Job profile

Published: 02 April 2024

Job title: Planning Manager

Responsible for: Planning Co-ordinator

Principal working contacts

  • Executive Director of Scrutiny and Assurance
  • Chief Inspectors
  • Service Managers
  • Team Managers
  • Strategic Inspectors
  • Inspectors
  • Business Support staff
  • Managers and employees of the Care Inspectorate
  • External agencies/service providers/service users and carers
  • Education Scotland

Job purpose

To manage and co-ordinate the delivery of national inspection planning across a wide range of social care services and services for children and adults to ensure that the Care Inspectorate makes the best use of its resources and performs effectively and efficiently as an independent scrutiny and improvement body.

Key responsibilities

Strategic management

  • In conjunction with the Chief Inspector, develop and manage systems and processes to support effective national inspection planning in order to meet corporate aims and objectives.
  • Build and maintain effective partnerships with Education Scotland, Healthcare Improvement Scotland and other scrutiny and improvement partners to support effective and efficient joint inspection planning.
  • In conjunction with the Chief Inspector develop and deliver strategies, action plans and targets for inspection planning in support of corporate aims and objectives.

Operational management

  • Manage and co-ordinate the effective and efficient delivery of scrutiny and improvement planning activity.
  • Manage and maintain scrutiny plans for the current year and draft plans for subsequent years, ensuring inspection planning activities are consistent with the Care Inspectorate’s objectives and targets.
  • Ensure that the provision of the inspection and capacity planning information is accurate, up-to-date and reliable for managers and staff throughout the organisation to support the planning and delivery of the Care Inspectorate’s scrutiny and improvement functions.
  • Plan and execute the strategic objectives for inspection planning systematically in alignment with the Care Inspectorate’s business objectives.
  • Promote continuous improvement in all aspects of inspection and capacity planning, including quality assurance and consistency of practice.
  • Participate in the recruitment and selection of staff as required.
  • Prepare and present reports to the Chief Inspector, Executive Director of Scrutiny and Assurance or Executive Team as required.
  • Deputise for the Chief Inspector and undertake such other duties as may be required by the Executive Director of Scrutiny and Assurance.

People management

  • Lead and manage a team, ensuring that they work effectively and efficiently to meet the aims, objectives and targets of Care Inspectorate.
  • Provide advice, guidance and support to team members through regular one-to-one supervision, performance development reviews and personal development plans to ensure continuous improvement in their work and support their personal and professional development.
  • Coordinate and monitor administrative support to the team
  • Promote consistent, high quality practice amongst team members, manage their performance and monitor their standards and behaviour.  
  • Promote the health, safety and welfare of staff in accordance with Care Inspectorate policies, procedures and guidance.
  • Promote diversity and equality of opportunity, ensuring that these principles are upheld across all areas of work.

Relationship management

  • As a manager, model corporate behaviour and demonstrate a strong commitment to organisational values.
  • Develop effective working relationships within the team and with managers and staff across the organisation ensuring effective collaborative and cross-directorate working.
  • Develop and maintain effective working relationships with partner scrutiny and improvement bodies and other key stakeholders.
  • Contribute to the continuous development of the Care Inspectorate and manage change effectively and creatively.
  • Promote the work of the Care Inspectorate and raise aware of its work in a positive manner.
  • Ensure effective working protocols in accordance with the Care Inspectorate’s Communications, Human Resources, Finance, IT and Operations function.
  • 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.
  • Ensure effective communication of the Care Inspectorate’s work with people who use care services, carers, relatives and advocates.

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.

Downloads: 1597

Thank you for your interest in this post

Published: 27 August 2021

Thank you for your interest in this post. 

Unfortunately you do not meet the essential qualification and registration requirements for the role and we are unable to take your application any further at this stage. 

Downloads: 1520

Person specification

Published: 27 June 2024

Job title: Transactions Assistant

Attributes

Experience

Essential

  • Previous administrative experience.
  • Operating within a busy environment.
  • Experience of communicating with the general public by telephone, letter and email.
  • Experience of working effectively to meet deadlines and achieve objectives.
  • Experience of managing and prioritising own workload.

Desirable

  • Experience of working with finance software.
  • Experience of working with internal and external contacts at all levels.
  • Demonstrate a successful track record within a similar role.
  • Advanced knowledge of all Microsoft Office applications.

Education, qualifications and training

Essential

  • Educated to Standard Grade level or equivalent (SCQF level 4/5).

Skills and knowledge

Essential

  • Thorough knowledge of Microsoft Excel and Word.
  • Understanding of financial controls and financial environment.
  • Use of office systems and procedures.
  • Concise and clear oral and written skills.
  • Excellent customer services skills.
  • Demonstrate an appreciation of the importance of attention to detail.
  • Effective organisational skills and time management, able to meet deadlines.
  • Effective administrative skills.
  • Excellent numeracy and communication skills.
  • Prioritise own workload under broad guidance.

