Job profile
Job title: Improvement Adviser - (Grade 7) – Quality Improvement Support Team (QIST)
Job location: National (based from any Care Inspectorate Office)
Reporting to: Senior Improvement Adviser/Quality Improvement Manager
Principal working contacts
Internal:
- Senior Improvement Adviser
- Quality Improvement Support Team Manager
- Head of Quality Improvement Support & Participation
- Quality Improvement Support Team
- Chief Inspectors, Service Managers, Team Managers and Inspectors
- Policy Team
- Participation and Equalities Team
- Internal and External Communications Team
- Organisational and Workforce Team
External:
- Scottish Government policy leads
- Service providers and care service staff
- Other regulatory, scrutiny and improvement bodies
- NHS boards, staff and agencies, local authorities, and integrated joint boards, Health and Social Care Partnerships
- Members of the public and other stakeholders
Job purpose
Working with the Senior Improvement Adviser, as part of the Quality Improvement Support Team (QIST), the post holder will develop and embed quality improvement methodology within the Care Inspectorate and externally with providers of social care organisations. This will be in line with the Quality Improvement and Participation Strategy, the yearly Quality Improvement Plan and collective and individual workplan priorities, which support improved outcomes for people experiencing care and services commissioned by community planning partnerships.
The post holder will provide internal and external professional leadership and expert consultancy on all aspects of quality improvement, developing and maintaining networks of specialist quality improvement advice and knowledge with access to specific subject matter expertise.
Key responsibilities
- To link into the Care Inspectorate’s, Quality Improvement and Participation Strategy and Quality Improvement Support Team (QIST) to advise and upskill staff on quality improvement methodology, quality improvement science, quality improvement tools and delivery of improvement support across the organisation and directorates and externally in the care sector.
- To develop quality improvement support resources and materials for use by inspectors and in care services and support further development and implementation of national strategies and initiatives using the Model for Improvement. For example, in areas such as falls prevention and management, Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) and Children and Young People (CYP), Adult Services and others as required.
- To be an active member of the team that deliver the Care Home Improvement Programme (CHIP).
- To develop and maintain the relationships with improvement bodies to co-create developments in quality improvement support relevant to social care, sharing effective practice and avoiding unnecessary duplication of effort for the benefits of people experiencing social care services.
- To provide expert advice and guidance to internal and external stakeholders on quality improvement including participating in expert groups related to the work of the Care Inspectorate.
- To ensure that internal and external quality improvement support advice is sector specific.
- To develop effective quality improvement support interventions and materials for use by inspectors and care services.
- To ensure that lessons learned in the wider health and social care arena that avoid harm and improve outcomes for people are learned.
- To keep up to date with current research and share evidence from research, quality improvement methodologies and expert advice with providers and partnerships in order to improve practice and achieve good outcomes for people experiencing care.
- To analyse data to identify trends that may have an impact on the outcome for people experiencing care to focus quality improvement support activity.
- To contribute to delivering the Care Inspectorate’s Corporate Plan.
- To carry out any other reasonable tasks necessary to support the Care Inspectorate’s business.
Relationship management
- Work with the Senior Improvement Adviser, QIST Manager and senior managers to develop and facilitate a comprehensive approach to relationship management between the Care Inspectorate and various parts of the Health and Social Care sectors. Ensure effective communication of the Care Inspectorate’s quality improvement support offer in social care to practitioners and managers in the health sector.
- Demonstrate a commitment to the Care Inspectorate’s aims, vision and values and to the Care Inspectorate’s overall objective of improving care in Scotland.
- Carry out your duties in accordance with our Health and Safety policies, procedures, guidance, practices and legislative requirements, taking reasonable care for your safety and that of others who may be affected by what you do or fail to do while at work.
Other duties
This job may require extensive travel and involve overnight stays. This job profile is a broad picture of the post at the date of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties, and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time. Consequently, the post holder will be required to carry out any other duties to the equivalent level that are necessary to fulfil the purpose of the job, and to respond positively to changing business needs.
The post holder will be expected to work autonomously in the main but also within a group, with agreed priorities and objectives. Objectives for this post will be agreed jointly with the relevant line manager and director and will be reviewed on a regular basis.
