Project Worker (North Ayrshire) - 492771

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

Benefits offered by this job

40 days annual leave

Pension scheme and wellbeing support

Flexible and hybrid working agreements

Westfield Health access

Blue Light Card discount

Fair Work accredited workplace

Job summary

Children First in Irvine is seeking a Project Worker for North Ayrshire to join our Family Wellbeing Service, a partnership with the Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP). The role focuses on restorative, trauma-informed support for families affected by substance use.

You will work in our North Ayrshire space with outreach to communities, travel across the area and collaboration with partners to deliver early help and prevention work.

Qualifications

• Experience of keeping children safe in their own families.
• Commitment to children’s rights and wellbeing.
• Ability to work collaboratively with families and partners.

Responsibilities

• Deliver outreach and early help through the Family Wellbeing Service.
• Engage with families affected by substance use in North Ayrshire.
• Build restorative, trauma-informed relationships and support positive outcomes.

Skills

Child safeguarding experience

Trauma-informed practice

Relational working

Team collaboration

Job description

Job Title: Project Worker (North Ayrshire)

Reference: CF26-65

Division: Children and Family Services

Location: Irvine based covering North Ayrshire including Islands

Salary: C-11 £30,602 - £35,778 (Full Time)

Post Type: Full time (35 Hours) or x2 Part Time (17.5 Hours) / Fixed Term from 01 Jan 2027 to 31 Aug 2027

Closing Date: 11 November 2026

Interview Date: Week Commencing 25 November 2026

A fantastic opportunity to come and join the Children First team in North Ayrshire

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of our Family Wellbeing Service in North Ayrshire and an innovative partnership between Children First and The Alcohol and Drug Partnership (ADP), working alongside families, building strong relationships, taking an approach that is restorative, relational and trauma responsive striving to achieving positive outcomes for families.

This post is funded by the ADP and will contribute to the delivery period 1 st September 26- 31 st August 27 (this post being from 1 st Jan 27 - 31 st Aug 27 fixed term).

We are also 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.

Our project builds on the voices of the recovery community and our extensive experience in supporting children and families impacted by substance use. We will do this through early help providing community-based whole family support that can be accessed easily in a non-stigmatising way and prevention and education work within local primary schools and alongside other specialist addiction services within all our North Ayrshire Secondary schools.

Our project seeks to:

• Ensure children, families and communities affected by substance use in North Ayrshire access early help to prevent crisis and to support the whole family to recover from the impact of substance use.
• Reduce the number of people who develop problem drug use.
• Promote a whole system's approach personalised to the specific needs of families impacted by substance use, ensuring that individual's most at risk, have access to specialist support that aids their recovery.

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 Family Wellbeing 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.

Base

You will be based in Irvine, Bourtreehill within our Children First North Ayrshire space and will travel to connect with other parts of the organisation and North Ayrshire HSCP. You will work on an outreach basis to connect with children and families in communities across North Ayrshire.

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

Corporate Responsibility

• Be committed and adhere to Children First's vision, mission and values.
• Comply with Children First safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Comply with Children First code of conduct and any relevant professional standards relating to the role.
• Actively consider the involvement of children, young people and families with whom we work, in all areas of practice and to implement the Children First participation standards.
• Actively consider the involvement of volunteers in all areas of our work and to implement the Children First volunteer development policy.
• Observe all health and safety requirements.
• Work within and promote policies in relation to diversity equity and inclusion and anti-discriminatory practices.
• Undertake any other reasonably required duties as instructed by line manager or someone acting on their behalf, in addition to the role specific responsibilities detailed below.

Further Information

Closing date: 11 th November 26 at 12 noon. It is anticipated that interviews will be held face to face week commencing 25 th November 26.

Children First has a long tradition of valuing and involving sessional and volunteer workers. To find out more about volunteering with us, please visit our website.