Apex Scotland is the leading employment and training organisation specialising in work with people with convictions.
We have been awarded 3 year funding from The Robertson Trust to become one of its ‘Partners in Change’, (press release found here: https://www.therobertsontrust.org.uk/news-and-blogs/2-4-million-awarded-to-ambitious-projects-tackling-poverty-and-trauma-in-scotland/)
As a Partner in Change, Apex Scotland will lead a live action research project in partnership with Resilience Learning Partnership, a psychotherapist, a doctorate level researcher and University of Dundee, to embark on a journey to understand how Apex can be classified as an authentically ‘trauma informed’ and ‘trauma responsive’ organisation.
The concept for Partners in Change has a focus on ‘change’ itself and ‘change plans’ and its application to how services and support for people who experience poverty and/or trauma are designed and delivered. The objective is to gain a deep understanding of new perspectives, approaches and delivery models that prevent and mitigate the negative impacts of poverty and trauma on our society and on the individuals who experience them. The objective of our Partners in Change project is to gain a better understanding of the drivers of, and the barriers to, change around services and support.
The role of the Service Development Manager will be to oversee and co-ordinate the project activity. They will manage the project implementation process and the progress of the project plan. They will be the primary link between the key partners who will input expertise and opportunities for learning; the researcher who will monitor and collate key learning; and Apex Scotland’s Corporate Management Team to which this key learning needs to be identified and communicated to allow for organisational decision making to bring about change.
It is desirable that the preferred candidate has experience in:
- change management
- working with live research
The Service Development Manager will be a project critical role and pivotal to Apex’s ability to maximise the learning that will be generated from this project. They are required to be confident, assertive, able to make decisions based on good judgement, have an attention to detail and able to ‘join up the dots’ between theory, practice and policy which will be a continuous balancing act with regards to generating project recommendations.
We welcome applications from individuals with lived experience of/or experience of working with those who have experienced psychological trauma such as, poverty, homelessness, criminal justice, domestic violence, addiction/recovery, looked after/care, carer/young carer services and this highlights the value we know that lived experience brings to service delivery and design. This will heavily feature as a core project component.
There is an expectation that through this project Apex will significantly enhance the evidence base around trauma informed practice and the way in which it requires to be applied in services. Apex expects the reach and impact of the project findings to be high, across sectors and presented at Scottish Government level. Apex is able to achieve this because of our profile as a national justice charity. This is a unique opportunity to be involved at the forefront of this priority work and we anticipate interest in the role to be competitive.
The post will have a national remit but will focus research activity in the Clackmannanshire area therefore there will be a need to attend our premises or partners in this area on a regular basis. This post is advertised as a full time, 35 hours per week opportunity, part time options can be discussed. The post holder will be required to travel therefore a driving license or access to a means of transport is essential to the success of this role.
PiC SDM job description Oct 21
Job reference: SDM/PIC
Rate of pay: Salary Scale £31,321 - £33,541
Hours of work: Full time hours are 35 hours per week, however part time options can be discussed
Closing date: 10.00am on Monday 8 November 2021