Equal opportunities

At SDC, we are committed to providing a working environment in which everyone feels valued and respected and is able to pursue a rewarding career whilst contributing to the success of our organisation. We believe there are benefits in having a diverse workforce and aim to ensure that everyone can enjoy an equal opportunities environment. We offer flexible working arrangements and are able to work with people to achieve their potential by making appropriate reasonable adjustments.

Working with direct experience

As a workplace, we encourage people with lived experience of mental ill health to apply for employment. SDC respects transferable skills acquired through experience of mental ill health. SDC employment benefits do not discriminate on grounds of mental ill health.

Family friendly employment policies

We have a comprehensive Employee Handbook designed to promote best practice in employment conditions, and to provide fair treatment for all employees . It is recognised that people face challenges when trying to juggle work and family responsibilities and we have developed policies for maternity and paternity leave, carer’s leave, adoption leave, parental leave and compassionate leave.

"SDC respects transferable skills acquired through experience of mental ill health'

'There is a culture of team development and reflective practice, with regular opportunities for individual and collective development'

Training and development

SDC believes that all employees need to continue to develop in their role to enhance skills and knowledge. SDC supports all employees through annual appraisal and regular supervision. There is a culture of team development and reflective practice, with regular opportunities for individual and collective development. Where appropriate, there is the potential for the organisation to support independent study through, for example, study leave.

A Health Promoting Workplace

The workplace is becoming increasingly important as a setting for people to access health promotion information, and a place where colleagues can support and motivate each other to live healthily. SDC takes part in the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives’ Award Scheme . There are three core award levels associated with this, Bronze, Silver and Gold. Additionally, there is the option to work towards a Mental Health Commendation. All the awards follow criteria to ensure healthy opportunities are presented to staff.

SDC achieved the Bronze award in 2006 and the Silver in 2007. Determined that our own practice should meet and exceed the good practice we promote, we are currently working on the final stages of the Mental Health Commendation award, and expect to achieve this in 2007.

SDC monitors staff views on health and well-being in the workplace through annual surveys. The results of these are used both to plan health promotion activities and to take approporiate action where problems are identified. We provide regular health promotion activities such as lunch sessions highlighting the benefits of healthy eating, regular newsletters offering information on a variety of health topics and alternative health therapies such as Indian head massage sessions organised in-house.

Vacancies

SDC recruits staff through advertising in the Scottish press, and through The Big Issue and SCVO’s ‘Good Moves’ Portal.

• Current Vacancies
• Current Associate Consultancy Needs