PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT OFFICER – YOUNG PEOPLE (ROUTES)

Post:

PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT OFFICER – YOUNG PEOPLE (ROUTES)

Accountable to:

Programme Manager – Young People (Routes)

Location:

Robertson House, Glasgow

Contract:

Objective:

Full time: 35 Hours/week – 1 year Fixed Term Contract
(The post is initially for 12 months with a potential extension, subject to funding)

This post supports the ongoing development and delivery of the national ‘Grow Your
Own Routes’ (GYOR) programme, funded by the Scottish Government’s Whole
Family Wellbeing Fund. The aim of ‘Grow Your Own Routes’ is to scale up the
existing Routes Demonstration Project, which supports young people aged 12-26
years affected by someone else’s alcohol or drug use.

Salary:

£34,404 per annum plus 4% pension contribution

Conditions:

This is a national post which will involve significant travel across Scotland involving overnight stays, as well as
work at our national office at Robertson House in Glasgow, Routes bases in East and West Dunbartonshire
and from home. Due to the nature of this post, access to a car is essential. It is expected that the post holder
will be required to work some evenings and occasional weekends. This post will be part of Scottish Families’
staff team and be managed by the Programme Manager – Young People (Routes). There will be a close
working relationship with young people, stakeholders, the six third sector local delivery partners, and the
core Routes Demonstration Project in East and West Dunbartonshire.

Role:

To be responsible for supporting the development and delivery of Scottish Families’ national ‘Grow Your
Own Routes’ programme across Scotland, reducing stigma and creating a more trauma-informed and
responsive workforce. This development programme is funded by the Scottish Government’s Whole Family
Wellbeing Fund. The aim of the programme is to support the continued delivery of the Routes practice
model across six areas led by other third sector delivery partners, and also to share learning about the
Routes practice model with other areas of Scotland. Young people are involved in delivering the programme
and are paid sessional hours for their expertise.

The Programme Outcomes are:

➢  Young people harmed by substance use are visible, have a voice and are empowered to effect

change;

➢  Workforce confidence and expertise in co-producing change with young people harmed by

substance use is increased;

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➢  The impact of alcohol and drug harm on young people and their families is reduced through

increased delivery of the Routes practice model across Scotland.

This post is responsible for supporting all aspects of the programme, including articulating the Routes
practice model through a range of written and other materials; working intensively with the six local delivery
partners to support their development and delivery of their own Routes projects, and to ensure the integrity
of the practice model is retained; communicating the learning about Routes with other areas of Scotland
through delivering learning & development activities; and to participate in evaluation activities to
demonstrate outcomes and evidence the Routes practice model.

The post is managed by the Programme Manager – Young People (Routes) and will also support the
involvement of young people in the programme.

Responsibilities:

•  To support the ongoing development and delivery of Scottish Families’ national ‘Grow Your Own

Routes’.

•  To support the ongoing development and delivery of the Routes practice model through a range of
written and other materials, facilitating the national scale-up whilst retaining the integrity of the
model.

•  To create and sustain positive working relationships with the local delivery partners, and support a

national community of practice to share learning, challenges and best practice.

•  To work intensively with the six third sector delivery partners (individually and collectively) under the
direction of the Programme Manager, to support them to develop their own local Routes projects,
whilst ensuring the integrity of the practice model.

•  To create and deliver learning & development events to share the learning about Routes including

creating accompanying materials.

•  To participate in evaluation activities to demonstrate and evidence the Routes practice model.

•  To support the involvement of young people in co-production of the national programme, including

through delivery of sessional paid hours for their expertise and experience.

•  To ensure that young people engaged with the programme are properly safeguarded and supported;
including monitoring young people’s interaction with the project with regard to safeguarding and
child protection procedures and identifying and managing risk to young people.

•  To represent the programme – and to support young people to do so – at local and national levels.

•  To promote the use of evidence-based and solutions-focused family support programmes, and to

work with young people to develop relevant materials and resources.

•  To develop and share best practice materials and learning to impact local and national policy and

service development, and future support for young people.

•  To actively promote family recovery and family inclusive practice.

•  To participate in relevant forums to ensure to ensure the views of young people and their families

are represented.

•  To represent Scottish Families at external events where appropriate.

•  To identify and utilise opportunities to enhance Scottish Families profile and the family support

agenda.

•  To maintain appropriate monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for the post.

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•  To contribute to fundraising and funding reporting as required by the Head of Programmes.

•  To operate within an Equal Opportunities Framework and promote equality issues in all aspects of

work.

Any additional duties will normally be to cover unforeseen circumstances or changes in work, and will
usually be compatible with the regular type of work. If an additional task or responsibility becomes a
regular or frequent part of the job, it will be included in the job description in consultation with the post
holder.

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PERSON SPECIFICATION

POST:

    PROGRAMME DEVELOPMENT OFFICER – YOUNG PEOPLE (ROUTES)

AREA

ESSENTIAL

DESIRABLE

Qualifications

•  Relevant degree or professional

•  Counselling qualification

qualification

•  Delivering one-to-one and/or
group interventions to young
people.

•  Delivering training or

development sessions.

•  Understanding of the third

sector.

•  Good knowledge of statutory
and voluntary agencies and
organisations which support
young people and their families.
•  An awareness of Health & Safety
issues and risk assessments.

Experience

•  Supporting new models of practice,

programmes or services.

•  Working with a range of children and

young people.

•  Working in partnership with external

organisations.

•  Coproduction with individuals or

organisations.

•  Planning and delivering a structured

programme of support for children and
young people that promotes their
personal development, self-esteem and
resilience.

•  Planning, organising and facilitating young

people’s participation in planning,
development and evaluation.

Identifying and managing risk.

•  Monitoring and reporting on performance.
•  Facilitating or enabling the work of others.
•
•  Assessment of needs, including identifying
children and young people who may be at
risk.

•  Practice development.
•

Issues for young people affected by family
substance use.

•  An understanding of child protection
issues and safeguarding practice.
•  Understanding of the emotional and

developmental issues for children and
young people.
Issues for families affected by substance
use.

•

•  Values underpinning advocacy.
•  Coproduction.

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Knowledge

•  Ability to support young people
with additional support needs
•  Ability to communicate ideas,
encourage participation and
enable young people to learn
new skills.

•  Proficiency in editing software
such as Adobe Pro and Canva

•  Promotional work with the

public and media

Skills

•  Excellent communication skills to

collaborate effectively with both partner
agencies and young people.

•  Presentation skills – able to prepare and
convey information in a way which is
accessible to both young people and
professionals.

•  Ability to build rapport, positively engage

and support young people.

•  Ability to listen and talk to young people

from differing abilities, understanding and
backgrounds.

•  Coproduction of activities, programmes

and materials.

•  Ability to organise and join in activities

with young people.

•  Ability to effectively and sensitively

advocate for others.

•  Ability to work at a distance from main

office.

•  Strong organisational skills.
•  Effective interpersonal and
communication skills.

•  Competent report writing skills.
•  Project planning and project management.
•  Attention to detail.
•  Ability to evaluate performance against

agreed standards.

•  Team working.
•

IT literacy including use of social media.

•  Flexibility in a developing role/task.
•  Empathetic approach.
•  Commitment to cooperative team working

and equal opportunities.

•  Available to work flexible hours, including

evenings.

•  Willing to undertake training and on-going

learning.

•  This is a national post which will involve
significant travel across Scotland, as well
as work at our national office at Robertson
House, Glasgow and from home. Due to
the nature of this post, access to a car is
essential.

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Other