Development Officer - ABC

Duration: Fixed Term, Full Time

Roles that require PVG Membership

Please note that with effect from 1 April 2023, where a role requires PVG membership, candidates will be required to meet the cost of the PVG membership.

This applies only to roles with a full time equivalent salary of £30,000 and above.

(Teaching roles and jobs at Grade 10 and above (currently 16.50 per hour))

The Council will pay for the PVG membership cost initially, either £18 for existing PVG scheme members, or £59 for non-members, and this cost will be deducted from an employee’s first FULL month’s salary payment.

Job purpose/about the role

The Development Officer (Justice Social Work, Alcohol and Drugs) supports the development and implementation of Community Justice, Alcohol and Drugs strategies in Aberdeen City, in line with relevant Local Outcomes Improvement Plan priorities and national Strategies. The Development Officer has a key role in reducing drug and alcohol related harm and developing practice/joint approaches between justice social work and substance misuse services and contributes to realising the City’s vision for ‘a place that all people can prosper.

Justice Social Work is a busy service delivered by nine teams across three sites (Pre-Disposal, 3 x Community Payback Order, Unpaid Work, Through care, Caledonian, Women’s Services and Support Work). We are committed to the principles of early intervention and prevention; relationship-based practice; practical assistance where possible and tenacious outreach when necessary. We work with individuals who have committed offences at all levels of risk and need.

This includes those who have committed offences of a sexual, domestic abuse and/or violent nature with whom work can be complex and challenging. While supervision and training is provided it is acknowledged that this type of work is not for everyone, and may be traumatising for some, so we would ask that you think carefully or seek further information before registering interest.

Relevant qualification/experience in Health and Social Care

Experience of inter-agency working with related agencies (e.g., voluntary sector, health, substance misuse, mental health, advice & information, social care & wellbeing, justice, etc.) to achieve improved outcomes

Experience of strategic and/or service development work

Ability to establish and maintain successful, internal, and external relationships across a variety of forums

Ability to form, develop, sustain, and maintain relationships with customers and teams through which outcomes can be achieved

Ability to work on own initiative, prioritise workload to meet deadlines, and co-ordinate contributions from others to produce cohesive, high-quality work

Ability to take a day-to-day lead role with respect to service delivery

Ability to develop and maintain policies and procedures

Effective and assertive communication skills, both written and verbal, as well as

Ability to analyse information and produce written reports

Ability to manage constant and often conflicting demands and deadlines

Ability to work alone and use initiative

Ability to use a range of ICT packages including Microsoft Word and Excel

Aberdeen City Council is an equal opportunities employer and we are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. For further information, please see our Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Recruitment pack.

We are happy to talk flexible working and offer flexible working for most roles in the organisation meaning that many of our employees enjoy the freedom of choosing a working pattern that suits them as much as it suits the organisation.

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you consider yourself to have a disability and think you may require a reasonable adjustment to be made for this part of the selection process, or would like further information in relation to reasonable adjustments, please contact

We are a forces-friendly employer, have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and are a gold award recipient in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme. We have a specific…