Mipsa Armed Forces Coordinator

Job Vacancy

This is a unique opportunity to co ordinate and deliver this exciting pilot to support children and young people of service personnel in Midlothian Schools. This post is funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Fund New Service Pupil Support Programme (SPSP) for 2 years until 31st August .

The MIPSA Coordinator will lead the planning, consultation, delivery, and evaluation of the MIPSA project, supporting children and young people from serving personnel across Midlothian. Through creative youth work approaches, the project will co-design personalised programmes to build confidence, resilience, academic success, and reduce isolation. This project will involve partnership working with Children First in Midlothian and many of our primary and secondary schools as well as the Communities, Lifelong Learning and Employability Service.

KNOWLEDGE : Essential

A HNC or equivalent qualification related to working with students or young people and ideally experience of working with children and young people, specifically from the armed forces or experience of working directly or in partnership with the armed forces. This knowledge should have been gained over at least a five years of working with young people and or experience of the armed forces.

The post holder requires to an understanding of the challenges and barriers which military children and young people face, as well as a sound understanding of educational youth work approaches.

Experience of running youth groups, focus groups and co designing youth programmes.

A current driver's licence

Sound knowledge of The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), ensuring the rights of the child are at the forefront of any decisions or supports offered.

The post holder will require to have an understanding and responding to safeguarding issues. Public protection training will form part of mandatory training for this role.

The post holder must be able to demonstrate competence, knowledge and skills in coordinating services and / or projects is essential.

The post holder must be able to motivate, initiate and develop new ideas and approaches along with an ability to support staff in effecting changes within their services.

An ability to use resources imaginatively, using different approaches e.g. group work, develop tailored packages based on a needs assessment of the child or young person.

Ability to work in partnership and identify support services for military children and young people.

Experience in and ability to handle complex issues and draw appropriate conclusions.

Experience of quality assurance processes, evaluation and report writing.

Good knowledge and understanding of what effective partnership working entails.

Have a high degree of self-motivation and an ability to look for imaginative options and solutions.

Knowledge of youth participation approaches.

Have experience in planning, tracking and reporting on the impact of initiatives in improving outcomes for children and their families

Desirable

A degree in a related field

CLOSING DATE - Thursday 4th September

INTERVIEW DATE - Monday 15th September

Job Advert

Position Title : MIPSA Armed Forces Coordinator

Directorate : Children, Young People and Partnerships

Contract Status : Fixed Term until 31 / 08 /

Hours of Work : 18 hours per week

Working Pattern : Working hours to be agreed, this post will require occasional weekend working

Weeks per year : 52

Please note that it is Midlothian Councils policy that successful applicants will be appointed to the first point on the salary scale.

Based on 18 hours over 52 weeks per year, the minimum actual salary for this position is £19,.37 per annum.

Requirements

This post is considered Regulated Work with Children under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act, . Therefore, it is an offence to apply if you are barred from working with children.

Successful candidates will require PVG Scheme membership for Regulated Work with Children, You will be required to join the Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme Update check prior to commencing employment with Midlothian Council, the cost of which will be met by you. For further information on the PVG Scheme please visit Please note that Disclosure Scotland has changed the way PVG certificates are issued. You will be notified by email from Disclosure Scotland that your certificate is available to view. Once you have viewed your certificate you will be allowed to share this with your employer and it is only available for 14 days from the first day you have viewed the certificate. If you do not grant access to Midlothian Council to view before access is removed, a further application will need to be generated, and this will incur an additional cost.

Additional Information

If you have difficulty applying for this post or accessing attached documents, or if you have a disability and reasonable adjustment is required, please email to discuss with member of the Recruitment Team stating the post reference number.

Midlothian Council is currently undergoing a period of transformation, changing and improving the way it delivers services in Midlothian. As a consequence, there are a number of existing employees for whom we are committed to seeking suitable alternative employment within the Council in accordance with our legal obligations. Candidates are advised that, for some vacancies, internal candidates in this situation will be interviewed before the wider selection pool and a slightly longer delay may be experienced before application outcomes can be advised to you. Thank you for your patience in this matter.

If you are a trainee of a Midlothian Council Training Programme, have a disability or you are a care experienced young person who has previously been a looked after child, you are eligible for a guaranteed interview if you meet the essential criteria for the post.