Desirable

  • Ability to understand the limits of their knowledge and experience and when decisions need to be referred to others.
  • Database administration.
  • Advanced knowledge of all Microsoft Office applications.

Key performance outcomes 

Effective communication

Essential

  • Portrays a positive image of the Care Inspectorate/SSSC when communicating both inside the organisation and externally.
  • Selects appropriate communication, style and methods depending on the needs and abilities of the audience.
  • Listens actively to people, questions and checks understanding.

Planning and organisation

Essential

  • Uses a systematic approach to make efficient use of time and manage workload. 
  • Recognises the need to be flexible in order to meet changing priorities.
  • Prioritises work effectively to meet deadlines and objectives.

Flexibility

Essential

  • Demonstrates a flexible, positive approach to work.
  • Listens to feedback and ideas from people and will take appropriate and considered action.
  • Adapts well to change, adjusting priorities as required.
  • Understands where a flexible approach is required.

Team working

Essential

  • Remains tolerant and fair towards others, values diversity and is non-discriminatory in their actions.
  • Values and makes use of the skills, knowledge and experience of others.
  • Works co-operatively and supportively with others.

Personal accountability and responsibility

Essential

  • Takes responsibility for decisions and actions taken.
  • Maintains a high standard of work and actively seeks out continuous improvement.
  • Demonstrates initiative within own area of expertise.
  • Takes responsibility for identifying and addressing areas of personal and professional development.

Please note – these are key performance outcomes to be used to recruit into the role. Successful applicants will be assessed against all the performance indicators used in the Performance Development Review System once established in the role.

 

Downloads: 1470

Job profile

Published: 16 April 2024

Job title: Planning Coordinator         

Responsible to: Planning Manager

Principal Working Contacts

  • Head of Business Change
  • Executive Director of IT, Transformation & Digital
  • Chief Inspector (Strategic Scrutiny, Children’s, and Adults)
  • Chief Inspector (Children’s Services)
  • Chief Inspector (Adult Services)
  • Executive Director of Scrutiny & Assurance
  • Chief Inspector (Registration and Complaints)
  • Executive Director of Strategy and Improvement
  • Service Managers
  • Planning Manager
  • Inspectors / Strategic Inspectors
  • Managers and employees of the Care Inspectorate
  • External agencies/service providers/service users and carers
  • Education Scotland, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland

Job purpose

To coordinate the delivery of national inspection planning across a wide range of social care services and services for children and adults to ensure that the care inspectorate makes the best use of its resources and performs effectively and efficiently as an independent scrutiny and improvement body. 

Key responsibilities

Strategic management

  • In conjunction with the Planning Manager, develop and manage systems and processes to support effective national inspection planning to meet corporate aims and objectives.
  • In conjunction with the Planning Manager, develop and manage systems and processes to support effective and efficient deployment of resources for all the Care Inspectorate’s scrutiny and improvement functions.
  • Maintain effective partnerships with Education Scotland, Healthcare Improvement Scotland, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland and other scrutiny and improvement partners to support effective and efficient joint inspection planning.
  • Support the Planning Manager in formulating objectives, strategies, action plans and targets for inspection planning activity to ensure that these are achieved.

Operational management

  • Support and coordinate the efficient and effective delivery of scrutiny and improvement planning activity.
  • Support the management and maintenance of scrutiny plans for the current year and draft plans for subsequent years.
  • Promote continuous improvement in all aspects of inspection and capacity planning.
  • Support the Planning Manager with the preparation and presentation of reports for other senior managers.
  • Plan, coordinate, and maintain regulated care and strategic inspection plans and provide information as required to Care Inspectorate colleagues and scrutiny partners.
  • Deputise for the Planning Manager and undertake such other duties as may be required by the Planning Manager.

People management

  • In conjunction with the Planning Manager, manage and coordinate the work of the Planning Assistants on a day-to day basis and ensure they are deployed effectively and efficiently to meet the aims, objectives, and target of the Care Inspectorate.
  • Provide advice, guidance, and support to Planning Assistants through regular one-to-one supervision, performance development reviews and personal development plans to ensure continuous improvement in their work and to support their personal and professional development.
  • Promote consistent, high quality practice amongst staff, and manage the performance and monitor standards and consistency of practice of all employees delivering inspection planning activity.
  • Create and sustain a learning culture which promotes the development of employees to maximise their potential and contribution to meeting the organisation’s objectives.
  • 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 strong professional relationships with managers and staff across the organisation ensuring effective collaborative and cross directorate working.
  • Develop and maintain effective working relationships with partner scrutiny and improvement bodies and other key 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.
  • Ensure effective communication of the Care Inspectorate’s work with people who use care services, carers, relatives, and advocates.

