✨✨ FRESH START ARE RECRUITING ✨✨
We are looking for a Volunteer Coordinator for our Cooking classes.
This is a great chance to join the team as we develop the community kitchen and social spaces.
Please apply through Goodmoves 👉https://goodmoves.com/…/Volunteer-Coordinator-Cooking-Servi…
Please note, applications can only be received through Goodmoves.
CLOSING DATE: Monday 24th August.
A FIRE service Watch Commander revealed how his training helped save the life of someone trapped inside a burning car, as the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service launches a new recruitment drive.
Operations Control staff member Marc Benedictus received the urgent 999 call following a road traffic collision near Perth and immediately mobilised firefighters and the correct resources to the scene.
He drew upon his skills and experience to ensure that the person was rescued and no one else was hurt.
Marc spoke about his vital role as the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service launches the national campaign to recruit Operations Control staff based across the service’s three control rooms in Johnstone, Dundee and Edinburgh.
The recruitment drive opens tomorrow (Monday, August 10).
Marc, a Watch Commander based at Dundee Operations Control, said: “Some calls absolutely stick with you – and this one was particularly challenging.
“Someone was trapped in the burning car after a bad collision and we had received a number of 999 calls, and all of them were from people who were naturally panicking or asking for advice.”
He added: “We have to balance giving advice to the caller while getting as much information as possible to enable us to quickly mobilise the correct resources for the emergency from the right location.
“It can be very intense but those crews arrived very quickly and were able to rescue that person from the burning car and no other person was hurt. It was very rewarding to be able to draw upon my training and experience to help others.
“That’s why I don’t think there’s any other job like it – this is different to a call centre job, and no one should come in thinking that. This is a career full of opportunities, teamwork, challenges, and even new qualifications.
“It is mentally challenging role, with a lot of training – but the reward is most certainly worth it.”
From Monday, SFRS will be accepting applications for permanent roles at all three operations control rooms.
Successful applicants will join fellow Operations Control staff during a 14 week training period – learning how to co-ordinate emergency fire and rescue response to everything from house fires and road traffic collisions, to major incidents and severe weather related flooding.
Trainees will also learn how to give potentially life-saving advice, providing fire survival guidance to people who are trapped by smoke or fire.
And Marc says it is these calls that can be the most challenging of all. He said: “These calls can be difficult – you are on the line to someone who is in a life-threatening situation and you are their lifeline.
“It’s important to stay calm for them, give strong and direct instructions and survival advice, while working with your team to mobilise resources and direct local firefighters to the exact location of the person who is trapped.
“The relief you feel when you hear the sirens in the background or the firefighters entering the room is incredible.”
Following the 14-week initial training course, Operations Control staff continue to train daily to hone their skills and experience and ensure they are ready to respond to as many eventualities as possible to protect communities.
Area Commander Libby Logan is the head of Operations Control across Scotland. She said: “We need motivated individuals who are serious about serving and protecting Scotland’s communities.
“If you think you are suited to the role, then our fantastic training team will support you every step of the way.
“Our Operations Control rooms are tight-knit teams, who work with local firefighters to respond to emergency calls across Scotland.
“A willingness to learn, a strong team ethic, the ability to stay calm under pressure while handling numerous tasks and a real ability to motivate others and form relationships are all essential attributes – we want the best of the best to take up these roles on Scotland’s unseen frontline.”
Register for job alerts now, and apply for the role once it is live on Monday, August 10 on MyJobScotland: https://www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/emergency-services/scottish-fire-and-rescue-service/jobs
Applications will close after 800 applications have been received, or on Tuesday, September 1.
NHS Lothian has welcomed 910 new nurses and midwives to support the Health Board to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new recruits are made up of nursing staff and midwives and will be working in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, the Western General Hospital and St John’s Hospital, Livingstone as well as across the community.
All 910 of the new staff were recruited through a national effort to boost the workforce during the pandemic and beyond, during the national recovery phase.
One of the new Staff Nurses, Alex Simpson, said: “I’m really enjoying doing my bit to help and the team have been so welcoming and supportive of me.”
