At a Glance
- Tasks: Support kinship families with tailored guidance and resources to thrive.
- Company: Join Kinship, a leading charity dedicated to helping families in need.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, and the chance to make a real difference.
- Other info: Work in a supportive team environment with opportunities for personal growth.
- Why this job: Be part of an innovative programme that transforms lives in your community.
- Qualifications: Experience in family support or similar roles is essential.
The predicted salary is between 21200 - 21200 £ per year.
Responsible to: Programmes Manager
Duration: Fixed Term – 3 Years
Location: Co-located at Y Sort It offices G81 3EA, West Dunbartonshire, with regular community outreach and home visits across the area.
Working Hours: 0.8 FTE, 28 hours per week.
Salary: £26,500 per year, pro rata to 0.8 (£21,200)
Leave allocation: 24 days annual leave (30 days FTE), plus bank holidays pro rata for part time hours (1 April to 31 March).
About Kinship: Kinship is the leading National kinship care charity, supporting relatives and friends who step up to raise children when their parents cannot. Through advice, practical support, research and campaigning, we work to ensure kinship families have the help they need to thrive. Together with our community, we drive positive change so that every child can grow up in a loving, stable family environment.
About the Opportunity: Join Kinship at an exciting milestone as we launch our first programme in Scotland. Working in partnership with Inspiring Scotland and local youth charity Y Sort It, this National Lottery-funded pilot will strengthen support for kinship families in West Dunbartonshire through a coordinated, whole-family approach. As part of a small and dedicated delivery team, you will help shape Kinship’s future in Scotland, contribute to evidence-based learning, and make a lasting difference to kinship carers, children and young people in the local community.
The Role: As a Kinship Navigator, you will provide intensive, six-month support to kinship carers through Kinship Connected, helping families build resilience, access services and strengthen support networks. Based at Y Sort It and working across the community, you will develop trusted relationships with families, carry out assessments and reviews, and coordinate support with local partners, including Intandem mentors. This is a rewarding, community-focused role where you will directly support kinship families while helping to demonstrate the impact of an innovative new model of support in Scotland.
Key Responsibilities: As a Kinship Navigator, you will provide intensive one-to-one support to kinship carers, helping families access services, build support networks and achieve positive outcomes for the children in their care. You will carry out assessments, develop support plans, advocate on behalf of families and facilitate a local peer support group. Working closely with Y Sort It, Inspiring Scotland and local partners, you will coordinate support for kinship families, strengthen referral pathways and contribute to a pioneering whole-family approach in West Dunbartonshire. You will also play a key role in safeguarding, partnership working and maintaining high-quality records to demonstrate impact and inform future development of Kinship’s work in Scotland.
About You: We’re looking for someone with experience supporting vulnerable families, carers or communities through direct casework, family support or similar roles. You’ll be confident building trusted relationships, carrying out assessments, managing a caseload and working collaboratively with statutory and voluntary sector partners. You will bring strong communication, organisation and record-keeping skills, alongside an understanding of safeguarding and trauma-informed practice. Knowledge of kinship care or the Scottish family support landscape would be beneficial, as would experience facilitating support groups and using CRM systems such as Salesforce. Most importantly, you’ll be empathetic, resilient and passionate about improving outcomes for kinship families, with the confidence to work independently while contributing to a small, supportive team.
Application notes: Closing date for applications: Monday 28th September at 9am. Interviews: Wednesday 7th November 2026 in West Dunbartonshire. If you would like further information or an informal chat about this role, please contact us.
Application Guidelines: Any applications arriving after the closing date will not be considered for shortlisting unless there are exceptional reasons. Kinship reserves the right to close a recruitment campaign earlier than the advertised where we have received sufficient applications so please apply early! Please apply for the role of Kinship Navigator – West Dunbartonshire by sending a CV and answering the 5 questions on the job listing, there is no requirement to submit a cover letter. Please use examples to demonstrate your experience.
- Why do you want to work for Kinship as a Kinship Navigator, and how does this role align with your values and experience?
