FGDM Coordinator

Children First; Mauchline; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

40 days annual leave

Pension scheme

Flexible and hybrid working

Wellbeing support

Westfield Health

Blue Light card

Fair Work accreditation

Job summary

Children First seeks a full-time FGDM Coordinator to lead Family Group Decision Making processes in East Ayrshire. You will coordinate meetings, engage families, and ensure child safety and family-led planning.

The role emphasizes trauma-informed, strengths-based practice within a values-driven charity. Applicants should demonstrate experience with safeguarding, complex family dynamics, and multi-agency collaboration.

Qualifications

• Diploma in Social Work or equivalent qualification required.
• Post-qualifying award in child protection, childcare, or family work is desirable.
• Experience in statutory settings and with children with additional support needs.

Responsibilities

• Lead negotiation, mediation and facilitation of Family Group Decision Making processes for children’s best interests.
• Provide high-quality support to babies, children, young people and families.
• Promote Children First values and participation of children in services.
• Support the Service Manager in delivering the service in line with strategy.

Skills

Direct experience with children

Group and family work

Multi-agency working

Trauma-informed approach

Strong communication skills

Education

Diploma in Social Work or equivalent (SCQF 9)

Post-qualifying award in child protection / family work (desirable)

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics

Job description

Job Title: FGDM Coordinator

Ref number: CF26-48

Division : Children and Family Services

Location: East Ayrshire

Salary: Band C - £30,602 - £35,778

Post Type: Fixed Term (until March 2027) - Full Time (35 Hours)

Closing Date: 25 September 2026

Interview Date: 01 October 2026

A fantastic opportunity to join Children First

Children First’s ambition is for every child in Scotland to be safe, loved and well with their family. As a charity we offer emotional, practical, and financial support to help families put children first and campaign to uphold the rights of every child.

We are looking for a full time Family Group Decision Making coordinator to join our team in East Ayrshire. As an FGDM coordinator you will work with children and families of all ages and at different stages of risk and need.

Family Group Decision Making is working with family groups in a strengths-based way to support them to create Family Plans, keeping children safe and at home within their family networks.

This is an exciting opportunity for anyone interested in Family Group Decision Making, restorative and strengths-based approaches to working with families, and would like to extend their skill set.

Children First are determined that the full incorporation of the UNCRC means that children will have their rights respected in all areas of their lives and will have a real say in the way they are supported. If you share this determination, we would love to hear from you.

What kind of people are we looking for?

• have experience of keeping children safe in their own families
• are fiercely passionate about children’s rights
• thinks it’s a privilege to work with and on behalf of children and families and,
• are kind and will bring their whole selves to the job: heart and mind

What kind of team member will you be?

• resilient, skilled and knowledgeable who wants to transform children’s lives
• determined to support children to stay safely with their own family
• big hearted and courageous
• able to build strong relationships and to manage the tricky conversations
• is compassionate and understanding of trauma
• a cool head and clear minded at times of pressure
• inspiring colleagues and teams to be even better
• an amazing ambassador for children and Children First

Above all else, the most important thing to us is that you are someone who will do the right thing for children and their families at every turn.

At Children First, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects communities across Scotland. Guided by our values, With Love, With Purpose, With Strength, we strive to create a culture where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported to thrive. We actively work to remove barriers to inclusion and promote equity in all aspects of our work. We warmly welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, especially those from marginalised communities, and are dedicated to ensuring a fair and supportive recruitment process.

Base

You will be based with our East Ayrshire FGDM team, co located in the HSCP, Kilmarnock/Cumnock.

What we offer:

• A workplace with values of with love, with purpose and with strength
• 40 days annual leave, inclusive of bank holidays
• Pension scheme and wellbeing support
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Access to Westfield Health, giving colleagues and their families confidential counselling support, wellbeing resources, and access to health and lifestyle benefits to support physical and mental wellbeing.
• Blue Light card discount
• A Fair Work accredited workplace

Our Values:

Living our values, you will help create a workplace where our people can thrive, ensuring we deliver the best possible support to children and families.

• With love, we put children first.
• With purpose, we transform children’s lives together.
• With strength, we do whatever it takes to protect Scotland’s children.

