Job Title: Development Worker (Link Academy)

Fixed term until April 2028 (funding dependent)

Location: Based at LinkLiving’s offices in St Margaret’s House and Goodtrees Neighbourhood Centre, Edinburgh. Some travel to Fife and Falkirk may be required for training.

Hours: 22.5 hours per week

(Mon, Tue & Thu 09:30–15:00, Wed 09:30–16:00)

Are you passionate about helping young people build positive futures? Do you want to work for a trauma-informed charity that values creativity, flexibility and staff wellbeing?

At LinkLiving, our values shape everything we do:

Empathy – understanding individual needs
Respect – treating people with dignity
Integrity – acting honestly and ethically
Caring – showing kindness and compassion

LinkLiving is a Scottish health and wellbeing charity supporting people affected by trauma, mental health challenges, poverty and inequality to live healthier, more fulfilling lives. Our services include employability programmes, supported accommodation, housing support, self-help coaching, befriending and social cafes.

The Service

The Link Academy supports young people with complex backgrounds who may experience poor mental health, low confidence and challenges moving into employment, education or independent living. Through trauma-informed support, wellbeing programmes, qualifications and independent living skills, we help young people build resilience and achieve positive outcomes.

The Role

The Pause, Think, Grow (Navigating Positive Futures) programme supports young people at risk of involvement in the criminal justice system through one-to-one and group support.

You will work with young people experiencing issues such as antisocial behaviour, family breakdown and school-related difficulties, helping them develop practical skills, confidence and positive coping strategies. The role also involves supporting parents/carers and coordinating peer mentor volunteers aged 16–24 with lived experience of the justice system.

We welcome applications from candidates with both professional and lived experience.

About You

You are passionate about supporting young people facing complex challenges and have at least three years’ experience in youth work, including work within a criminal justice setting.

You will ideally hold an SCQF Level 7 qualification (HNC or equivalent), although relevant lived experience and demonstrable experience with this client group are equally valued, with training opportunities available.

You will also have:

Experience designing and delivering engaging programmes for young people
A trauma-informed, relationship-based approach
Strong communication, planning and organisational skills
Experience building partnerships with external agencies
Confidence using ICT and digital resources
Knowledge of issues affecting young people and families in Scotland
A flexible, positive approach to teamwork

Occasional evening or weekend work may be required.

Benefits

LinkLiving offers a wide range of employee benefits including:

Competitive salary with annual review
35 days’ annual leave pro rata plus additional leave after 3 years
Option to buy and sell leave
Enhanced sick pay and family-friendly policies
Pension scheme with generous employer contributions
Paid qualifications and learning opportunities
Healthcare cash plan and employee assistance programme
Life assurance scheme
Cycle to work and car leasing schemes
Discounts on shopping, services and mobile plans

Further Information

This role requires PVG Scheme membership under the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020.

To learn more about LinkLiving and our benefits package, visit the LinkLiving website.

Closing Date: 23:59 on Monday 1 June 2026

Interview Date: Friday 12 June 2026 in Edinburgh

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and are committed to inclusive recruitment. As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee interviews to disabled candidates who meet the essential criteria.

1 Linkliving jobs in Scotland