- Describe a time you supported a family or carer facing complex challenges. How did you assess their needs and decide what support was most important?
- Tell us about a situation where you had to work with professionals from different organisations (for example schools, social workers or community services) to support a family.
- Give an example of a time you had concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a child or their family member. What steps did you take and how did you decide what to do?
- Tell us about how you managed a caseload or multiple families at once. How did you keep accurate records and make sure important information was documented?
Please include your notice period / earliest availability to start.
Key dates: Application deadline: Monday 28th September 2026 at 9am. First interview: Wednesday 7th October 2026.
Kinship Navigator – West Dunbartonshire in Clydebank employer: Kinship Careers
Kinship is an exceptional employer, dedicated to making a meaningful impact in the lives of kinship families in West Dunbartonshire. With a strong focus on community support and collaboration, employees benefit from a nurturing work culture that values empathy and resilience, alongside opportunities for professional growth through innovative programmes. Joining Kinship means being part of a passionate team committed to driving positive change and ensuring every child has the chance to thrive in a loving family environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Kinship Navigator – West Dunbartonshire in Clydebank
✨Get Involved Locally
Dive into local volunteer opportunities or social initiatives. This not only beefs up your CV but also connects you with like-minded folks in nonprofits. Plus, it shows your passion for social impact, which is key for getting noticed by Kinship Careers.
✨Tap into Professional Networks
Join networks like the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) or local charities to meet professionals in the sector. Attend events and workshops to build relationships and learn about potential openings at organisations like Kinship Careers.
✨Showcase Your Commitment
When prepping for interviews, be ready to speak about your personal connection to social issues. Dive into specific examples of how you’ve contributed to community projects – this will resonate with the mission-driven vibe at Kinship Careers.
✨Utilise Online Platforms
We’re all about making connections, so use platforms like Idealist and CharityJob to hunt for full-time roles. And of course, you should keep an eye on our website for exciting opportunities at Kinship Careers. Apply directly through us to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace Kinship Navigator – West Dunbartonshire in Clydebank
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for the Cause:In the nonprofit sector, it's super important to demonstrate genuine passion for the mission of Kinship Careers. Use your cover letter to showcase any personal experiences or volunteer work that connects you to their social impact initiatives. This emotional connection can really help your application stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, be sure to include any relevant projects or roles that showcase your skills in social impact. Whether it's community organising, fundraising, or advocacy, highlight what you've done and the difference it's made. Don’t just list tasks; quantify your achievements and the outcomes of your efforts.
Tailor Your Documents to the Role:For a full-time role like Kinship Navigator – West Dunbartonshire, ensure your CV and cover letter specifically address the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Use their language to describe your skills and experience, making it easy for the hiring team to see how you fit into their vision.
Emphasise Teamwork and Collaboration:Nonprofits thrive on teamwork, so make sure to emphasise your collaborative experiences. Whether you've worked in a team setting, partnered with community organisations, or facilitated group projects, highlight these experiences in your application. Show them you understand the importance of working alongside diverse individuals to achieve shared goals.
How to prepare for a job interview at Kinship Careers
✨Show Your Passion for Social Change
When we’re prepping for interviews in the nonprofit space, it's vital to demonstrate our genuine passion for social impact. Be ready to discuss not just your skills and experiences but also why you care about the mission of Kinship Careers. Sharing personal stories or insights can really make us stand out.
✨Highlight Project Experience
We should focus on specific projects we've worked on that align with the goals of social impact. Whether that’s a community initiative, volunteering, or a class project, having solid examples that showcase our role and the outcomes will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Familiarity with Relevant Tools and Practices
Let’s brush up on tools and methodologies commonly used in the nonprofit sector, like project management software or outcome measurement frameworks. Being able to speak fluently about these will show that we’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable and ready to hit the ground running.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that evaluate our problem-solving skills in real-world social issues. Think about how we’d handle challenges in the nonprofit environment and prepare stories that demonstrate our critical thinking and adaptability. Role-playing with a friend could help us feel more confident!
