Advertised from 13 May 2026

Role

AAFDA is a growing charity, and we are looking for a specialist Children’s Advocate to be based in Scotland. Although home based, travel will be required across Scotland. We welcome applications from candidates who are registered social workers and who have professional experience of working with people who have experienced domestic abuse. 

We are also committed to diversity and strongly encourage applications from those with Black and/or Minoritised backgrounds. 

AAFDA was founded by Frank Mullane in memory of his sister Julia Pemberton and her son Will who were both killed by her ex-partner in 2003. 

Scotland is expected to introduce Domestic Homicide and Suicide Reviews (DHSRs) in April 2026. We are looking for a candidate with a good understanding of the Scottish legislative system and good understanding around domestic abuse and how it impacts on children to join our growing charity. Each year, in Scotland, around 25 families lose a loved one to fatal domestic abuse, perhaps one third of this number being domestic homicides and the others being suicides following domestic abuse. The actual number of domestic abuse related suicides remains unknown. 

Many of these families suffer significant problems including relationship breakdown, job difficulties/loss and mental and physical health issues. The Children’s advocate will provide expert advocacy, specialist peer support to children, and other services, helping them practically and emotionally. This may include helping them to contribute to DHSRs and providing opportunities to recover from harm for example via trauma therapy and other services. 

Through trauma-informed approaches, you will help the children bereaved by fatal domestic abuse: 

• To enhance their voice after fatal domestic abuse including by helping them to contribute to domestic homicide and suicide reviews and formal / informal meetings with various professionals. 
• By providing residential peer support events, or access to these events for both the children and their carers. 
• Via virtual support tools and other resources. 
• By developing pathways into groupwork programmes for carers of bereaved children. 
• Cope and recover by direct support and by linking into other services, for example, specialist trauma therapy.

In return for joining us, we will offer you: 

• 25 days annual leave per annum, plus bank holidays 
• Excellent development and training opportunities 
• Pension Scheme 
• Healthcare Scheme 
• Employee Assist Scheme

Application notes

To apply for this role, please submit a supporting statement along with your CV to recruit@aafda.org.uk  

Please ensure the essential criteria below is met prior to applying. 

• A qualified registered social worker 
• Knowledge of Domestic Abuse and learning reviews 
• Based in Scotland

The Closing date for the job advert is 13th June 2026. Please note that this job advert may close early due to screening applications on an ongoing basis. We advise applying as soon as possible for your application to be taken into consideration at the early stages.

Applicants will be shortlisted according to how well they meet the criteria in the person specification. Please highlight and explain how you meet these in your supporting statement.

If you have been shortlisted for interview, you will be informed by email. Regrettably, we are normally unable to acknowledge unsuccessful applicants.  Please note that we will not progress applications where the supporting statement does not address the criteria for the role being applied for.

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