Community Partnership & Participation Worker

Community Partnership & Participation Worker
 
Job Title: Community Partnership & Participation Worker
Reference Number: CF26-54
Division: Support Line
Location: Edinburgh
Salary: £30,602 to £35,778 per year (Band C-11)
Contract: Permanent Full Time / 35 hours 
Responsible to: Team Leader
Closing Date: 11 October 2026
Interview Date: Week Commencing 19 October 2026

Help shape brighter futures for children and families across Scotland

At Children First, we believe every child should be safe, loved and able to enjoy a happy childhood. As Scotland's national children's charity, we work alongside children, families and communities to protect children from harm, support recovery from trauma and abuse and create lasting change.

We are looking for a compassionate, skilled and motivated Community Partnership & Participation Worker to join our team and help strengthen the support available to children and families across Scotland. 

In this exciting role, you will build trusted relationships with communities, services and partner organisations, helping families access the support they need while ensuring children's and families' voices influence how services are developed and improved.

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference by connecting people, strengthening local networks and helping shape services that respond to what matters most to children and families.

What you'll do
Working as part of our Support Line service, you will:

• Develop strong partnerships with community organisations, schools, health services, local authorities and third sector partners.
• Improve access to support for families experiencing poverty, inequality, kinship care challenges or concerns about a child's safety.
• Increase awareness of Children First Support Line and the range of help available to families across Scotland.
• Ensure children, young people and families have meaningful opportunities to share their experiences and help shape service development.
• Support participation, engagement and co-production activities, including events, consultations and focus groups.
• Build local knowledge of community resources and identify gaps, barriers and opportunities for support.
• Gather learning and insights that help us improve services and influence positive change for children and families. 

 
What we're looking for
You'll bring experience of community engagement, partnership working or participation practice, along with a genuine commitment to improving outcomes for children and families. 
You'll also have:

• Experience working with children, young people, families or communities.
• Strong relationship-building and partnership skills.
• Excellent communication and facilitation abilities.
• An understanding of poverty, inequality and the barriers families can face when seeking support.
• Knowledge of children's rights and participation approaches.
• Experience of trauma-informed, strengths-based and relationship-based practice.
• The ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and maintain accurate records.
• Confidence using Microsoft Office and digital communication tools. 

Who you are
We're looking for someone who:

• Believes in the power of children's voices.
• Values inclusion, participation and co-production.
• Builds trust quickly and works collaboratively with others.
• Is passionate about reducing inequality and improving children's lives.
• Brings warmth, curiosity and compassion to their work.
• Shares our commitment to safeguarding and promoting children's rights. 
•  

Why join Children First?

At Children First, our values guide everything we do:

With Love
We put children first, listening with compassion and kindness and standing alongside families when they need support most.
With Purpose
We work together with families, communities and partners to create lasting change and better outcomes for children.
With Strength
We do whatever it takes to protect Scotland's children and champion their rights. 
You'll join a supportive organisation that values learning, innovation and collaboration, where your work will directly contribute to helping children and families thrive.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
We are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive and anti-racist organisation where everyone experiences a sense of belonging. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences and particularly encourage applications from groups currently under-represented within our workforce. 

Join us

If you're passionate about building stronger communities, amplifying children's voices and helping families access the support they need, we'd love to hear from you.

Together, with love, purpose and strength, we can help Scotland's children and families thrive. 

Please visit the following link to learn about our recruitment events to meet our team, hear about our plans and apply to work with us.
https://issuu.com/children_first/docs/children_first_support_line_recruitment_pack

Job Description

Role Summary
 
You will play a key role in strengthening community connections and ensuring children, young people and families experiencing poverty and adversity can access the support they need. Working as part of Children First's expanding national Support Line and Eradicating Child Poverty programme, you will build and sustain partnerships with local organisations, statutory agencies and community groups, creating clear pathways into support.
The Community Partnership & Participation Worker will increase awareness of Children First's Support Line and associated services across Scotland, helping families access emotional, practical and financial support through relationship-based and trauma-informed approaches.
You will ensure the experiences, voices and participation of children, young people and families directly influence service design, delivery and continuous improvement. Through community engagement, participation activity and partnership development, you will help strengthen support networks, reduce barriers to access and improve outcomes for families.
 
Key Results Areas
 
Relationships with Children, Young People and Families
 

• Engage with children, young people and families in ways which encourage participation, inclusion and meaningful involvement in service development.
• Support families to identify strengths, needs and aspirations and connect them with appropriate local services and community resources.
• Gather, record and utilise feedback, lived experience and participation outcomes to inform service improvement and organisational learning.
• Identify barriers preventing families from accessing support and work collaboratively with partners to address these challenges.
• Ensure the views of children, young people and families are reflected within planning, decision-making and evaluation activities.
• Support participation in consultations, focus groups, community events and co-production opportunities.
• Promote children's rights and ensure families are listened to, respected and involved in decisions affecting them.

