Specialist Youth Advisor

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?

If so, an exciting opportunity has arisen to join Scottish Huntington’s Association Youth Service, as a Specialist Youth Advisor. You’ll support vulnerable children and families throughout North/East Scotland.

We’re looking to appoint either one full-time post (36 hours) with travel throughout Highlands, Grampian and Tayside, or we will consider two part-time posts (one covering Highlands, one covering Grampian and Tayside).

As a Specialist Youth Advisor, you will be responsible for your own caseload of young people to support through bespoke, individual sessions focussing on what is going on for them in their family. You will help plan and co-ordinate group work sessions, activity days, residentials and our summer camp.

You will be highly organised with a proven ability to build trusting relationships 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 would be advantageous, but not essential as training and ongoing mentorship will be provided.

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 in managing Huntington’s disease including psychoeducation, information and advice, peer support and respite opportunities. The Specialist Youth Advisor is a pivotal role within the North/East, and will provide a vital link in supporting young people in this region, in line with SHA’s strategic aims.

You will work from home with regular travel throughout Grampian, Highlands, and Tayside. There will also be travel required occasionally to central Scotland.

This post will include out of hours and periodic weekend working. As well as a competitive salary, we offer benefits including flexible working practices, a generous leave allowance totalling 37 days (25 days Annual leave and 12 days public holidays) and enrolment to a pension scheme. Salary and holidays pro-rate if part-time.

All applications considered equally.

About Scottish Huntington’s Association SHA is the only charity in Scotland dedicated exclusively to supporting people whose lives are impacted by this devastating disease. It was founded by families for families, and you will find a values-led organisation, work alongside colleagues with unique insights and expertise, and discover how SHA continues to be inspired and driven by the families we serve. Huntington’s disease (HD) is caused by a hereditary gene fault that leads to severe physical and psychological symptoms. There is no cure and its devastating impact is compounded further by the reality that each child of a parent with Huntington’s is at 50% risk of inheriting the disease.