Relationships Scotland Orkney are looking for a highly organised individual to co-ordinate the day-to-day operation of our Child Contact service. The Family Contact Coordinator liaises with parents/carers/other relatives to arrange Child Contact. This service helps children of separated parents to maintain a relationship with a parent/carer they no longer live with, and/or with other family members, in a safe, neutral, friendly and child-centered environment.

As Family Contact Coordinator, you will provide consistency and continuity for families as part of a small team who are committed to helping families transition through separation/divorce and supporting positive outcomes for children. Most contact takes place on a Saturday, with some sessions during the week, dependent on families’ needs.

The Coordinator is responsible for arranging intake appointments for new referrals, scheduling contact sessions, communicating with parents and/or their legal representatives, setting up the required case paperwork and undertaking regular client reviews; compiling staff rotas and supporting the staff who facilitate child contact on the day.

In order to fulfil this role, you will need to be familiar and comfortable with using MS Office applications (specifically Word, Excel and Outlook), be highly organized and able to multi-task. You will need to have strong inter-personal skills, empathy to deal with people in emotional distress and confidence to de-escalate conflict when required.

This is a unique role and highly rewarding for the right person. The successful candidate will bring personal attributes, skills, abilities and experience, and training will be provided. This post is subject to Membership of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme in relation to regulated work with children and adults and from April 2027 the Child Contact Service will be regulated by the Care Inspectorate.

Hours: 16 hours per week. Regular working days are Saturday, with remaining hours worked flexibly during the week by agreement with the Practice Manager, including some evenings and occasional Sundays.

Salary: £12,743 (£15.32/hour)

For more information or an application form, please contact us at enquiries@rsorkney.org.uk or call 01856 877750.

Closing date for applications: 5pm Friday 7 August 2026.

We are looking for Support Workers to provide a welcoming and safe environment for children to meet with a parent or family member they do not live with, to establish, develop and continue good relationships, always maintaining neutrality and confidentiality

This is a sessional post and regularly involves weekends, occasional weekdays & evenings.

£14.58 per hour plus holiday pay.

Please contact us at enquiries@rsorkney.org.uk or on 01856 877750 for further information or an application form.

The closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday 19 June 2026

Parents urged to consider mediation as a way to build a positive future for their family during Family Mediation Week

As Family Mediation Week gets underway, running from 27th to 31st January, we are urging parents who are considering, or in the process of, separation or divorce to seek an alternative to a courtroom confrontation to settle parenting arrangements.

January traditionally sees an increase in the number of parents deciding to live apart as the various pressures that go hand-in-hand with the Christmas period act as a final straw for their relationships.

Tamsin Bailey, Family Mediator at Relationships Scotland Orkney said: “Often families who are experiencing challenges in their relationships will automatically think of court as their only option to resolve these difficult issues, but mediation can be hugely beneficial in helping separating couples agree what works for them, whilst avoiding the court process with all the stress, delay and cost it can bring.

“Family Mediation Week is about raising awareness of the benefits of mediation as a way of helping parents make decisions together, which can result in more positive outcomes for the whole family.

“When parents separate, they often don’t know which way to turn. Their life-changing decision to separate brings with it so many tough questions:  Where will the children live, and how will we make sure they spend time with each of us? How will we sort out our finances? And even the family pet?”

Family mediation is a process where an independent, professionally-trained mediator helps separating or separated couples work these things out, enabling them to avoid courtroom confrontation. Professional mediators help empower families to take control of their individual circumstances, rather than leaving it to a court to make decisions on their behalf. This confidential service is available to families in Orkney free of charge through Relationships Scotland Orkney.

92% of parents who participated in mediation told us that it helped improve their family situation and 100% would recommend the service to others. One parent told us:  “At times my ex-partner and I have been completely unable to communicate in any way apart from through the mediation service. It’s the only thing that has proved useful in helping to us keep life on an even keel for our child”.

Please click here for more information about family mediation.

We are delighted to share our Annual Report 2023/24

Please click here to download a copy.