Description Overview Are you a qualified counsellor with practical experience? Are you looking for a varied new role which offers excellent opportunities to further develop your counselling skills and make a real impact upon people’s lives? If so, we’d really like to hear from you. Our Wellbeing Specialist role is an integral part of Social Security Scotland’s People Advice and Support Team and the wider organisation. It offers an exceptional opportunity for you to leverage your passion, skills and experience in supporting our commitment to enhancing employee health and wellbeing, cultivating an environment where individuals thrive. As a Wellbeing Specialist, you will deliver confidential, non-judgmental support to staff and managers on various topics that inform our wellbeing initiatives. Your responsibilities will encompass providing wellbeing advice, resources, counselling, and connecting individuals with additional support services. You will collaborate closely with key project stakeholders, including Health and Safety, People Advice colleagues and Mental Health First Aiders, to ensure a cohesive approach to employee wellbeing throughout Social Security Scotland. Responsibilities Responsibilities Conduct counselling sessions with staff members facing diverse support needs, employing the most suitable counselling techniques to assist individuals in addressing their concerns effectively. Utilising insights from organisational wellbeing trends, design, develop content for, and facilitate workshops for staff on a range of topics, such as stress and burnout management, menopause awareness, and general wellbeing strategies. Lead and oversee the Strategic Wellbeing Group, responsible for defining and advancing Social Security Scotland’s wellbeing agenda and priorities. Additionally, manage and provide ongoing support and guidance to our team of mental health first aiders. Deliver comprehensive statistics and insights on all facets of wellbeing to the Senior People Advice Manager, encompassing session (counselling and workshop) attendance and participant feedback. Maintain meticulous records of all wellbeing materials to ensure compliance and facilitate auditing processes. Take initiative in your personal and professional development by participating in workshops, engaging in self-directed learning, and attending monthly support and supervision sessions. Collaborate with People Advice colleagues to offer valuable wellbeing insights and discuss strategies for addressing specific cases, from a well-informed wellbeing perspective. Deliver ad hoc projects focused on wellbeing initiatives to improve the health and wellness of our people, collaborating with various departments to prioritise staff wellbeing across the organisation. Qualifications Qualifications Qualified counsellor, registered with a recognised counselling body such as BACP, UKCP or equivalent. Please note that any candidates who are unable to state their qualification and registration details will be sifted out on an initial sift. Candidates who meet this criterion will progress to a full sift. Success Profile We use an assessment framework called ‘Success Profiles’ which lists the elements we test and provides detailed descriptions of each. Find out more about how we assess the Success Profile Elements Experience: Qualified counsellor with post-qualification experience of providing counselling to individuals, utilising a diverse range of effective techniques. Proven track record in a wellbeing-focused role. Technical / Professional Skills: Wellbeing and person-centred approaches: Understands the factors that influence and impact on wellbeing, and how it can affect individuals and teams. Applies empathetic, person-centred and flexible approaches, but knows own limits and when to refer to and engage experts (e.g. HR colleagues or Occupational Health). 2. Consultation and employee relationships: Skilled in investigating and analysing underlying issues to draw evidence-based conclusions. Capable of balancing the needs and expectations of individuals and the business to develop tailored responses and solutions. Behaviours: Communicating and influencing - Level 3 Managing a quality service – Level 3 Working together – Level 3 You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours (publishing.service.gov.uk) How to Apply Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1000 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the qualifications, technical / professional skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above. If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an in-person interview and roleplay exercise. This will take place at 220 High Street, Glasgow. Interviews are scheduled for w/c 17th February 2025, however this may be subject to change. Information Session We are holding candidate information sessions for this role to provide you with information about the application and interview process as well as further information on the role and team. Please join us using the link below to find out more about the role and working for Social Security Scotland. Information Session Tuesday 21st January 12:00 - 13:00 Expected Timeline (subject to change) Sift - w/c 30th January 2025 Interviews - w/c 17th February 2025 Location - 220 High Street, Glasgow Reserve List In the event that there are more successful candidates than posts available, a reserve list will be kept for up to 12 months. About Us Social Security Scotland is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government. Our benefits help people from all walks of life in Scotland. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles. We are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce that is representative of the clients we serve. Find more about us here. We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer. As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules. Working Pattern Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options, depending on the needs of the role. We embrace a hybrid working style where all colleagues will spend time in either our Glasgow or Dundee offices. There is an expectation of a minimum 2 days per week in your assigned location, which will be 220 High Street, Glasgow. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us. Equality Statement Social Security Scotland are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation. Social Security Scotland are a Disability Confident Employer. We will consider and implement any reasonable adjustments you may require throughout the recruitment process and during the course of your employment, should you be successful in securing a post. If you feel you may require assistance with any part of our recruitment process, please contact us at Recruitmentsocialsecurity.gov.scot. Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them. Further Information Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website. Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes. The successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 3 years unless successful in gaining promotion to a higher Band or Grade. Social Security Scotland’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the recruitment principles of the Civil Service Commissioner, which outline that selection for appointment be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition - Recruitment - Civil Service Commission (independent.gov.uk) If you feel at any time your application has not been treated in accordance with the values in the Civil Service Code and/or if you feel the recruitment has been conducted in such a way that conflicts with the Civil Service Commissioner’s Recruitment Principles, you can make a complaint, by contacting Social Security Scotland at recruitmentsocialsecurity.gov.scot in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commissioner. If you experience any difficulties accessing our website or completing the online application form, please contact the Resourcing Team via recruitmentsocialsecurity.gov.scot Apply before 29th January 2025 at 23:55 Contact Name - Chris Ashe Contact email - Chris.Ashesocialsecurity.gov.scot