Jacqueline Reid, Senior Charge Nurse, said: “What a privilege it is to have all these students volunteer to come and work with us and our patients during the current pandemic of Covid-19. An inspiration to us all.”
Craig Stenhouse, Deputy Chief Nurse for Royal Edinburgh Hospital and Associated Services, said: “Having the student nurses join our team has allowed us to continue to provide the high level of care we strive for.
“Each of the students I have met so far have been motivated, enthusiastic and excited to start working in their new teams. It is difficult to believe how quickly these new members of staff have become part of our team.”
This year on International Nurses Day NHS Lothian joined health organisations around the world to celebrate the exceptional work preformed every day by nurses and midwives.
Yesterday was the 200th birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is considered to be the pioneer of modern nursing. Whilst the profession had developed considerably since, it continues to evolve in scope and importance and in the range of roles open to the modern nurse.
Gillian McAuley, Nurse Director for Acute Services in NHS Lothian, said: “One of the biggest challenges for us right now is making sure we really connect with our patients and their families. It’s an important part of in making sure really outstanding ,compassionate care is delivered.
“The use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) can create barriers between us and our patients. A lot of nurses have said can be hard when patients can’t see our expressions, like seeing us smile and of course it’s not possible for a nurse to give a bereaved family member a simple hug.
“We’ve had to do a lot of work learning how to show our expressions and emotions through our eyes and using other forms of expression. We’ve done things like creating cards called ‘a hug in a card’ to try and keep that connection with our patients and their families.”
Alex McMahon, NHS Lothian Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals said: “We’ve had to cancel a lot of events we’d been planning to mark International Year of the Nurse but, despite that, we know there has never been a better time to celebrate nursing.
“We welcome our new recruits who know there has never been a more exciting time to be a nurse. There are a whole range of specialisms to choose from and nursing remains a profoundly rewarding and fulfilling profession.”
Lothian MSP, Miles Briggs, said: “The recruitment of 910 nurses and midwives is very welcome during these exceptionally difficult times.
“NHS Lothian will face significant challenges after Covid-19 in improving waiting times and getting patients treated and these new recruits will go a long way to overcoming these challenges.”
More than 22,000 students and returning health and social care workers have come forward to support the NHS in its response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
The figure includes nearly 7,000 students in nursing and midwifery, medicine and the allied health professions and scientific disciplines. In addition there are almost 3,000 former social care workers, professionals and experienced healthcare workers returning from career breaks and retirement and individuals joining the NHS from the independent sector.
Applicants are being held on a list, with Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) and Disclosure checks being fast-tracked to allow new recruits to take up posts as soon as possible.
Offers of employment are being made across NHS Scotland with more than 160 applicants ready to be deployed and more than 3,600 returners in the process of completing their pre-employment checks.
The Scottish Social Services Council is taking forward applications and pre-employment checks for the social care workforce, with 140 individuals now matched into roles and a further 225 ready and available for deployment.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “I thank the thousands of students and retired health and social care workers who have answered our calls for support, and put themselves forward to help the NHS response to COVID-19.
“This has been an outstanding response and we are working with NHS Education for Scotland and our boards to ensure returners and students are deployed as quickly and effectively as possible.
“While increasing capacity in our NHS is essential we must also do it safely which is why the processes, induction and training must be carefully followed and I thank those who have registered for their patience as we urgently work through these details.
“The steps we are taking now are about targeting and prioritising our workforce where it is most needed which means adapting our staffing plans as we move through the different stages of this pandemic.
“While not all of those who have applied to help will be needed immediately, the offers are very much appreciated, and this is giving us the scope to be as flexible as we can, so we can make the best use of the different talents which our students and returning NHS and social care staff are offering.”
The NHS recruitment drive is part of the Scotland Cares campaign which is also looking at formal volunteering to support public services and other charities and groups in the local community.
Of the 22,611 who have so far come forward (as at 26 April 2020), 3028 have registered with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, 1700 with NHS Lothian and 17,883 through the dedicated NHS Education for Scotland (NES) Accelerated Recruitment Portal.
Data from the 17,883* applicants processed through the NES Accelerated Recruitment Portal is broken down as follows:
6904 NHSS Students (39%)
*The breakdown above does not add up to the total as while it includes a selection of identified roles, it does not include other roles such as drivers, speech and language therapists and podiatrists among others.
