How we recruit inspectors
We are currently recruiting inspectors for adult services and early learning and childcare servies. Find out more from the job adverts here.
How we recruit inspectors
Our inspector recruitment process also follows the same model as our other roles with the addition of a two-step selection stage, detailed below.
Selection assessment 1
If you’re shortlisted, we’ll invite you to complete our online selection assessment. This is a written exercise designed to test your potential to be an inspector.
Selection assessment 2
If you successfully complete the online assessment, you’ll be invited to attend an interview and to speak to your written exercise response on how you would give feedback.
If you’re successful at this stage, we’ll let you know and confirm next steps. We’ll either confirm you’re the preferred candidate for a suitable vacancy (based on your specialism and location) or you’ll be invited to join our talent pool for future vacancies.
For more information about our talent pool please see the FAQs below.
FAQs about inspector recruitment
What qualifications do I need to become an inspector?
To become an inspector, you must be registered with, or able to register, and hold a qualification that meets the registration requirements of one of these regulatory bodies:
- Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC)
- General Teaching Council (Scotland) (GTC)
- Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
- General Medical Council (GMC) Health and Care Professions Council (applies to the following roles only: occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists and practitioner psychologists)
- Other equivalent professional bodies for the UK nations
Inspectors eligible to apply for registration with the SSSC must hold a suitable practice qualification at SCQF level 9. For more information on the list of suitable qualifications please see the section below.
Inspectors must also hold or undertake one of these appropriate regulator's awards:
- Regulation of Care Award
- PDA Scrutiny and Improvement Practice (Social Services) SCQF level 10
Qualifications that meet the Scottish Social Service Council’s (SSSC) registration requirements
SCSWIS authorised officer – Care Inspectorate inspector (primary and secondary officer)
There are two qualification requirements
1. Practice
2. Regulatory
Practice qualifications
BA Childhood Practice
Postgraduate Diploma in Childhood Practice
BA Social Pedagogy (University of Aberdeen)
BA (Hons) Social Work (or equivalent)
PDA Childhood Practice at SCQF Level 9
SVQ Social Services and Healthcare at SCQF Level 9
SVQ Social Services (Children and Young People) at SCQF Level 9
Regulatory qualifications
PDA Scrutiny and Improvement Practice (Social Services)
Regulation of Care Award (ROCA)
European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM)
Practice qualifications we also accept
SVQ 4 Children's Care Learning and Development at SCQF Level 9
SVQ 4 Health and Social Care at SCQF Level 9
Qualification meeting requirements of other regulatory bodies (practice requirement)
A qualification meeting the registration requirements for the following professional groups regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council:
• occupational therapists
• physiotherapists
• speech and language therapists
• practitioner psychologists.
A qualification meeting the registration requirements of the General Teaching Council (Scotland), Nursing and Midwifery Council or the General Medical Council
Degree/Diploma in Community Education as recognised by the Standards Council for Community Learning and Development for Scotland Approvals Committee
Qualifications which are no longer available, but we continue to accept (regulatory requirement)
Public Service Improvement Framework (PSIF)
If you have not found the information you need about your qualification and SSSC registration, please contact the SSSC using the web form on their contact us page.
What experience do I need to become an inspector
To become an inspector, we need you to have senior professional experience, expertise and knowledge of adult social care or health care, early learning and childcare or children and young people sectors.
You should also have experience of lead responsibility for complex professional practice through case management, managing people, projects or resources. We welcome applications from candidates with these professional backgrounds.
What support will I get to maintain my professional registration?
Maintaining your registration with your professional body is a core requirement for all inspectors. To support this, we’ll provide you with access to a range of learning activities for your continuing professional and personal development. Our learning management system automatically records all of your learning and we’ll support your re-validation with your professional body. You’ll also participate in regular supervision and peer learning activities through our LEAD (learn, experience, achieve and development) performance and development process.
All inspectors are also expected to undertake our Professional Development Award in Scrutiny and Improvement (Social Services) at SCQF level 10.
What is the salary and grade for the role of inspector?
The role is on an Inspector grade 7. Starting salaries are non-negotiable and all new staff start on the grade minimum for their role. Please see the current starting salary on the advert for the current recruitment campaign.
Following six months service, you will receive an annual increment on 1 April each year until you reach the top of the grade.
How much flexibility is there in terms of working hours and location?
Our inspectors work flexibly and you’ll work 140 hours over each four week period. This equates to 35 hours per week.
We have offices across Scotland and we support a range of flexible working arrangements including homeworking and hybrid working.
Once I apply, how long will it be before my application is considered?
We accept applications from prospective inspectors all throughout the year. We have two recruitment periods each year and your application will be considered during the next recruitment period, following your application submission.
How long does the selection process take?
