Specialist Youth Advisor

Job title: Specialist Youth Advisor

Hours: 24 hours per week – Fixed Term until July 2026 (part-time)

Location: Hybrid/remote, based in Highland region (preferably near Inverness, with travel)

Salary: £31,656 – £33,537 (pro-rata)

Are you passionate about working with children and young people? Can you work with families to make a positive change to their lives? Can you provide ongoing, tailored support through one-to-one sessions, group work, residentials and camp?

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Scottish Huntington’s Association Youth Service as a Specialist Youth Advisor providing support for vulnerable children and families throughout Highland, Grampian and Moray through bespoke, individual sessions. If you are someone with dedication, talent and expertise, we want to hear from you.

Scottish Huntington’s Association Youth Service works with children and families aged 8-25 impacted by familial Huntington’s disease. To affect positive change for our families, we focus on a person-centred approach to managing Huntington’s disease including psychoeducation, information and advice, peer support and respite opportunities. The Specialist Youth Advisor role is pivotal and will provide a vital link in supporting young people in this region in line with the strategic aims of Scottish Huntington’s Association. You will be responsible for your own caseload and will help plan and co-ordinate group work sessions, activity days, residentials and our summer camp.

Highly organised with a proven ability to build trusting relationships, you will help to empower children and young people to manage the complexities of living with Huntington’s disease and their own genetic risk. Experience of child and adolescent mental health difficulties, young carers’ issues and child protection is advantageous.

Previous experience or knowledge of Huntington’s disease is preferred but not required as full training and ongoing mentorship will be provided.

About Scottish Huntington’s Association

People impacted by Huntington’s disease need specialist services to cope with a severe and complex disease, the impact on families and a lack of awareness amongst health and social care providers and the wider public.

Scottish Huntington’s Association is the only charity in the country exclusively dedicated to providing expert and personalised support for those impacted by Huntington’s disease.

Scottish Huntington’s Association is the only charity in the country exclusively dedicated to providing expert and personalised support for those impacted by Huntington’s disease, guided by our five-year plan, Standing Tall – A Strategy for Growth 2023 – 2028.

Our personalised support reduces unnecessary hospital admissions, supports carers and other family members; lowers household poverty; and alleviates wellbeing risks to children and young people living in Huntington’s families.

We are commissioned by NHS Boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships throughout the country to share our expertise with frontline staff and build support for improved services and higher standards of care for every family impacted by this devastating disease. Scottish Huntington’s Association also plays a full and active role in attracting the global research community to Scotland to work in partnership with us to improve the lives of families impacted by Huntington’s disease.

At Scottish Huntington’s Association you will find a values-driven organisation, founded by families for families and recognised at national and international levels for its expertise and support. Our services are delivered through a nationwide network of Huntington’s Disease Specialists, Specialist Youth Advisors and Financial Wellbeing Officers.

How to apply

Please email your completed Application Form, including the Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form, with a subject line Specialist Youth Advisor vacancy, to recruitment@hdscotland.org.

Informal enquiries should be made to Youth Service Lead Grant Walker on 07903 840 524 or by emailing grant.walker@hdscotland.org.

Closing date for applications: Friday 7 February 2025 at 12 noon

Interview date: In person in Inverness on Thursday 20 February or Friday 21 February 2025.