**Final year medical students who have graduated and received provisional registration are able to express interest in a FiY1 (foundation interim year 1) post or Healthcare Support Worker role. Medical students who are not in their final year can express interest in a Healthcare Support Worker role only.
All applications are now received via the NES Recruitment portal. People can register here.
The largest intake of probationary constables ever to join Police Scotland has been thanked for their commitment to public service as they took the oath of office yesterday.
Chief Constable Iain Livingstone welcomed the cohort of 348 recruits into the Police Service of Scotland and told them they had joined at a time of “national significance”.
The Chief Constable said: “This is a moment of national significance and policing has a crucial role in protecting the people of Scotland.
“I recognise that by coming here together for your training, there is a potential risk. We are asking you to put yourself in a position that we do not ask of other citizens.
“Putting yourself in harm’s way to protect others goes to the very heart of what it means to be a police officer.
“Your colleagues are on the streets, right now, demonstrating that commitment for the good of their fellow citizens.
“You are joining that shared mission and I thank all police officers and staff who are contributing to the national effort to protect people from the spread of coronavirus.
The Chief Constable added: “The response to coronavirus may continue for some time and we must maintain and support the frontline.
“That is why we pressed on with our plan to recruit you and why we are looking at how we can make you, as police officers, available to that visible response, with appropriate supervision, at an earlier stage of your training than would normally be the case.
“I wish to assure you that we are doing all we can to support our people on the frontline, including redirecting resources and providing the equipment you need.
“The service has received and distributed masks, goggles, disposable suits, boot covers and gloves and more is on its way, as well as thousands of bottles of hand sanitiser for those who can’t readily access hand washing facilities.
“There is a demand, across all essential services, for personal protective equipment and we will continue to work to secure and supply it to our people.”
A further 22 special constables also took the oath of office and the Chief Constable said policing’s link with our communities has never been more critical.
The Chief Constable said: “We gain our authority and legitimacy through the consent of our fellow citizens and I thank the overwhelming majority of people, from all walks of life, who are complying with very clear guidance to stay at home.
“We know this is a challenging time for people who have to adjust their daily habits and we know the police service will be required to take on additional responsibilities. Everything we do will be done in a fair, reasonable and proportionate manner.
“Those who persistently and blatantly defy the law, however, must know we will enforce the law.”
Full time and part time roles available in branches across Lothian
Next Step Edinburgh are teaming up with Semichem and Scotmid for an open morning in Muirhouse this Friday 21 February.
Store Managers will be on hand to talk to prospective candidates about what it is like to work with them. Full time and part time positions are available and the successful applicants will enjoy training, staff benefits and excellent career prospects.
As the event has been organised by Next Step Edinburgh, there is also additional support available including support with CV writing, interview prep and much more.
The event takes place at 9.30 – 11.30am at Pennywell Resource Centre, 31 – 33 Pennywell Road, EH4 4PJ.
If you can’t make that date then there will be another session on Tue 25 February 9:30am – 11:30am at the Recruitment and Skills Centre (RSC) at Fort Kinnaird Shopping Centre.
All welcome – just come along with your CV.
If you have any questions then please contact
Want to discover a new side of you in 2020 and make a difference? Police Scotland’s Special Constabulary needs you …
A nationwide campaign to recruit new special constables has been launched by Police Scotland.
The Special Constabulary is a part-time volunteer body consisting of officers with identical powers to that of police officers. The role is diverse, from policing football matches to assisting at road accidents, from patrolling the streets of your local community to investigating crime. No two shifts are the same and volunteers play an integral role in providing an important link between the police service and the public.
Following a steady decrease in the number of special constables since the formation of Police Scotland, with a significant number of recruits using the opportunity as a route to becoming a regular police officer, the campaign focuses on encouraging people to give back to their local community by signing up in their spare time and enhancing local policing with their life experience.
From today, social media posts and campaign posters will feature on numerous channels including Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, promoting the role of a special constable and why their skills and talent could be crucial to local policing.