Further Information

Closing date: 25 September 2026

We welcome and encourage applications from potential colleagues from all backgrounds, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, belief, disability who share our values. If you would like to discuss any aspect of the role before applying, please contact: [e-mail]

Job Description

Role Summary

• To lead the negotiation, mediation, and facilitation of the Family Group Decision making process, including responsibility for organising and managing meetings in the best interests of children.
• To provide a professional and high-quality support to babies, children, young people, and their families, and achieve desired outcomes from working with Children First.
• To promote the values and principles of Children First in providing support to babies, children, young people and their families, promoting their participation in the services they receive.
• To support the Service Manager/Assistant Director to deliver the service in line with organisational strategy.

Key Result Areas

Relationships with Children, Young People and Families

• Coordinate timely, strengths-based, family meetings with the involvement of children, families, and key stakeholders.
• Facilitate, monitor, and review plans with children and families, ensuring a collaborative, family led approach.
• Offer advice, advocacy, and guidance to help children express their views and assert their rights.
• Regularly review progress with children, families, and stakeholders.

Operational Requirements

• Manage referrals in consultation with service managers and respond to agency contacts.
• Maintain accurate records in Microsoft Dynamics.
• Stay informed on research and policy developments regarding the Family Group Conference model and apply them to practice.
• Contribute to the implementation of national policies like *Changing Lives* and *Getting it Right*.
• Foster consistent internal communication and contribute to organisational sustainability.
• Engage in ongoing professional development, including mandatory training and post-qualifying education.
• Support activities that strengthen the Children First service and public profile.

Relationships with others

• Work with external agencies to enhance outcomes through a Family Group Decision making model.
• Share assessment findings sensitively with relevant parties, ensuring compliance with confidentiality and care standards.
• Contribute to national working groups and develop best practice standards.
• Represent Children First at local and national events, collaborating with social work, education, health, and third-sector agencies.
• Provide guidance, training, and consultation to colleagues and partner agency staff.
• Participate in team meetings, contribute to knowledge sharing, and promote best practices within the organisation.
• Mentor and supervise volunteers and students supporting their recruitment and development.

Person Specification

Need to Have (Qualifications and Experience)

• Diploma in Social Workor a relevant professional qualification (e.g., Health, Education, Community Education) at SCQF level 9.
• Post-qualifying awardin child protection, childcare, practice teaching, group work, family work, or counselling. (desirable)
• Experience in statutory settingsand with children with additional support needs.
• Experience working alongside volunteers, and students.
• Experience working in restorative and trauma informed environments.

Need to Show (Skills)

• Direct experience working with children and young people in various settings, supporting families and networks collaboratively.
• Experience conducting group and/or family work with children, young people and families in adversity.
• Experience attending meetings regarding children and young people.
• Experience helping children and young people share their views and participate in decisions affecting them.
• Experience in multi-agency working, particularly in risk identification and management.

Need to Know

• Knowledge and understanding of how children and young people develop, their needs and associated risk factors, and understanding vulnerability and promoting resilience.
• Child protection and care planning processes, systems, and agencies
• Relevant childcare legislation and guidance relating to children’s rights.
• Awareness of national government policies and priorities and implications for practice
• Knowledge of theoretical framework for working therapeutically with children, young people and their families
• Knowledge of services and issues relevant to the need of children and young people
• Knowledge of Statutory social work role and function

Need to Be

• Flexible in approach to work
• Committed to and understand the principles of working with volunteers.
• Be able to drive and have access to a car.
• Committed to Children First approach and the relational nature of our work.
• Confident and able to form effective and credible relationships with all levels of staff
• Aware of personal responsibility in relation to health and safety.

About us

Children First is Scotland’s national children’s charity. We stand up for every child because all children should have a safe childhood. We protect children from harm and support them to recover from trauma and abuse through our national and local services. We help children, their families and the people that care for them by offering emotional, practical, and financial support. We give children hope and a safer, brighter future. Our core values guide how each one of us works in our individual day to day job:

• With love, we put children first.
• With purpose, we transform children’s lives together.
• With strength, we do whatever it takes to protect Scotland’s children.

These values are reflected in everything we do. If you share our vision and values and would like to join our team then we would love to hear from you.