Job profile
Job Title: Information Governance Analyst
Responsible to: Information Governance Lead
Principle Working Contacts
Information Governance Team
Communications Team
Contact Centre
Intelligence Team
Legal Team
IT Team
Chief Executive
Scottish Government Sponsor Branch
Executive Management Team
Managers and employees of the Care Inspectorate
Other public authorities
General public
Job Purpose
To support the operation and provision of the information governance functionand associated data protection, freedom of information, records management, information sharing and data quality practices and processes.
To provide advice internally and externally on information governance practices. To support a range of solutions on issues related to the information governance function’s key processes.
Key Accountabilities
Operational Management
• Line manage the Information Governance Coordinator in theprocessing of statutory information requests, other data sharing requests submitted to the Care Inspectorate and any other information governance related tasks.
• Action requests for support and information including operational requests from internal colleagues, Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) and any external enquiries.
• Provide day-to-day management of the external and internal information request process including analysing and responding to Statutory requests for information made under the Freedom of information (Scotland) Act 2002 and Data Protection Act 2018.
• Monitor and improve practices and processes to reduce inefficiency, raise quality and uphold best practice in all aspects of information governance work.
• Manage and Support key projects and initiatives as directed by the IG Lead to ensure that Information Governance considerations are captured and addressed.
• Liaise with the Information Governance Lead, communications colleagues and directors to ensure appropriate corporate oversight of, and engagement in, information governance activities.
• Liaise with the Scottish Information Commissioner’s Office, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office, Scottish Government Sponsor Branch and other agencies on matters related to the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, Data Protection Act 2018 and relevant codes of practice to establish and maintain best practice.
• Deputise for the Information Governance Lead when required in relation to any statutory or operational requests for guidance, any data sharing requirements or data protection matters.
• Carry out your duties in accordance with our Health and Safety policies, procedures, guidance, practices and legislative requirements, taking reasonable care for your safety and that of others who may be affected by what you do or fail to do while at work.
Relationship Management
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with the Care Inspectorate’s directors, communications team, legal team, operational managers and business support to ensure smooth cross function working and incorporation of Information Governance best practice.
• Maintain effective working relationships on information governance issues with external organisations as necessary, to identify best practice and ensure statutory obligations are met e.g. National Records Scotland.
• Demonstrate a commitment to the Care Inspectorate’s aims, vision, values.
• Portray a positive image of the Care Inspectorate when communicating both inside the organisation and externally.
Other Duties
This job description is a broad picture of the post at the date of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time. Consequently, the post holder will be required to carry out any other duties to the equivalent level that are necessary to fulfil the purpose of the job and to respond positively to changing business needs.
Job profile
Job title: Organisation and Workforce Development (OWD) Assistant
Location: Flexible
Responsible to: OWD Advisor (People and Development)
Principle working contacts
- OWD Team
- Head of OWD
- HR colleagues
- Managers and employees of the Care Inspectorate
Job purpose
The main purpose of the role will be to support the OWD Team to commission and coordinate learning and development activity and deliver key OWD projects ensuring that the culture of the Care Inspectorate is equipped to support and improve the overall performance of the organisation.
Key responsibilities
Operational management
- Contribute to the implementation of the Strategic Workforce Plan which supports the Care Inspectorate’s corporate plan, and the development of a healthy, high performance learning culture grounded in core values.
- Commission, plan and co-ordinate learning and development and induction activities
- Provide support in relation to OWD practices, including the provision of advice, guidance and support through an internal consultancy approach.
- Plan, schedule, co-ordinate and compile evaluation reports for all learning and development activities.
- Ensure procurement, financial and other internal governance processes are completed for learning and development activities.
- Contribute to and support the planning and delivery of key OWD projects.
- Lead on the maintenance of the learning management system (LMS) to support learning and development and performance management activities, evaluation and performance monitoring.
- Manage the OWD mailbox and provide advice, guidance and support to Care Inspectorate staff to resolve general enquiries to the team.
- Produce management information reports for learning and development within the Care Inspectorate.
- Develop and maintain positive working relationships with Managers, employees, representatives of external agencies and the general public as appropriate.
- Undertake any other duties and/or responsibilities commensurate with the nature of the job.
- Carry out your duties in accordance with our Health and Safety policies, procedures, guidance, practices and legislative requirements, taking reasonable care for your safety and that of others who may be affected by what you do or fail to do while at work
Other duties
This job may require extensive travel and involve overnight stays. This job profile is a broad picture of the post at the date of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties, and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time. Consequently, the post holder will be required to carry out any other duties to the equivalent level that are necessary to fulfil the purpose of the job, and to respond positively to changing business needs.
