Local Citizens Panel Development Worker

About Borders Care Voice

Borders Care Voice is a Galashiels-based charity established in 1991, promoting equality and positive change in health and social care in the Scottish Borders. We support people with lived experience, unpaid carers and service providers to influence services and improve outcomes. We value partnership working and provide free training for people working or volunteering in health and social care, and for unpaid carers.

About the role

You will facilitate, support and promote five Local Citizens Panels across the Scottish Borders, using a collective advocacy and engagement approach. The panels represent people with learning disabilities and unpaid carers in five localities, and each meets at least four times a year. You will help members influence local services and participate meaningfully in the Learning Disability Service governance structure.

You will coordinate lively, accessible meetings that respond to members’ communication needs, provide information and support, arrange guest speakers and take meeting notes, with administrative support available outside meetings. You will co-produce promotional materials, ensure panels are represented at relevant events and planning structures, and communicate members’ issues to decision makers and follow up where required. Building effective relationships with partner organisations, the Learning Disability Service and local providers is central to the role.

About you

Essential requirements include experience of working with people with learning disabilities and their carers, an understanding of different communication needs, and group facilitation skills. You will bring commitment and enthusiasm for supporting people with learning disabilities and their rights, strong interpersonal and communication skills (including presenting to groups), excellent organisational skills and proficiency in Microsoft Office. You must be able to work collaboratively in a small team and independently using your own initiative.

Desirable experience includes working closely with learning disability service staff and decision makers, producing accessible information (particularly Easy Read), and monitoring, evaluation and report writing.

Travel across all five localities is required, including outside normal office hours where needed, with occasional evening and weekend work. Access to a car is preferred because of the rural area and the need to transport meeting equipment and materials. Current PVG Scheme membership covering children and adults is required; we can arrange and fund membership if the successful candidate does not already hold it. You must follow our safeguarding, confidentiality, data protection and health and safety policies, including safe practices for meetings, events and lone working.

What we offer

• Flexible working and some home working where possible

• Six weeks’ annual leave, increasing after five years, plus public holidays

• 8% pension contribution

• Enhanced sick pay

• Learning and development opportunities, with coaching or mentoring

• Travel expenses

Borders Care Voice welcomes applications from people with different backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. Please contact recruitment@borderscarevoice.org.uk if you need information in another format or adjustments during the application or interview process. As a Disability Confident Committed Employer, we actively encourage applications from disabled people and people with long-term health conditions. We aim to offer an interview to applicants who declare a disability and meet all essential criteria. If applications exceed interview capacity, disabled applicants will be selected according to how closely their experience and skills meet the post’s requirements. 

How to apply

For an informal discussion with the current postholder, please contact Shona on: lcp@borderscarevoice.org.uk

For recruitment queries, alternative formats or application and interview adjustments, please email recruitment@borderscarevoice.org.uk.

To apply, send the following documents to recruitment@borderscarevoice.org.uk

• A covering letter explaining how your experience and skills match the role and the criteria in the job description, with examples. You can also submit this in audio or video format.
• An up-to-date CV
• Contact details for two referees, preferably including your most recent employer. References will normally be taken up after interview.