Position Mentor - Parental Support
Location Flexible - West Lothian, with regular travel across local communities
Salary £25,664 + excellent benefits
Hours 35 hours per week (flexible working)
Status Fixed term until April 2027, subject to funding
Closing date 10 September 2026
The opportunity
Help families build the stability that makes sustainable employment possible.
The Wise Group is growing its work in West Lothian, working alongside local partners to help people and families overcome poverty, instability and the barriers that can prevent them from participating in work and community life.
We're now looking for Mentors to join a new parental support service, working with parents experiencing multiple and interconnected challenges to build confidence, strengthen household stability and move towards sustainable employment.
This is about much more than helping someone find a job.
Housing, money, debt, wellbeing, caring responsibilities, confidence and family circumstances can all affect someone's ability to enter work- and stay there. Rather than treating these as separate problems, you'll build a trusted relationship with each parent and understand what's happening across their life and household.
Using our Relational Mentoring approach, you'll work alongside people to identify what matters to them, navigate services, overcome barriers and connect the right support around the family.
You won't be expected to have all the answers. Your role is to stay alongside people, help make complicated systems easier to navigate and bring together the organisations and opportunities that can help them move forward.
What you'll do
Build trusted, strengths-based relationships with parents and families experiencing multiple and interconnected challenges.
Help people identify their aspirations and take practical steps towards greater stability, confidence and sustainable employment.
Work across issues including finances, housing, wellbeing, employability, family life and community connections.
Advocate for people and help them navigate services and systems when barriers get in the way.
Build strong local relationships with schools, employers, community organisations, family services, health partners and other organisations across West Lothian.
Manage an active caseload, recognising and recording meaningful progress rather than simply activity.
Use your experience of working with families to identify what's working, where people are getting stuck and what could work better.
Work collaboratively with colleagues and partners so families experience connected support rather than being passed between services.
What you'll bring
We're looking for people who are great at building relationships.
You don't need to come from the third sector or have worked as a Mentor before. You might work in banking, customer relationships, housing, family support, employability, community development, education, health or another role where building trust, solving problems and helping people navigate complexity is central to what you do.
What matters is your ability to connect with people.
You'll be curious, persistent and comfortable working independently. You'll listen without judgement, recognise people's strengths and know when someone needs encouragement, practical help or appropriate challenge.
You'll also bring:
Excellent relationship-building and communication skills.
A compassionate, curious and strengths-based approach.
Confidence supporting people experiencing complex or changing circumstances.
The ability to connect people with services, organisations and opportunities.
Strong organisational and digital skills.
The ability to manage a varied caseload while working independently.
Confidence working collaboratively with local partners.
Knowledge of West Lothian's communities, organisations and support networks would be particularly valuable.
Essential requirements
Full driving licence and access to a vehicle for regular travel across West Lothian.
Willingness to work flexibly across communities and partner locations.
Home broadband to support flexible working.
Successful PVG Scheme membership.
Candidates must reside in Edinburgh or the Lothians.
Why join us?
The Wise Group has a growing presence in West Lothian and a track record of using trusted relationships to help people create greater stability in their lives.
You'll be joining at an important point in that journey.
You'll receive training in our Relational Mentoring approach and ongoing professional development, while becoming part of a wider team working across poverty, employment, household stability and justice.
Most importantly, you'll have the time and support to build relationships with people, understand what's really getting in their way and help them make progress that lasts.
View the Role Profile for full details about this opportunity.
This is a readvertisement. Previous applicants need not apply.