The post holder will be expected to work autonomously in the main but also within a group, with agreed priorities and objectives. Objectives for this post will be agreed jointly with the relevant line manager and director and will be reviewed on a regular basis.
Job profile
Job title: Senior Change Manager
Responsible to: Operational Transformation Lead
Principal working contacts
- Operational Transformation Lead
- Head of Digital Delivery and Change
- Senior Communication and Engagement Lead
- Digital Delivery and Change Team Members
- Chief Inspectors
- Executive Directors
- External Stakeholders
- Head of Organisational Workforce Development
- Wider Care Inspectorate Staff
- Third Party Partners
Job purpose
The Senior Change Manager is a part of the Digital Delivery and Change team and supports the delivery of the Digital Transformation Project, ensuring the implementation of business and IT change across the organisation. TheSenior Change Manager leads the change activities, influencing every part of the organisation embedding new processes, technologies, and ways of working.
Key responsibilities
- Change Strategy Implementation & Planning: Utilise the established change strategy to drive change initiatives and plan for effective implementation across the transformation project ensuring a structured, colleague-centric approach.
- Business Readiness & Adoption: Measure and evaluate readiness for change, develop and implement adoption strategies, and respond to resistance to build and sustain delivery.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Build and manage strong relationships with stakeholders across all levels, including senior leadership to drive engagement and alignment. Work closely with internal teams and thirdparty suppliers to ensure a unified approach to change management, fostering collaboration that supports delivery.
- Change Delivery: Lead the execution of the business change plan, managing risks, interdependencies, and governance to ensure timely, high-quality delivery. Provide regular, concise reports to governance boards, ensuring accurate, actionable updates to support decision-making and alignment with organisational objectives.
- Communication & Engagement: Working collaboratively with the Senior Communication and Stakeholder Engagement Lead, develop the execution of internal messaging, engagement, and communication strategies to drive awareness and enthusiasm for the change.
- Standards & Capability Building: Establish and maintain change management best practices, ensuring consistency and alignment with strategic goals to ensure that the changes deliver value.
Relationship management
- Build strong relationships with senior leaders and key stakeholders to shape, influence and secure commitment to change initiatives.
- Provide leadership and coaching to colleagues across the organisation to build change capability and embed a culture of continuous improvement.
- Identify and proactively address potential sources of resistance through relationship-building, clear communication, and stakeholder engagement.
- Act as a trusted advisor on change approaches, ensuring stakeholders are supported through change with empathy, transparency and integrity.
- Model corporate behaviour and demonstrate commitment to organisation values.
- Develop and maintain constructive and co-operative working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective and efficient directorate support.
- Promote the principles of collaborative working throughout the organisation and in all working practices in accordance with the Partnership Agreements with the trade unions.
- Ensure effective working protocols in accordance with the Care Inspectorate’s Communications, Human Resources, Finance, IT and Operations function.
- Project a professional image for the Care Inspectorate when dealing with colleagues and external stakeholders.
- Demonstrate a commitment to the Care Inspectorate’s aims, vision and values and to the Care Inspectorate’s overall objective of improving care in Scotland.
Other duties
This job requires some travel across Care Inspectorate offices.
This job profile is a broad picture of the post at the date of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time. Consequently, the post holder will be required to carry out any other duties to the equivalent level that are necessary to fulfil the purpose of the job, and to respond positively to changing business needs.
Job profile
Job title: Administrator Support Assistant (internally known as Chief Inspector Support Assistant)
Job location: Any Care Inspectorate office (with expectation of travel to Dundee Head Office for team working requirements)
Responsible to: Executive Support Officer
Principal working contacts
- Executive Support Officer
- Executive and Committee Support Manager
- Chief Inspectors/Service Managers
- Strategic Management Group
- Executive PAs/Director PAs
- Scottish Government Departments
- External agencies
- Stakeholders
Job purpose
To provide an efficient and effective support service to the chief inspector and their service managers.
Key responsibilities
- Provide a confidential PA and administrative support service to the chief inspector.
- Manage, co-ordinate and prioritise all email correspondence and calendar appointments on behalf of the chief inspector and service managers.
