At a Glance
- Tasks: Support families facing complex challenges through building trust and navigating systems.
- Company: Join the Wise Group, dedicated to tackling child poverty in Scotland.
- Benefits: Meaningful work with a focus on long-term outcomes and community impact.
- Other info: Travel required across various local authority areas; driving licence preferred.
- Why this job: Be part of a transformative approach to mentoring that makes a real difference.
- Qualifications: Strong relationship-building skills and resilience in complex situations.
The predicted salary is between 31500 - 38500 £ per year.
At the Wise Group, we work with people facing multiple, interconnected challenges - where debt, mental health, housing, family pressures and employment are all present at once. We don’t treat these as separate issues. We work alongside people to stabilise whole households and support sustained progress. That’s what Relational Mentoring is.
We are now recruiting mentors to join our Relational Mentoring Scotland (RMS) service - funded through the Scottish Government’s Tackling Child Poverty Fund and aligned to Best Start, Bright Futures. This is a national priority, and this work sits at the heart of how Scotland will meet its child poverty ambitions.
Operating across Glasgow, South Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, Inverclyde and the Scottish Borders, you will work with families experiencing complex challenges - building trusted relationships, navigating systems, and supporting progress over time. This is not a role with quick fixes or single-issue interventions.
It is about:
- Building trust where trust is low
- Staying alongside people when progress is not linear
- Connecting services around the person - not the other way round
- Supporting families into stability, and where possible, sustainable employment
You will work closely with schools, health services, local authorities and community partners - but your focus will remain consistent: one mentor, one household, a whole-system response to poverty.
What we’re looking for
We’re not just looking for experience - we’re looking for mindset. You might come from mentoring, employability, health, justice, housing or community work. What matters is your ability to:
- Build strong, consistent relationships with people facing complex challenges
- Work confidently across systems and services
- Stay focused on long-term outcomes, not short-term outputs
- Handle ambiguity, setbacks and complexity with resilience
- Balance empathy with a clear focus on progress
Experience in mentoring or similar roles is beneficial, but not essential if you can demonstrate these capabilities.
What you need to know
Location: Delivery across six local authority areas (travel required). Currently the most need is in Glasgow, North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire but there may be travel required in other areas.
Driving licence: Preferred due to the nature of the role
PVG: Required for successful candidates
This role is part of a wider shift. Too many systems respond to one issue at a time. Our work shows that approach doesn’t reflect reality - and doesn’t deliver sustained change. Relational Mentoring is about doing this differently. It is about prevention, progression and reducing long-term demand on public services.
If you want to be part of that shift - and do work that is challenging, meaningful and grounded in real outcomes - this is the role.
Relational Mentor in Glasgow 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 Relational Mentor in Glasgow
✨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 Relational Mentor in Glasgow
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.
