Advertised from 2 April 2026

Role

Join Us at Staf – Be Part of our work with young people moving on from the care and justice system.

Staf are delighted to be recruiting for a new role to support the expansion of Youth Justice Voices our national participation project for care and justice experienced young people. 

This is an exciting opportunity for the right applicant to support a prestigious, creative and dynamic youth-led project which is influencing real change in the care and justice systems in Scotland. If you are passionate about driving change and developing meaningful participation opportunities and relationships with young people, then we want to hear from you. 

Background: 

Established in 1998, Staf (Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum) is a membership organisation for all those working with young people leaving care. Staf is a national organisation which represents all 32 Local authorities in Scotland

At Staf (Scottish Throughcare and Aftercare Forum), we believe that young people’s voices should shape the systems that affect their lives. That’s why we developed Youth Justice Voices to ensure that young people with experience of the care and justice system are heard, valued, and influential in driving change.

The Role 

We are looking for passionate, skilled, and values-driven individual who will ensure the effective delivery and continuous development of a high-quality national participation project, enabling young people with lived experience of the care and justice systems to influence policy, practice and service design.

The role requires a balance of project management, staff supervision, stakeholder engagement, learning development and direct work with young people, ensuring that participation activity is safe, ethical, impactful and aligned with Staf’s values and strategic priorities. 

This role presents an opportunity to lead a nationally significant project that supports young people with lived experience to influence meaningful change within youth justice systems in Scotland.

The postholder will play a key role in ensuring that participation is embedded, impactful and contributes to improved outcomes for young people. 

Responsible for: Youth Justice Development Worker / Participation Assistants.

Why This Matters

At staf we create meaningful opportunities for young people to share their experiences, influence policy, and shape practice across Scotland. Our work supports participation that is authentic, trauma-informed, and rooted in relationships.

This is your chance to be part of something that makes a real difference.

If you 

• Are committed to children’s rights, participation, and social justice 
• Have experience working with young people, particularly those facing adversity 
• Have experience of superivising a team
• Can work flexibly and creatively in a dynamic environment 
• Value reflection, learning, and trauma-informed practice 
• Shaer our values : We listen, we care, we love

Then we would love to hear from you.

 What You’ll Get

• The opportunity to influence real change for young people in the care and justice system
• A supportive, reflective, and values-led team culture 
• Opportunities for learning, development, and progression 
• Flexible working and a strong commitment to staff wellbeing

If you are passionate about amplifying young people’s voices and want to be part of a team that is shaping the future of youth justice in Scotland, we would love to hear from you.

Application notes

Closing Date 28th April 2026

Interview Date 6th May 2026

Please fill in an application form and return it to hr@staf.scot

Enquiries to Head of Operations pamelastaf.scot

We would encourage those who are care experienced to apply for this opportunity. Applicants who are care experienced who meet the essential criteria detailed in the job description will be invited to interview.

Candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria detailed in the job description will be invited to interview.

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