Family Service Manager (Scotland)
Gambling with Lives
Home-based within Scotland, within reasonable travel of a major population centre (e.g. Edinburgh, Glasgow or Stirling), with regular travel across Scotland and occasional travel to Leeds/Sheffield and wider UK locations.
Salary
£45,000 £48,000 (dependent on experience)
* 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
* 7% employer pension contribution
* Flexible working arrangements
* Home-based role with autonomy
* Opportunity to shape a new national service
* Meaningful work within a lived experience-led charity driving systemic change
About Gambling with Lives
Gambling with Lives is a charity established by families bereaved by gambling-related suicide.
We exist to prevent gambling harm and save lives through support, advocacy and systemic change. We work alongside families to navigate complex post-death processes, access support, and advocate for change.
We are fundamentally led by lived experience. Families are central to everything we do shaping services, influencing strategy, and driving the organisation forward.
Following new funding through the statutory levy system, we are launching dedicated support services in Scotland and seeking an exceptional Family Service Manager to lead this work.
This is a rare opportunity to build something meaningful from the ground up.
The Opportunity
This is a newly created role in Scotland, based on an established family service model operating across England and Wales.
You will translate this model into the Scottish landscape building relationships, understanding systems, creating referral pathways, and ensuring families receive consistent support and advocacy.
This is not purely a service delivery role.
Initially, the focus will be on service development, stakeholder engagement, system mapping and establishing the service. Over time, the role will evolve into a more strategic leadership and management position.
You will act as the lead Family Service representative in Scotland, working closely with colleagues across Family Services and Public Affairs, with significant autonomy.
This role requires someone who can balance compassion with credibility, advocacy with professionalism, and independence with collaboration.
Reporting To
Head of Family Services
Key Responsibilities
Service Development & Implementation
* Establish and embed the family service model across Scotland
* Map post-death systems, including fiscal processes and stakeholder pathways
* Translate the England & Wales model into a Scottish framework
* Build referral pathways with key agencies and professionals
* Develop relationships with fiscal services, NHS, local authorities and stakeholders
* Identify gaps and opportunities for service improvement
* Contribute to long-term strategy and sustainability
Family Support & Advocacy
* Support families bereaved by gambling-related suicide
* Conduct holistic needs assessments
* Guide families through inquests, investigations and system navigation
* Manage safeguarding and risk
* Work alongside families as partners
* Advocate within complex systems
Stakeholder Engagement & Representation
* Represent the organisation across Scotland
* Deliver presentations, training and awareness sessions
* Build trust within communities and referral networks
* Support public affairs and systems change work
* Collaborate with Public Affairs and leadership teams
Internal Collaboration
* Work with the Head of Family Services and wider team
* Contribute to organisational learning
* Engage with the Family Council and lived experience groups
* Ensure alignment with lived experience-led values
* Maintain accurate records and reporting
Who this role may suit
This role may suit individuals working as a Service Manager, Project/Programme Manager, Safeguarding Lead, Senior Social Worker, Mental Health Practitioner, or within bereavement, postvention or family support services. We also welcome those with experience in service development or stakeholder engagement seeking a purpose-driven role.
Person Specification
Essential Experience
* Background in mental health, psychotherapy, counselling, social work, nursing, psychology, bereavement or safeguarding
* Minimum 5 years post-qualification experience
* Experience managing complex cases and risk
* Ability to work independently with strong judgement
* Experience building stakeholder relationships
* Experience delivering services or projects
* Understanding of trauma-informed practice
* Strong communication skills
* Ability to represent an organisation externally
Personal Attributes
* Warm, empathetic and emotionally intelligent
* Calm, resilient and professional
* Organised and self-motivated
* Confident in complex, sensitive environments
* Credible with stakeholders and compassionate with families
* Collaborative and values-led
* Comfortable with ambiguity and building new systems
* Motivated by purpose and impact
This role requires someone who can take the brief and run with it.
Recruitment Process
Stage 1: Screening and interview with Charity Recruit
Stage 2: Teams interview with panel and trustee
Stage 3: Final face-to-face interview (Leeds or Sheffield)
Apply
If youre looking for a role where your work will directly improve lives, shape systems, and build something impactful, wed love to hear from you.
This recruitment is managed by Charity Recruit. We work with charities across the UK to connect them with people who care deeply about their work. Our approach is hands-on, thoughtful and focused on finding the right fit not just the right experience.
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