- Develop and administer a system for dealing with enquiries, recording, acknowledging receipt of and re-directing correspondence and monitoring progress of responses.
- As required, compose responses to routine correspondence for the chief inspector and service managers’ signatures.
- Monitor and follow up progress of requests for information from the chief inspector and service managers to meet required deadlines.
- On behalf of the chief inspector, make all conference/seminar/meeting and other visit arrangements; confirm travel arrangements, ensuring adequate travel time between appointments and accommodation bookings.
- Prepare and circulate agendas and paperwork for meetings on behalf of the chief inspector and service managers, as required.
- Attendance at chief inspector-led meetings as required at various locations across Scotland to take notes and record actions.
- Assist in the design and preparation of PowerPoint presentations for the chief inspector, as required.
- Communicate with other officers of the Care Inspectorate, members of the Board, external partners, Scottish Government and members of the public.
- As part of the wider team, provide support cover in the absence of the other chief inspector support assistants.
Relationship management
- Ensure productive and smooth working arrangements and protocols between staff delivering directorate support and all other Care Inspectorate employees.
- Develop and maintain constructive and co-operative working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective and efficient support.
- Demonstrate a commitment to the Care Inspectorate’s aims, vision and values and to the Care Inspectorate’s overall objective of improving care in Scotland.
- To ensure effective communication of the Care Inspectorate's work with people who use care services, carers, relatives, and advocates.
- Carry out your duties in accordance with our Health and Safety policies, procedures, guidance, practices, and legislative requirements, taking reasonable care for your safety and that of others who may be affected by what you do or fail to do while at work.
Other duties
This job may require some travel and may involve some overnight stays and unsocial hours.
This job description is a broad picture of the post at the date of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties, and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time. Consequently, the post holder will be required to carry out any other duties to the equivalent level that are necessary to fulfil the purpose of the job, and to respond positively to changing business needs.
Job profile
Job title: Executive Support Officer
Location: Any Care Inspectorate office but will be expected to travel to Dundee Headquarters and other offices of the Care Inspectorate when required.
Responsible to: Executive and Committee Support Manager
Principal working contacts
- Chief Executive and Executive Directors
- Senior Manager
- Board Members
- Executive and Committee Support Manager
- Members of Executive and Committee Support Team
- Corporate Support Officer
- Members of Corporate Support Team
Job purpose
- To provide comprehensive support to the Committees of the Care Inspectorate Board.
- To provide comprehensive support to strategic management group meetings.
- To provide high quality, effective executive support to the Partnership Forum and other high-level meetings as required.
- To manage, support and develop a team in the provision of high level, confidential support to senior management.
Key responsibilities
- To assist and support the Executive and Committee Support Manager in delivering a high quality, effective executive support service to the Board and its Committees, strategic management group and other high-level meetings as required.
- To ensure all paperwork, agendas, reports and any other related material is prepared, quality checked and circulated in accordance with agreed deadlines; this includes liaising with the meeting Chairs, Lead Officers and the Committee Conveners on a regular basis.
- To manage and maintain schedules of business and action records, ensuring colleagues are aware of changes that affect them in a timely manner.
- To work closely with the Executive and Committee Support Manager to ensure that Committees’ reporting requirements to the Board are adhered to.
- To be knowledgeable in all relevant Terms of Reference, the Board Code of Conduct and other key governance documents.
- To be the lead secretariat support for all relevant high-level meetings involving scheduling and co-ordinating meetings, assessing priorities, enquiries and requests as necessary.
- To provide the lead support for the Business Continuity Management plan and processes
- To ensure all paperwork, preparation of agendas, reports and any other related material is prepared in advance of high-level meetings, liaising with meeting Chairs/Conveners, in accordance with agreed deadlines.
- To prepare minutes and action records of high-level meetings and distribute these within appropriate timescales in accordance with procedures.
- To organise, plan and delegate work appropriately to ensure the provision of a high standard and efficient executive support service to senior management.
- To assist in the recruitment and selection of executive and committee support staff and other business support staff as required.
- To deputise for the Executive and Committee Support Manager when required, particularly at Board meetings.
- To provide occasional secretariat cover in the absence of the other Executive Support Officer.
- To provide occasional line management cover to the teams of the other Executive Support Officer and/or the Corporate Support Officer, in their absence.