Assistant Chief Constable John Hawkins said: “There are thousands of people living in Scotland who could bring the skills and talents from their own jobs into the role of a volunteer police officer and in support of their local community.
“Joining the Special Constabulary can also be a fantastic opportunity to consider whether policing is the job for you. It provides excellent experience and training for those who would like to become a full-time police officer.
“Police Scotland undoubtedly benefits from the experience volunteers bring, but it’s also an opportunity unlike any other where you gain confidence, new skills and get the chance to help people in need or make their life better.
“Anyone is eligible to apply to become a special constable as long as they satisfy some basic requirements for the role but ultimately we are looking for people who want to make a real difference to their communities and can bring a fresh perspective to the team they work in. The more varied your background, the more diverse our workforce will be. “Don’t miss the opportunity to do something great.”
For more information on becoming a Special Constable and to find out more about eligibility, visit – https://www.scotland.police.uk/recruitment/special-constables/
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A leading Scottish care provider has launched a campaign to boost recruitment into the care sector against the background of a ‘perfect storm’ of staff shortages and the potential impact of Brexit. Continue reading Campaign to boost recruitment into the Scottish care sector
THE Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has welcomed double the number of firefighter applications from women, ethnic minorities and the LGBTQ+ community compared to previous years, latest figures reveal.
The Service launched a wholetime firefighter recruitment campaign in April which saw the overall number of applicants rise by almost 25 per cent – from 4,373 previously to a total of 6,075.
And this included 771 applications from women compared to just 360 previously.
It also saw 403 people from the LGBTQ+ community submit applications compared to the previous 168 with 157 applications from those within the ethnic community compared to the previous 69.
As a result, almost a quarter of the 84 new firefighters who began their exhaustive 14-week training course last month are female.
The applications were shortlisted “blindly” by hand – meaning no identifying data was made available such as names, gender, age, ethnicity or sexuality.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development, Liz Barnes congratulated all of the success recruits. She said: “We received a very high volume of applications and we were clear from the outset that there were no quotas here and that no one had any advantage.
“It was vital that applicants hit a very high standard for their applications to be accepted. Those who were successful should be thoroughly proud of themselves.
“We also encouraged under-represented groups to apply and the figures show that we have taken another step forward as an organisation in reflecting the very rich and diverse communities we serve.”
She added: “Our process is designed to ensure a level playing field from the outset.
“Our standards have never changed, and they are high – but if you have what it takes, then we will help you get there.”
At present less than five per cent of Scotland’s firefighters identify as women, and less than one per cent identify as belonging to an ethnic minority.
Ms Barnes added: “We are committed to ensuring that this Service is as open and inclusive as possible and we will continue to take all available steps to ensure our current workforce is supported to be who they truly are in the workplace.
“For example, we are very proud to be a Stonewall Diversity Champion in Scotland.”
A total of 304 applicants were successful and will undergo training in batches over the next year.
The first intake of 84 new firefighters, including 31 women, began their 14-week course at SFRS’ dedicated training centres in Cambuslang and Thornton this month.
During the course they will not only learn how to tackle fires effectively and safely, they will also learn essential skills such as trauma management, road traffic collisions, safe working at height and ladder skills.
And after passing out, they will have the opportunity to move forwards and specialise in areas such as water and rope rescue, HAZMAT and community safety.
Ms Barnes added: “My congratulations go out to everyone who has been successful in their application – this is an extremely rewarding career and they are joining the Service at an exciting time.
“Not only will they learn how to fight fires and respond to incidents such as road traffic collisions, we are also seeking to train our firefighters to meet the risks a modern Scotland faces.
“This includes the impacts of climate change – such as severe flooding – and helping to keep the most vulnerable members of our communities safe in their homes.
“This community work is vital to how we intend to continue protecting Scotland, and as such it incredibly important that we properly represent our incredibly diverse culture.”
Ms Barnes continued: “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank each person who applied – and I would ask them not to be discouraged from applying again in future.”
While recruitment for wholetime firefighters is currently closed, the Service continues to recruit for retained and volunteer firefighters across Scotland, as well as positions for support staff.
For more information, visit: https://www.myjobscotland.gov.