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 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.

Downloads: 1375

Person specification

Published: 02 April 2024

Attributes

Essential

Desirable

Experience 

 

 

 

  • General experience of planning activities.
  • Significant experience of office management
  • Staff supervision, systems and processes
  • Workload planning, prioritisation and allocation

Experience of collaborative/ partnership working.

 

 

Education, qualifications and training 

  • Educated to standard grade level or equivalent.
  • Commitment to own CPD.

3 Higher Grades or equivalent.

HNC or equivalent.

Skills and knowledge

  • The ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in written form.
  • The ability to undertake performance and information analysis in order to formulate and implement strategies and actions effectively.
  • Capable of challenging current thinking in a positive and constructive way to develop new and innovative approaches to planning and improvement.
  • Ability to translate plans into action.
  • Effective negotiating and influencing skills
  • Demonstrate a broad level of knowledge of working within inspection/regulation of care and associated IT systems.
  • Demonstrate understanding of equality and diversity.
  • IT literate, demonstrating experience of IT systems and processes, using the most effective methods to communicate and manage information.

Understanding of project management

 

 


Key performance outcomes

Essential

Desirable

Leading others

  • Ability to provide leadership, a clear sense of purpose and direction to staff.
  • To effectively deploy staff and other resources to achieve corporate aims, objectives and targets.
  • Ability to ensure that the planning function conducts itself in accordance with the highest standards of integrity, probity and openness through the implementation of robust corporate governance. 

Demonstrates experience of delivering change and improvement at an operational level.

Management of resources

  • Ability to bring together the overall work of a team of staff and involve team members in decision-making.
  • Manage resources and budgets effectively and in accordance with Care Inspectorate’s corporate aims and objectives.
  • Delegates effectively to others.
  • Identifying skills and experience of individual staff and making the best use of resources.
  • The ability to adopt a flexible approach to competing priorities and changing circumstances and encourages and supports others to so.
  • Ability to drive continuous improvement
  • Applies rules and procedures sensibly. 

 

Effective communication

  • Articulate and positive communicator both in verbal and written communication skills.
  • Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely and adapt communication to suit different situations.
  • Ability to form constructive relationships with managers and staff at all levels of the organisation.
  • Ability to communicate effectively with external stakeholders and manage partnership arrangements effectively to secure positive outcomes/key deliverables. 

Good public speaking skills with ability to represent the Care Inspectorate at conferences, events.

 

Impact and influence

  • Demonstrates ability to influence at all levels.
  • Demonstrable ability of promoting, leading and implementing strategies and change programmes.
  • Evidence of building positive relationships, engaging and collaborating effectively with others internally and externally.
  • Demonstrates personal resilience, being able to work flexibly under pressure with stamina and tenacity to deliver results. 

Ability to take account of wider political and organisational sensitivities to deliver strategic objectives.

Objective decision making

  • The ability to assist the Chief Inspector to develop strategies and action plans with others, in line with corporate aims and objectives.
  • Demonstrates an analytical and systematic approach to problem solving.
  • Ability to make appropriate and realistic judgments, based on relevant, up to date and verifiable information
  • Ensures that team members have appropriate support, resources and authority levels to make decisions quickly and effectively.
  • Encourages and supports devolved decisions-making.
  • Considers the Care Inspectorate’s strategic vision, corporate aims and objectives and values in leading and managing others
  • Ability to take responsibility for difficult decisions and to remain resilient against possible criticism.

 

Downloads: 1284

Person specification

Published: 21 February 2025

Job title: Improvement Adviser


Attributes

Experience

Essential:

  • Experience of developing, delivering and evaluating Quality Improvement work.
  • Experience of developing and delivering learning to a variety of staff groups and care providers.
  • Significant experience of successfully leading innovation across health and social care.

Desirable:

  • Research experience.
  • Experience of working in or supporting Quality Improvement in Social Care.

Education, qualifications and training

Essential:

  • Qualifications or skills and experience at SCQF level 9 (e.g. degree, graduate diploma).
  • NES Scottish Improvement Leader (ScIL) or equivalent qualification in QI science / methodology or willingness to work toward this as a priority.
  • Commitment to own CPD.

Skills and knowledge

Essential:

  • Excellent interpersonal skills with an emphasis on support, negotiation, influence and diplomacy.
  • Ability to network and work together with key health and social care professionals in areas including Scottish Government, health boards, integration joint boards, health and social care partnerships and service providers in the statutory, independent and voluntary sector.
  • Understanding of the importance of the involvement of people experiencing care in the co-design and co-production of quality improvement initiatives.
  • Knowledge and experience in quality improvement in health and/ or social care.
  • Knowledgeable and skilled at using appropriate improvement approaches.
  • Good understanding of the social and political environment in which care services are provided to achieve change.
  • Self-motivation, confidence and ability to meet tight deadlines.
  • IT literate with the ability to analyse and interpret complex information.