- Within the scope of the ESO role, undertake such other duties as may be required.
People management
- Provide line management support to the team on a daily basis.
- Implement and monitor the Care Inspectorate’s performance development process and ensure that all line-managed employees have a Personal Development Plan.
- Promote the health, safety and wellbeing of employees, with responsibility for ensuring that the Care Inspectorate’s health and safety policies, procedures and practice and legislative requirements are met across the team.
- Carry out your duties in accordance with our Health and Safety policies, procedures, guidance, practices and legislative requirements, taking reasonable care for your safety and that of others who may be affected by what you do or fail to do while at work
- Effectively manage the attendance of staff within established policies and procedures to support Care Inspectorate attendance targets.
- Promote diversity, equality of opportunity, fairness, dignity and trust, ensuring that these principles are upheld across all areas of service delivery.
Relationship management
- Ensure productive and smooth working arrangements and protocols between staff delivering executive and committee support and all other Care Inspectorate employees.
- Develop and maintain constructive and co-operative working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective and efficient executive and committee support.
- Contribute to the continuous development of the Care Inspectorate and manage change effectively and creatively.
- Promote the principles of partnership working throughout the organisation and embrace this as the agreed way of working.
- Promote a positive and inclusive working environment which supports continuous professional development.
- To ensure effective communication of the Care Inspectorate's work with people who use care services, carers, relatives and advocates.
Other duties
This job description is a broad picture of the post at the date of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties, and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time. Consequently, the post holder will be required to carry out any other duties to the equivalent level that are necessary to fulfil the purpose of the job, and to respond positively to changing business needs.
Job profile
Job title: Corporate Support Officer
Location: Headquarters in Dundee
Responsible to: Executive and Committee Support Manager
Principal working contacts
- Executive and Committee Support Manager
- Executive Support Officers
- Strategic Management Group
- Heads of Service
- Corporate Senior Managers
- Employees of the Care Inspectorate
- External service providers
Job purpose
- Working closely with heads of service and senior managers to co-ordinate and provide an effective high quality business support service to corporate and core support functions of the Care Inspectorate.
- To line manage the Corporate Support team to ensure the provision of high-level business support
- To manage the reception service at headquarters in Dundee.
- Act as contract manager for low value contracts (less than £10k), liaising closely with the procurement team as and when required.
Key accountabilities
Strategic:
- To assist and support the Executive and Committee Support Manager in delivering a cohesive business support service for the Care Inspectorate and in driving a continuous improvement agenda.
- To manage the delivery of effective business support to the wider corporate teams for business needs.
Operational:
- To act as point of contact for heads of service and senior managers, assessing priorities, enquiries and requests as necessary.
- Organise, plan and delegate work appropriately to ensure the provision of high-level and efficient business support to the Care Inspectorate.
- Within the scope of the role, undertake projects from time to time.
- Approve expenditure in the Care Inspectorate’s financial system as part of delegated budget holder responsibilities.
- Be involved in the procurement of contracts for which the customer and business support function is responsible; this includes mail services, printing services and catering services.
- Monitor and review the services provided by contracted service providers
- Organise and attend meetings (including senior management meetings) as required to take accurate notes or minutes, and action records and to distribute these following the meetings.
- Assist in the recruitment and selection of business support staff.
- Ensure that all corporate support procedures and information systems are accurate and kept up-to-date.
- Assist in the provision of guidance, advice and support in relation to business support operational issues within the organisation.
- Deputise for the Executive and Committee Support Manager and undertake such other duties as may be required.
- Provide occasional line management cover to the teams of the Executive Support Officers, in their absence.
People management:
- To provide line management support to the corporate support team on a daily basis ensuring they are deployed in a way that delivers high quality administrative support across core functions of the Care Inspectorate.
- Implement and monitor the Care Inspectorate’s LEAD process and ensure that all team members are using the Learning Management System effectively to set goals and record one to one meetings.
- Promote the health, safety and welfare of employees, with responsibility for ensuring that the Care Inspectorate health and safety policies, procedures and practice and legislative requirements are met across the team.
- Carry out your duties in accordance with our Health and Safety policies, procedures, guidance, practices and legislative requirements, taking reasonable care for your safety and that of others who may be affected by what you do or fail to do while at work.
