Project Worker (East Ayrshire) - 495404

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

Benefits offered by this job

Cash back health plan

Cycle to work

Credit Union membership

Job summary

Children First in East Ayrshire is advertising a permanent Project Worker (East Ayrshire). This 35-hour post requires a commitment to safeguarding, partnership working and empowering families to lead plans that keep children safe and connected with their wider networks.

Salary ranges and benefits accompany a supportive, inclusive culture. The role focuses on building resilience, facilitating family-led discussions, and strengthening relationships within communities to ensure children’s safety

Qualifications

• Experience keeping children safe in their own families
• Fiercely passionate about children's rights
• Ability to build relationships with children, parents and wider networks

Responsibilities

• Build meaningful relationships with children, young people, parents and wider family networks to create a safe space for all to be heard
• Promote family-led planning and FGDM practices to support safer, stronger families
• Support families to stay connected to those who matter and to plan for ongoing progress

Job description

Project Worker (East Ayrshire)

Job ref: CF26-71.

Division: Children and Family Services.

Post type: Permanent / Full Time (35 hours) x 3 Posts.

Location: East Ayrshire.

Salary: C-11 £30,602 - £35,778.

Closing Date: 20th November 2026.

Interview Date: 25th /27th November 2026.

A fantastic opportunity to join Children First in East Ayrshire.

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.

Our service is continuing to grow as we further embed Family Group Decision Making at the heart of our practice with families in East Ayrshire. We are looking for Project Workers who will build meaningful relationships with children, young people, parents, and their wider family networks, creating a safe and supportive space for everyone to be heard.

Are you passionate about empowering families to find their own solutions and make plans that keep children safe and connected to those who matter most?

Would you like to engage wider family networks, facilitate meaningful discussions, and support families to work together during difficult times?

Do you have experience supporting children and their families through difficult times whilst encouraging them to take an active part in decisions that affect their lives?

The role will focus on helping families overcome barriers, strengthen relationships, connect with community resources and maintain progress towards agreed family plans. The post holder will promote family-led solutions, build resilience and support families to safely care for and nurture their children within their own family and community networks.

This is a relationship-based role where listening, curiosity, compassion and belief in families are as important as practical support. You will draw on family-led planning and strengths-based approaches reflected in FGDM practice and Children First's wider family support model.

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.

Salary, Conditions, Pension

We will offer you a competitive salary, generous annual leave entitlement (40 days inclusive of 9 public holidays). We have additional benefits such as a cash back health plan, cycle to work scheme, and option to join a Credit Union.

Further Information

Closing date: 20th November 2026.

We welcome and encourage applications from potential colleagues from all backgrounds, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, belief, disability who share our values.