Desirable:

  • Evidence of involvement and impact in work at a Scotland wide level including membership of national working groups.
  • Knowledge and experience of social care quality improvement.


Key performance outcomes

Quality improvement focus

Essential:

  • Have a proven track record in leading and/or supporting quality improvement projects/programmes and evaluating their impact.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of national quality improvement work across Scotland.

Desirable:

  • Research active.
  • Policy development.

Planning and organising

Essential:

  • Evidence of ability to prioritise effectively and achieve deadlines.
  • Ability to amend approaches in reaction to changing priorities, circumstances and conflicting demands.
  • Demonstrates analytical and systematic approach to problem solving.
  • Demonstrates initiative, drive and determination to complete tasks and achieve objectives.
  • Work is self-generated, planned and prioritised, identifying key issues, anticipating problems and initiating appropriate action to resolve them.
  • Able to work autonomously and independently.

Impact and influence

Essential:

  • Demonstrates ability to influence at all levels.
  • Ability to achieve results through relationships, negotiation, persuasion, and influence.
  • Ability to give credible and realistic advice, based on relevant, up to date and verifiable information.
  • Ability to lead change and bring people with you.

Effective communication

Essential:

  • Excellent oral, public speaking / presentation, and written communication skills.
  • Ability to support service providers to define, measure and achieve outcomes.
  • Ability to write clear reports and guidance documents.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills with the emphasis on support, negotiation, influence, and diplomacy.
  • Experience in devising and delivering development sessions.

Desirable:

  • Experience of speaking/presenting to small and large groups of people at all levels.

Working in partnership

Essential:

  • Work nationally and locally with a range of stakeholders.
  • Experience in working with others to devise and deliver development sessions.
  • Ability to lead or participate in multi-disciplinary and multi-agency working groups.
  • Ability to work co-operatively to achieve success.

Please note – these are key performance outcomes to be used to recruit into the role. Successful applicants will be assessed against all the performance indicators used in the Performance Development Review System once established in the role.

Downloads: 1259

Job profile

Published: 21 February 2025

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.

Downloads: 1247

Person specification

Published: 06 March 2025

Job title: Organisational and Workforce Development (OWD) Assistant


Attributes

Experience

Essential: 

  • Ability to plan and schedule events and activities.
  • Ability to work to deadlines.
  • Ability to prioritise workloads.
  • Experience of working as part of a team

Desirable:

  • Experience of working in an OD/ HR/ L&D function.
  • Events planning and co-ordination experience

Education, qualifications and training

Essential: 

  • Qualifications or skills and experience at SCQF Level 4/Level 5 (i.e. Standard Grades or National Qualifications).
  • Commitment to own CPD.

Desirable:

  • Qualifications or skills and experience at SCQF Level 9 (i.e. Degree in relevant subject).
  • CIPD qualified or working towards.

Skills and knowledge

Essential: 

  • Excellent organisational and planning skills
  • Ability to manage conflicting priorities and work to tight deadlines/prioritise workloads
  • Strong IT skills, with good working knowledge of all Microsoft Office packages
  • Strong communicator, both verbally and in written form.

Desirable:

  • Experience of using Cornerstone learning management system or other learning management systems
  • Working knowledge and understanding of OD/HR practices and key policies and procedures.

Key performance outcome

Effective communication

Essential: 

  • Demonstrate clear and concise verbal and written communication skills.
  • Ability to select appropriate communication style and methods depending on the needs and abilities of the audience.
  • Listens actively and questions to check understanding.

Team working

Essential: 

  • Ability to contribute to and support the work and decisions of the team.
  • Ability to work co-operatively and supportively with others.
  • Values and makes use of skills, knowledge and experience of others.

Improvement focus

Essential: 

  • Contributes to the development of new ideas, policies and procedures where appropriate.
  • Aware of trends and changes in processes and procedures and keeps own knowledge and skills up to date.
  • Seeks opportunities for learning and personal development.

Personal accountability and responsibility

Essential: 

  • Maintains a high standard of work, ensuring attention to detail, actively seeking out continuous improvement.
  • Demonstrates initiative within own area of expertise.
  • Takes responsibility for own actions and decisions.

Working in partnership

Essential: 

  • Openly shares information as and when appropriate, maintaining confidentiality as appropriate.
  • Respects others, recognises and values differences and diversity.
  • Keeps others information of progress of work plan, targets, etc.

Please note – these are key performance outcomes to be used to recruit into the role. Successful applicants will be assessed against all the performance indicators used in the Performance Development Review System once established in the role.

Downloads: 1216

Subcategories

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.