 
Partnerships and Community Engagement
 

• Establish and maintain productive relationships with local authorities, health and social care partnerships, education services, community groups and third sector organisations.
• Develop trusted local partnerships that provide effective referral pathways and coordinated support for families.
• Increase awareness of Children First Support Line and associated services through outreach activity, presentations, partnership forums and community engagement events.
• Support the development and delivery of local engagement plans focused on reaching families most at risk of poverty and inequality.
• Represent Children First within local, regional and national partnership structures and professional networks.
• Collaborate with partners to improve access to support for families experiencing poverty, inequality and exclusion.
• Facilitate warm transfers and coordinated pathways between Children First and partner agencies.

 
Operational Requirements
 

• Maintain and develop community mapping information across designated geographical areas.
• Identify local assets, services, resources and gaps in provision to strengthen family support pathways.
• Collect, analyse and share learning from partnership and participation activity to support service development and policy influence.
• Maintain accurate and timely records using Children First systems and reporting processes.
• Contribute to monitoring, evaluation and impact reporting requirements.
• Support communication and engagement campaigns aimed at increasing awareness and uptake of support services.
• Maintain awareness of policy, research and practice developments relating to child poverty, participation, community engagement and family support.
• Develop effective internal communication and information-sharing practices.
• Participate positively in supervision, reflective practice and professional development opportunities.
• Contribute to service sustainability, growth and continuous improvement initiatives.

 
Wider Organisational Contribution
 

• Contribute to Children First working groups and organisational development activity.
• Support the development and sharing of best practice in community engagement, participation and partnership working.
• Provide advice, guidance and consultation to colleagues regarding community resources and engagement approaches.
• Support volunteers and people with lived experience who contribute to participation activities.
• Represent Children First at community, partnership and national events.
• Contribute to reports, presentations, case studies and learning resources demonstrating impact and outcomes.
• Actively participate in team meetings and knowledge-sharing opportunities across the organisation.

 
What We're Looking For
 
We are looking for someone who is passionate about working alongside children, families and communities to create positive change. You will be an excellent relationship builder who can engage confidently with families, communities and professional partners alike.
You will be committed to children's rights, participation and inclusion, ensuring that the voices of children, young people and families influence how services are developed and delivered. You will be motivated by reducing inequality and poverty and supporting families to access the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
You will demonstrate a collaborative, strengths-based and trauma-informed approach, bringing warmth, compassion and professionalism to all aspects of your work.
 
What You'll Get From Us
 

• A workplace with values of With Love, With Purpose and With Strength
• 40 days annual leave inclusive of public holidays
• Pension scheme and wellbeing support
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Access to Westfield Health and wellbeing services
• Blue Light Card discounts
• A Fair Work Accredited Workplace
• Opportunities for ongoing learning and professional development

 
Corporate Responsibilities
 

• Be committed to and uphold Children First's vision, mission and values.
• Comply with Children First safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Comply with the Children First Code of Conduct and professional standards relevant to the role.
• Actively involve children, young people and families in all aspects of work in line with Children First Participation Standards.
• Promote and support volunteer involvement in line with organisational policy.
• Observe all health and safety requirements.
• Work within and promote Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and anti-discriminatory practice.
• Undertake any other duties reasonably required by the line manager.

Need to Have	Need to Show	Need to Know	Need to Be	Core Values
• Relevant qualification in Community Education, Community Learning & Development, Social Care, Social Sciences, Youth Work or equivalent experience.     • Experience of community engagement, partnership development or participation work with children, young people and families.     • Experience of working collaboratively with statutory, third sector and community organisations.     • Experience supporting individuals or families affected by poverty, disadvantage or social exclusion.     • Experience of planning and facilitating engagement, consultation or participation activities.	• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.     • Ability to build and sustain productive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders.     • Strong facilitation and engagement skills with children, young people, families and communities.     • Ability to gather, analyse and present information effectively.     • Ability to work independently and manage competing priorities.     • Ability to maintain accurate records, reports and monitoring information.     • Competent in Microsoft Office and digital communication platforms.	• Knowledge of child poverty, inequality and barriers experienced by vulnerable families.     • Understanding of community development, engagement and participation principles.     • Knowledge of children's rights and participation frameworks.     • Understanding of trauma-informed and relationship-based practice.     • Knowledge of local services, community resources and support networks.     • Awareness of Scottish Government policy relating to child poverty and whole family support.	• Flexible and adaptable in approach to work.     • Committed to participation, inclusion and co-production.     • Committed to Children First's values and relational approach.     • Confident and credible in building relationships across communities and organisations.     • Able and willing to travel as required.     • Strong safeguarding, confidentiality and professional practice awareness.     • Passionate about improving outcomes for children, young people and families.	With Love - Builds trusting relationships and values every voice.     With Purpose - Works collaboratively to improve outcomes and reduce barriers for families.     With Strength - Champions children's rights and takes action to support families experiencing adversity.