Duty Officer in Bishopton

Pattern of work: Rotational 4 weekly shift pattern including early, mid, late and weekend shifts.

Are you passionate about helping vulnerable young people thrive and flourish? Do you have the skills to engage with young people and support them to reach their maximum potential?

Our purpose is to provide a positive, life-changing experience for young people through individual care, education and skills development focused on promoting young people's mental and emotional wellbeing and longer-term positive outcomes.

The Good Shepherd Centre (GSC) campus just outside Bishopton offers young people a safe, nurturing and caring environment set in fabulous grounds with a garden wildlife trail and outdoor sports facility. On-campus there are three secure care houses, a close support house & a semi-independent living cottage. Young people who live with us continue their education in our school, on campus, or attend further education out with the campus.

GSC offers employees a great benefits package and you will be joining an enthusiastic and dedicated team. This is an exciting time to join Team GSC as we seek to build on our strong reputation for relational practice and through delivering ambitious strategic goals to #Keep The Promise.

Young people referred to us have experienced significant difficulties in their lives, and many will have faced traumatic and harmful situations and may be experiencing psychological distress; mental health problems; and problems coping with managing feelings and day to day life. We offer a place of safety and nurture where we support young people and their families, alongside the professionals involved in their lives, to make sense of these experiences and to build hope, coping skills and goals for the future.

The Duty Officer plays a crucial role in managing the safe running of the centre across all staff teams and working patterns, predominantly between 07:45 and 22:30. The Duty Officer also has the responsibility of ensuring the safe running of the centre when Care and Education Managers are not present.

As Duty Officer, you will be a part of the management team and have the responsibility for supporting, co-ordinating and managing the running of the care services across the Houses of GSC. Your role will include overall responsibility for planning, prioritising and organising teams outwith the working hours of House Management and supporting the specific needs of our young people. You will support the delivery of care and support our young people in a safe, secure, positive and nurturing environment; ensuring that the quality of care and living environment is in keeping with GSC's ethos and legislative, organisational and procedural requirements as well as current good practice guidance.

You will support the senior management team and will have significant involvement with supporting individual staff members within their role and the team to achieve agreed work plans and keep our young people safe.

We are looking for a highly motivated individual who is passionate about supporting both young people and colleagues to develop and achieve their potential. So, if you have excellent communication, relationship building and management skills, then this role could be ideal for you.

The successful candidates will have experience of supporting vulnerable young people, will be committed to upholding and promoting Children's Rights and will have, or be willing to work to achieve, a Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Social Care and the Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) in Caring for Children and Young People at Level 4 or above, or equivalent qualifications recognised by the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC).

There is also a requirement to apply for registration with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) as a registered supervisor within the first three months of employment and to be registered as a registered supervisor with the SSSC within six months of employment.

If you are looking for a new and exciting role in the third sector and would welcome the opportunity to help young people achieve their potential, then working as part of our dedicated and experienced team may be a good move for you.

We are developing an innovative selection process to have a focus on values and engagement with young people.

Closing date: Friday 19th December 2025 12:30pm

Pre-Employment Medical Questionnaires will be undertaken prior to confirmation of employment. All convictions whether spent or unspent must be declared. These posts are regulated work with children under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007. The preferred candidate will be required to join the PVG Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme update check. Where an individual has spent a continuous period of 3 months or more out with the UK in the last 5 years, an Overseas Criminal Record Check will be required. You will be required to provide this check. A confirmed offer of employment and commencement in the post will be subject to the outcome of both these pre-employment checks being deemed satisfactory.

“Staff genuinely care and it’s not just a job. They don’t give up on me, they don’t abandon me, and they want the best. This place has changed my life” - Quote from a young person.

“The Service has gone that extra mile to meet significant level of need. No other service in Scotland would offer a placement. Good Shepherd Centre have excelled expectations for this young person. The service is very good. Supportive, consistent, and caring” – Quote from a Social Worker.