oaklands School, Edinburgh. This service is registered with the Care Inspectorate, and we are looking for an individual to assume the role of Registered Manager.
The successful candidate will be part of our management team and responsible for making decisions that impact the whole organisation. They’ll join a values-led organisation where collaboration and a child-centred approach are embedded in all we do. We are passionate, so being prepared to work at pace and manage competing priorities is essential.
This job is for you if:
* You have a genuine passion to manage and develop a specialised care service.
* You are eager to be the organisations service expert on holiday support, providing support and advice to other service managers and team leaders.
* You are driven to ensure the service is compliant and improvement focused.
* You can work effectively to maintain and oversee safe operating practices for our services.
Aberlour Options Lothian offers a range of short break services to children and young people with complex needs. We offer a safe, homely environment for a child to come and stay for a short break that gives their families a rest from their caring role. During that break, children enjoy a range of fun activities and experiences with our staff. Our service is very much a ‘home from home’ for the children who stay with us. We are within easy commuting distance of Edinburgh, Midlothian and East Lothian with access via the numbers 26, 111 and 124 bus routes.
The difference we make to families:
“It’s not easy to accept that sometimes you need help. We had reached rock bottom but Aberlour Options Lothian was that lifesaving buoyancy aid.
It wasnt easy accepting leaving my son there especially in the early days when it was new to everyone. It is a safe and welcoming place and a second home in many respects now. Somewhere he is safe, cared for and has loads of fun with the carers and other children.
It’s not just about respite; we have received help with managing behaviour, preparing for hospital visits and operations. Help and advice when there seemed to be no one else listening or who understands. It’s hard to look back to where we were but now we wouldnt be here today without their help and support.
To sum it up: Saved our lives. Peace of mind. Finally a rest.”
What we are looking for:
As part of a small team, you will ensure that the highest level of physical and emotional care is provided to the children and young people. Experience in this type of work is preferred; however, we will consider all applications. We are looking for someone to work 12 hours per week; working mainly weekends including sleepovers.
At Aberlour we want to make sure every child and young person has the love, support and opportunity they need to reach their potential. If you share the same vision, we want you to join our team. At Aberlour we have strong values - Respect, Integrity, Innovation and Challenging - which influence our everyday work. If you choose to apply for this role please tell us about your values in your supporting statement.
What we offer:
As well as a supportive team and excellent training opportunities, we want all our employees to feel valued and rewarded for the vital work they do. When you work with us, well recognise your efforts with generous annual leave, an excellent employer pension scheme and a range of deals and discounts across various retailers.
An exciting opportunity to be part of a growing and evolving award-winning Charity which pushes boundaries and works to change the landscape for children & families in Drumchapel and beyond. Reporting to the Head of Operations, you will provide and maintain high-level budgets and financial reporting systems.
3D Drumchapel is a Charity which has been working with children and families in Drumchapel and surrounding areas for over 27 years. We journey with children, families and communities to build strong foundations for families to thrive. We aim to strengthen family relationships, support parents to be the best parents they can be, improve family health & wellbeing, support childrens development and build capacity in communities for family support delivery. Our services include a perinatal programme, parent & child sessions, parenting programmes, learning & development sessions, outdoor play, peer support groups, 1-1 support, family support in schools and practical support including Bairn Necessities which redistributes clothing and equipment for 0-5 years. We also lead the Drumchapel Children & Families Network which brings together children & families, third sector, social work, health, education, police and housing to work together to improve outcomes for children and families in Drumchapel.
The role:
Our Finance Manager Role is to ensure the financial health and sustainability of the charity by managing and overseeing all aspects of its financial operations. Key duties include maintaining an effective financial reporting system, managing the online accounting system (QuickBooks), and ensuring compliance with charity regulations. This role involves day-to-day oversight of accounting, banking, cash flow, and payroll processes, while also producing monthly management accounts and tracking cashflows.
The Finance Manager works closely with the Chief Executive, Head of Operations, and the Administration & Finance Officer to prepare and report on budgets, manage grants, and support funding proposals. In addition, they provide financial reports for decision-making, risk management, and year-end accounts, while also attending Board, Finance, and Management meetings. They are responsible for ensuring financial controls and compliance, advising the CEO, Head of Operations and Board on finance-related issues, and staying current on best practices in charity finance.
What we are looking for:
We are looking for a reliable person with a passion to create change for children and families and who follow our values of INTEGRITY, LOVE, EXCELLENCE & COLLABORATION with the following skills and experience:
* Exceptional financial skills
* Strong communication and interpersonal skills, verbal and written
* Strong organisational skills
* Proficient IT skills with strong skills in Microsoft Excel
* Ability to be proactive and to work on own initiative as well as effectively as part of a team
* Good analytical mind for developing good systems and procedures
* Ability to multitask and work in a busy environment
* Ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines
* Strong lateral thinking capacity
* Respect for confidentiality
* Ability to work flexibly
Experience and Knowledge:
* Demonstrate experience implementing and maintaining financial systems
* Understanding and commitment to vision, values and ethos of 3D Drumchapel
* Knowledge and understanding of financial management principles and practice
* In-depth knowledge and understanding of best practice and regulatory requirements in relation to Charity Finances
* An understanding of the challenges facing families in Drumchapel and surrounding areas
* Understanding of and commitment to equality & diversity
* Proactive and reflective approach to own learning and development and professional practice
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a skilled, supportive and inspiring team making a real difference and changing outcomes with and for children & families in Drumchapel and beyond. You will be joining our team at a pivotal moment as we grow, seek to break new ground and take 3D Drumchapel to the next level.
What we offer:
* Competitive salary with incremental rises
* 35 days annual leave which grows with length of service (includes 10 days public holidays)
* Flexible working in line with the needs of the Charity
* Opportunities for growth & development including comprehensive induction & training programme, coaching & mentoring, support & supervision, appraisals and team development
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