Our selection process is based on a two-stage assessment. Depending on the volume of applications we receive, we aim to complete each recruitment period within three months of the adverts closing date. Our recruitment team will communicate regularly throughout the recruitment period to ensure you’re up to date on the status of your application and you have all of the information you need to participate in our selection process.
What happens after I've been offered a role?
We’ll carry out pre-employment checks so we can confirm your offer of employment. These include:
- proof of ID / right to work in the UK
- two successful references, where one is from your current or most recent employer
- a PVG check
- occupational health questionnaire and referrals where appropriate
- registration and qualifications check
Once all checks are complete, we’ll agree a start date and formally confirm your offer of employment by providing you with a contract outlining your terms and conditions.
I've been invited to join the inspector talent pool. What does this mean?
If you successfully complete our selection process, we’ll either confirm you’re the preferred candidate for a suitable vacancy (based on your specialism and location) or you’ll be invited to join our talent pool for future vacancies.
Our talent pool is our bank of candidates who have successfully completed the inspector selection process and are available to be appointed to suitable vacancies, based on their specialism and location.
As a member of our talent pool, you’ll be a valued candidate and we’ll:
- monitor and identify suitable vacancies that we can offer you based on your specialism and location
- share regular updates about our vacancies, recruitment plans and other relevant Care Inspectorate news.
You don’t need to reapply for future inspector vacancies for up to two years.
Unfortunately, depending on our vacancies, we may not always be in a position to offer a role to all talent pool candidates.
If you would like to chat to us about our recruitment process or a particular job, please get in touch with our HR team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Job profile
Job title: Inspector
Location: Local / nearest office base
Responsible to: Team manager
Job overview
Our inspectors have a vital role to ensure that people in Scotland who need care, receive high quality, safe and compassionate care. They are responsible for assuring and improving the quality of care for people who use care services by determining and undertaking appropriate scrutiny, assurance and improvement activities.
Our values
Our values are about clearly establishing what it means to be a Care Inspectorate employee and set the standard for every person and how they play their part. Our values are:
- Person-centred: we will put people at the heart of everything we do
- Fairness: we will act fairly, be transparent and treat people equally
- Respect: we will be respectful in all that we do
- Integrity: we will be impartial and act to improve care for the people of Scotland
- Efficiency: we will provide the best possible quality and public value from our work
- Equality: we will promote and advance equality, diversity and inclusion in all our work and interactions
Key responsibilities
- Plan and deliver timely and high-quality scrutiny activities of registered services aligned with the Public Services Reform Act.
- Provide feedback, report on findings and work with providers to support improvement and innovation and signpost good practice.
- Apply specialist knowledge and skills to gather, analyse, assess and share information and intelligence on care services and service providers to help target scrutiny and improvement activities.
- Apply specialist knowledge, skills and expertise to authoritatively and credibly provide advice and guidance to service providers and their staff to support continuous improvement in the quality of care they deliver.
- Work in partnership with people who use services, family carers, scrutiny delivery and policy partners to act as a catalyst for change and innovation and promote the Health and Social Care Standards and good practice guidance.
- Support the strategic scrutiny activities of adult or children’s services or shared scrutiny activities with other scrutiny bodies as required.
- Support enforcement activities, attending legal hearings or other types of constituted hearings to give evidence or advice.
- Produce evaluative reports, within required timescales, to include clear evidence-based outcomes that direct and contribute to improvements in the care and protection of service users.
- Work collaboratively and effectively with a range of stakeholders, including partner scrutiny bodies and Scottish Government staff and officials.
- Participate in supervision arrangements, team meetings, appraisal and learning and development as required and appropriate.
- Provide relationship management support to allocated providers.
- Take a lead role on designated projects and other initiatives that require specialist knowledge, expertise and experience.
- Support the induction of new start inspectors and colleagues through peer learning and other learning and development activities within your team and directorate.
- Participate in and support quality assurance activities of the work of the care inspectorate.
- Work flexibly to meet the needs of the business and the availability of providers (for example evening and weekend working and travel and overnight stays across Scotland, where required).
- Undertake such other duties as may be required by the organisation to fulfil the role of Inspector.
Key accountabilities
- Ensure accurate records of all registered services are prepared and maintained, and share intelligence, in accordance with the requirements and procedures of the Care Inspectorate.
- Maintain a high standard of records in relation to work undertaken, producing reports, letters and instructions.
- Work to relevant professional codes of practice and ensure national occupational standards are achieved.
- Follow processes and duties relating to enforcement action against registered services
- Build and maintain productive working relationships, both internally and externally with providers and partners.
- Share and maintain knowledge and understanding of current developments in your specialist area (early learning and childcare, adults or children and young people).
- Participate in all learning and development activities relevant to your role, including the professional development award (PDA) and/ or other qualifications as deemed necessary.
- Maintain professional registration with the relevant professional regulatory body.
- Meet performance management indicators and performance management objectives of the organisation as relevant to your role.