- Effectively manage the attendance of staff within established policies and procedures
- Promote diversity, equality of opportunity, fairness, dignity and trust, ensuring that these principles are upheld across all areas of service delivery.
Relationship management:
- Ensure productive and smooth working arrangements and protocols between staff delivering corporate support and all other Care Inspectorate employees.
- Develop and maintain constructive and co-operative working relationships with internal and external stakeholders and contractors.
- Contribute to the continuous development of the Care Inspectorate and manage change effectively and creatively.
- Promote the principles of partnership working throughout the organisation and embrace this as the agreed way of working.
- Promote a positive and inclusive working environment which supports continuous professional development.
- To ensure effective communication of the Care Inspectorate's work with people who use care services, carers, relatives and advocates.
Other duties
This job description is a broad picture of the post at the date of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time. Consequently the post holder will be required to carry out any other duties to the equivalent level that are necessary to fulfil the purpose of the job, and to respond positively to changing business needs.
Download the job profile in PDF format here.
Job profile
Job title: Business Support Assistant (Operations)
Responsible to: Business Support Officer (Operations)
Principle working contacts:
- Business Support Officers
- Business Support Managers
- Managers and employees of the Care Inspectorate
- External agencies/service providers/service users and carers
- Members of the public
Job purpose
To provide comprehensive business support to a range of operational teams and supporting functions within the organisation as appropriate.
In addition to provide practical support within Care Inspectorate offices and to staff within offices as appropriate, in line with Care Inspectorate policies and procedures.
Key accountabilities
- Provide business support to Care Inspectorate operational staff ensuring quality and consistency in line with organisational policies.
- Quality checking and formatting documentations in line with corporate style.
- Input, maintain and validate data and information within the Care Inspectorate digital/manual systems.
- Manage external stakeholder’s written and verbal enquiries/requests.
- Process requisitions, orders, invoices and fee payments, using appropriate financial records.
- Provide general office business support as required as part of the office team. This may include:
- Stationery management
- Supporting meetings and visitor attendance as appropriate within offices.
- Support Estates contractor visits as appropriate.
- Ad-hoc office based tasks when required.
- Carry out your duties in accordance with our Health and Safety policies, procedures, guidance, practices and legislative requirements, taking responsible care for your safety and that of others who may be affected by what you do or fail to do while at work.
Relationship management
- Ensure productive and smooth working arrangements and protocols with all internal and external stakeholders.
- Develop and maintain constructive and co-operative working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective and efficient business support.
- Work within hybrid teams including travel as required across Care Inspectorate offices/event attendance.
- Contribute to the continuous development of the Care Inspectorate and manage change effectively and creatively.
- Promote the principles of partnership working throughout the organisation and embrace this as the agreed way of working.
- Promote a positive and inclusive working environment which supports continuous professional development.
- To ensure effective communication of the Care Inspectorate's work with people who use care services, carers, relatives and advocates.
Other duties
This job description is a broad picture of the post at the date of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time.
Consequently the post holder will be required to carry out any other duties to the equivalent level that are necessary to fulfil the purpose of the job and to respond positively to changing business needs.
Subcategories
Inspector - Early Learning and Childcare (ELC)
The early learning and childcare expansion…
Role: Inspector - Early Learning and Childcare (ELC)
Location: Forth Valley, Borders, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, Edinburgh & Glasgow
Salary: £31,083 - £39,069 plus excellent benefits
Hours: 140 hours to be worked over a 4-week period
Contract: Permanent or 2-year secondment (would be considered)
Join us and make a difference – for you, for everyone
It’s our job to ensure care for everyone, everywhere in Scotland is as good as it can be. If you are as passionate about high-quality care as we are, and you’re experienced in your field, we’d love to hear from you.
About us
As a national scrutiny body that supports improvement. We inspect care services and partnerships across Scotland, report on the quality of care people experience, and support improvements in services to facilitate improvements in outcomes for people.
We inspect care services individually. We also work with other scrutiny bodies to inspect the social care and social work services people are experiencing in local areas.
We champion high-quality care whenever we encounter it across the thousands of inspections, we carry out each year, and we work closely with all care providers to support them to improve all the time. We collaborate with other organisations too, supporting improvement across public services. Our work plays a big role in reducing health and social inequalities between people and communities.
