Could you lead our Aberdeen team to give children a brighter future?

In this blog, Iona Mitchell, assistant director at Children First shares what it takes to be a service manager at Scotland’s national children’s charity.

We’re looking for a leader who brings heart, energy, and vision to our Whole Family Wellbeing Service in Aberdeen.

The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment, love working with people and want to make a real difference in the lives of children and families.

As service manager you’ll be leading a highly skilled team delivering early and preventative trauma-informed support through the Fit Like Family Wellbeing collaborative.

Through the collaborative, the team offers a dynamic and innovative community-based service that operates across Northfield, Bridge of Don and Kincorth. We always put children and families’ voices at the heart of our approach.

A day in the life

A typical day for a service manager at Children First in Aberdeen is anything but ordinary and no two days are the same. The morning might begin with a strategic conversation alongside leaders within the Fit Like Family Wellbeing collaborative, exploring unmet needs in the community and identifying ways to improve service delivery.

We don’t just respond to needs, we anticipate them, adapt and innovate to ensure our support remains relevant and impactful.

The focus might then shift to supporting your team leaders by providing guidance and oversight to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the families we work with. You could be reviewing family plans to ensure meets complexity of need experienced or offering reflective supervision that puts a trauma-informed, family-centred approach at the centre.

You’ll quality assure family files to ensure our records reflect the depth and quality of the support provided.

The service manager also represents Children First in multi-agency forums such as the Child Protection Committee, Aberdeen City Voluntary Organisation Forum and Local Outcome Improvement Plan charter work. You’ll be advocating for children’s rights and influencing system change.

And behind the scenes, you’ll be preparing high-quality reports that evidence the impact of the service, support commissioning and secure funding from external providers.

You will lead service development days to foster continuous professional development across the team. These sessions are designed to build skills, share learning and strengthen the collaborative culture that defines Children First.

Why this opportunity matters

At Children First, we lead with love, purpose and strength. We need someone who shares that ethos - someone who’s ready to bring energy, passion and a deep commitment to doing whatever it takes to put children first.

This role is an opportunity to lead a team that’s transforming children and families’ lives across Aberdeen. You’ll also play a vital role in a charity that stands up for children’s rights and influences positive change for Scotland’s children.

Here’s what some of the children and families we work with say about us:

One 12-year-old boy we support said: "Don't be afraid to talk about your feelings. You can do it here."

One parent shared: "I feel safe and heard… It's good for me to come here. I don’t feel judged.”

Another parent who attends one of our groups said: "You can come here no matter what mood you are in. When you leave you always feel 10 times better."

If you’re ready to apply for this rewarding role, click on the link to find out more about how to apply or contact our assistant director in Aberdeen, Iona Mitchell, at iona.mitchell@childrenfirst.org.uk to learn more about this exciting opportunity.

Aberdeen team alongside children and families pictured below at the recent Celebrate Aberdeen Parade.