Advertised from 9 July 2025

Role

We are recruiting a dedicated and compassionate Young Carers Pathways Coordinator, to lead the delivery of a vital mentoring initiative supporting young carers aged 12-20 across Aberdeen.

About the role:

The Pathways Coordinator will work at the heart of a collaborative effort between MCR Pathways, the Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership, and all members of the Carers Strategy Implementation Group to identify, engage and empower young carers, particularly those currently hidden from formal support. Through strong partnerships, trauma-informed practice and community-based outreach, the Coordinator will build trusted relationships with young carers, facilitate group and one-to-one sessions and support consistent, life-changing mentor matches that help young people thrive emotionally, socially, and in their education and future pathways.

Key responsibilities:

• Adapt and test the MCR mentoring model for young carers outside of school settings, developing clear methods, structures, and protocols based on a strengths-based and trauma-informed approach.
• Identify, connect with and build trusted relationships with young carers and their families, while also developing and growing new relationships with private, voluntary and statutory organisations to establish effective referral routes.
• Plan and deliver the mentoring programme, customising it to meet young carers' needs and clearly documenting what works and what doesn't.
• Undertake stakeholder engagement activities to develop non-stigmatised referral methods, manage incoming referrals and provide pastoral support to young carers.
• Drive mentor recruitment, deliver effective inductions and core mentor training, and provide ongoing support and development to mentors.
• Maintain accurate programme and quality assurance records, including data on MCR's database and contribute to performance reports and case studies.
• Proactively contribute to securing key performance targets, feed back programme improvement strategies and participate in team and training meetings.

About you:

• Exceptional ability to build meaningful relationships with young people, education colleagues, volunteer mentors, key partners and local employers
• Awareness and understanding of the principles of safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults
• Ability and confidence to present programme information and deliver prepared training sessions to groups
• Ability to work well on own initiative, as part of a team and on a flexible basis in response to young person and organisational need
• An understanding of the challenges and barriers that care-experienced and/or vulnerable young people and young adults may encounter
• Experience or a knowledge of processes to document and evidence good practice and positive outcomes.

You may have experience as a Youth, Community or Advice Worker. You will be an empathetic person who is open minded, non-judgemental, resilient and who is driven to improve outcomes for care experienced and other vulnerable young people.

About MCR Pathways:

MCR Pathways is an award-winning charity established in Glasgow in 2007. Our mentoring programme is now delivered in schools across the whole of Scotland. Our passionate team is dedicated to helping the most vulnerable young people gain self-confidence, identify their skills and recognise and fulfil their potential. Our vision is for all young people to experience equality of education outcomes, career opportunities and life chances. Our in-school mentoring has profound impacts on school pupils in their confidence, wellbeing, achievement and post-school progression.

We are thrilled to be working with Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership and the Carers Strategy Implementation Group on this new initiative focusing on matching young carers with mentors. MCR Mentors are volunteers who make and experience a life-changing difference. You will be joining a friendly and supportive team who love what they do and enjoy working with each other. We model our values and many of us are also mentors ourselves.

Benefits of working for MCR Pathways include: 33 days annual leave in first year rising to 38 days from 2nd year of employment, additional day off for your birthday, Living Pensions Employer, Life Assurance - 4 x salary.

Application notes

For further information and to apply, please visit our website.