At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and develop a team of Relational Mentors to support families in West Lothian.
- Company: Join a values-led social enterprise making a real difference in public services.
- Benefits: Flexible working hours, competitive salary, and excellent benefits.
- Other info: Opportunity for personal growth and impactful community engagement.
- Why this job: Shape the future of family support while empowering your team to succeed.
- Qualifications: Experience in leading teams and strong relationship-building skills required.
The predicted salary is between 29077 - 29077 £ per year.
Location: West Lothian (home-based with regular travel across West Lothian communities)
Salary: £29,077 + excellent benefits
Hours: 35 hours per week (flexible working)
Status: Fixed term to April 2027 (subject to funding)
Closing date: 29 July 2026
Play a role in shaping the future of family support in West Lothian. Great public services are built by great people. At the Wise Group, we believe lasting change happens when talented colleagues are supported to build trusted relationships with families, communities and partners. We work alongside public services, employers and local organisations to connect support around people rather than expecting people to navigate complex systems alone.
We're looking for a Team Lead to help shape a new whole-family employability programme across West Lothian. This is much more than an operational management role. You'll lead, coach and develop a team of Relational Mentors while working alongside our Community Partnerships & Pathways Executive to strengthen local partnerships, improve customer journeys and ensure families experience one coordinated system of support rather than multiple disconnected services.
What you'll do:
- Lead, coach and develop a team of Relational Mentors, creating a positive, high-performing and supportive team culture.
- Provide regular supervision, wellbeing support, reflective practice and performance coaching, enabling colleagues to deliver consistently high-quality services.
- Ensure delivery across the programme remains person-centred, trauma-informed and aligned with the Wise Group's Relational Mentoring approach.
- Oversee participant journeys, supporting mentors to coordinate effective interventions, manage risk and achieve sustainable outcomes.
- Work alongside the Community Partnerships & Pathways Executive to strengthen referral pathways, employer relationships and partnership working across West Lothian.
- Use performance information, participant feedback and operational insight to monitor quality, identify improvement opportunities and support contract performance.
- Ensure safeguarding, information governance, quality assurance and health and safety responsibilities are consistently met.
- Foster a culture of continuous learning, innovation and shared accountability, helping colleagues develop their confidence, capability and leadership potential.
What you'll bring:
- Experience leading or coaching frontline teams within employability, family support, community development, social justice or related services.
- Strong people leadership skills, with experience supporting performance, wellbeing and professional development.
- Confidence leading services supporting people experiencing multiple and interconnected barriers.
- Excellent relationship-building, communication and influencing skills.
- Systems thinking, with the ability to understand how organisations work together and remove barriers to better customer journeys.
- Experience using data, quality assurance and operational insight to improve performance and outcomes.
- Strong organisational and digital skills, including Microsoft 365 and CRM systems.
- A collaborative leadership style, with confidence working across organisational boundaries and building trusted partnerships.
- Knowledge of West Lothian communities and local services would be highly desirable.
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 (you don't need to have this already, we'll apply for this for the successful candidate).
Why join us? You'll be joining a values-led social enterprise that's helping shape the future of public services. Rather than delivering isolated programmes, we work alongside communities, employers and partners to create stronger, more connected pathways that help people overcome poverty and build better futures. You'll play a pivotal leadership role in shaping a brand-new service, developing an outstanding team and demonstrating how relational, place-based leadership can transform outcomes for families and communities.
This is your opportunity to influence not only how support is delivered today, but how public services work together in the future. Together we're not simply delivering a service—we're helping create a better way for communities, employers and public services to work together.
Team Lead in Edinburgh employer: The Wise Group
At the Wise Group, we pride ourselves on being a values-led social enterprise dedicated to transforming family support in West Lothian. Our flexible working hours and commitment to professional development ensure that our Mentors not only contribute to meaningful change but also grow personally and professionally within a supportive team environment. Join us to be part of a pioneering programme that connects communities and empowers families towards sustainable employment and wellbeing.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Team Lead in Edinburgh
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at The Wise Group.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from The Wise Group!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like The Wise Group, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at The Wise Group or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Team Lead in Edinburgh
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to The Wise Group:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to The Wise Group! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Wise Group
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