We are looking for talented people to join us in making a difference - specialists who understand how to put people’s needs, rights and choices at the heart of delivering social services – and how to lead improvement too. Our 600 staff work with services across the public, voluntary and private sectors. We have offices across Scotland and many of our staff work from home.
About you
Whether early or established in your career, you will share our determination that care, social work and justice services should work well for people – every time. You’ll be confident about what good-quality care looks like and how to deliver it. You’ll be good at analysing information and evidence. You will have excellent writing skills for narrative inspection reports that are clear, concise and focused on outcomes. You will be confident in working with a wide range of people and at supporting and advising on improvement.
You’ll currently be working, or have significant experience in, social care, social work, health, children’s services, early learning, child protection, or community learning and development. You will be registered or eligible to register with a professional body like the SSSC, NMC or GTC.
About the role
Our care inspectors work with care services: childminders, nurseries, care homes, care at home, housing support and a host of other specialist services. A specialist in your field, you may have helped lead a service and have a strong track record in delivering quality. You’ll be adept at leading improvement and influencing others. You will work with people experiencing care, and care service providers, managers and staff.
Why join us?
We strive to be a great employer, knowing that competitive salary, leave and pension schemes are only part of that. We pride ourselves on the values we hold, person-centred; fairness; respect; efficiency and integrity - all supported with a culture of care and kindness.
We believe in collective leadership and innovation. You’ll have a lot of autonomy to manage your own work and use the professional skills you’ve honed during your career – but in new ways. Starting on day one, our learning and development support will help you become confident in the craft of scrutiny and in supporting improvement. Because a lot of your role is about sharing effective practice across Scotland, the impact you can have on experiences and outcomes for people is significant. You will draw on management and leadership skills you’ve developed in the past.
We’re proud to be a progressive, supportive employer – we’re happy to talk about flexible working with you and we’re members of the Disability Confident Scheme, aiming to make the most of the talents disabled people can bring to the workplace.
New appointments will normally be placed on the minimum grade for the role; a higher starting salary may be offered in exceptional circumstances only.
ELC expansion
The Scottish Government is committed to expanding the provision of funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) from 600 hours to 1140 hours per year by 2020. The expansion of ELC is aimed to support the reduction in the poverty-related attainment gap and improve long term outcomes for children and families.
Due to the ELC expansion programme we are looking for 7 further ELC Inspectors in addition to the “business as usual” Inspector campaign launched recently.
Principles and aims
The priority for the expansion to 1140 hours is to improve children's outcomes and close the poverty-related attainment gap. In addition, the expansion aims to support parents into work, study or training. The Scottish Government's four principles of the ELC expansion are: quality, flexibility, affordability, and accessibility.
The Scottish Government has stated that quality is 'at the heart' of the expansion and that achieving a high-quality ELC experience for children is a key objective.
Use and provision
A 2018 survey found that the main reason why parents use funded ELC is that they consider it beneficial for their child's learning and development. In addition, parents reported using the funded hours to either work, increase the number of hours they work, or look for work.
Funded ELC in Scotland is delivered by a wide range of providers including nurseries, crèches and playgroups, from across the public, private and third sectors. A small number of childminders also deliver funded ELC, but the Scottish Government hopes this number will increase under the expansion to 1140 hours.
Criteria to apply
- We require you to hold a relevant qualification (minimum SCQF Level 9), register with either the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) or any other relevant professional body and undertake PVG checks.
- You must also be prepared to do a Professional Development Award in Scrutiny and Improvement (Social Services) at SCQF level 10 with appropriate support from the organisation.
- You will have a minimum of three years recent and demonstrable management experience in a relevant field. You must also be willing to travel with overnight stays as required.
Before you apply
- Please contact the relevant body directly to resolve any queries you have regarding registration or eligible qualifications for registration (SSSC, NMC and so on) before submitting your application.
- For an informal chat about the job role, please contact (Who?) You or Kim Connolly, Team Manager on 07766133161
- For all other queries, please contact Human Resources at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
To apply
- If you are interested, please see the minimum criteria to apply as an Inspector and the specific guidance and directions to apply. Thereafter, click on the gateway questions link to apply.
- Your completed application form (campaign number C39 only forms) and equal opportunities form should be returned to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.no later than Monday, 14 October 2019 at 8.00am.
- We anticipate that selection days will take place in the week commencing Monday, 18 November 2019.