The Promise
Our commitment to The Promise
Playing our part to deliver on The Promise by 2030 is an important part of our organisation’s strategic objectives.
The Promise is the work of change that intends to strengthen Scotland’s care system to become more caring and collaborative.
It outlines the belief that, to do this, children’s services across Scotland need to transform. This process of transformation must be built on the experiences, views and voices of children and young people at its core.
As we outline in our corporate plan, we want babies, children, young people, and their families to
- experience high quality, trauma informed, compassionate care and support
- have improved holistic outcomes (enabled by the services which support them)
- feel that their voices are heard in decision making about them and that their rights have been protected, respected and realised.
We are aligning our current and future organisational activity with the messages of the Promise in how we regulate in support of babies, children and young people on the edges of care and with care experience. Our existing work in the areas of participation, equalities, United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and corporate parenting is mutual and complementary to this.
In applying national best practice and upholding the Health and Social Care standards we are keeping the Promise.
We are implementing an organisational Promise Development Model across 6 workstreams (3 internally facing and 3 externally facing). This is helping each of us working on behalf of children to reflect and act, individually and collectively on ‘What does the Promise mean for me in my role in the Care Inspectorate?’ Internally we are applying Promise thinking across our methodology, participation and learning and development activities. Externally we are working to ensure that we can contribute to the evidence and influence needed to enable national transformational change through the lens of our scrutiny and assurance role and in collaboration with other scrutiny bodies.
Image: Our Promise implementation model.
As part of our Promise commitment we have signed the national trauma leadership pledge and appointed four senior leaders as internal Trauma Champions. Here is what our Trauma Champions said.
Context
We are working to fulfil our commitments to Promise Change Programme ONE. This programme of work follows on from Plan 21-24, which mapped and sequenced the calls to action from the Independent Care Review’s conclusions, identifying five priority actions.
We are a key partner in several areas of this detailed programme.
Our work with partners
The Promise has recommended comprehensive change to how care and support for children and young people is commissioned and provided. It also recommended improvements in how we regulate and inspect our current system.
It is one of the big drivers of change for us.
We are shaping our scrutiny practice across service level regulation, strategic inspection and quality improvement, to ensure that our focus is on hearing and acting on what children and their families tell us makes a positive difference to children’s experience of care.
This work involves creating a common understanding, value base and approach across scrutiny and regulation in Scotland.
We are committed to working collaboratively with our partner external regulators and other scrutiny bodies to:
- improve access to early preventative help for children on the edges of care
- improve support for care experienced children and young people
- lower barriers to employment caused by bureaucratic approaches to regulation
- counter discrimination.
For more information on #KeepingthePromise at the Care Inspectorate please contact:
Aileen Nicol
Children’s strategic inspector and Promise Lead
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Safe Staffing Adviser
Role: Safe Staffing Adviser – Safe Staffing Programme
Location: Any Care Inspectorate office (hybrid working is currently trialled)
Salary: £45,102 - £49,881 plus excellent benefits
Hours: 140 hours over 4 weeks
Contract: Temporary / Secondment until 31 March 2024
About us
We are the national regulator and scrutiny body responsible for providing assurance and protection for people who experience care services, their families, carers and the wider public, as well as supporting delivery partners to improve the quality of care for people in Scotland. Our vision is that people across Scotland experience high quality care that meets their needs, rights and choices. We are a scrutiny body that supports improvement. We inspect individual care services and we also work with other scrutiny bodies to inspect the social care and social work services people are experiencing in their local areas.
About the role
The Health & Care (Staffing) (Scotland) 2019 legislation will impact on social care services that support children and adults when it is enacted in April 2024.
We are commissioned by Scottish Government to promote safe, high-quality services and appropriate staffing across all social care settings. We are looking to recruit Safe Staffing Advisers to join our Safe Staffing Programme.
The programme team works with key partners to provide support to care services, and the Care Inspectorate, in preparation for changes to the statutory basis for the provision of appropriate staffing in all care settings.
We are looking for experienced, enthusiastic and highly motivated social care professionals to support this national programme. If you are passionate about supporting quality improvement for people experiencing or working in care services, we want to hear from you.
About you
You will bring an improvement perspective, be confident and have the ability to build relationships and influence others.
Educated to degree level, you will have experience of working within children or adult care services. The diversity of our work requires an adaptable approach that can be applied to any setting including early learning and childcare, children and young people and adult services.
You will also have experience in successfully using improvement tools and methods and have excellent communication skills.
You will be experienced in developing, supporting and delivering learning to a variety of groups and individuals is preferable.
You understand the importance of involving people experiencing care in quality improvement initiatives.
To apply
You’ll find more information in the job profile and person specification.
If you would like any further information, or an informal chat, please contact Stephanie Thom, Programme Team Lead via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Please download and complete an application form and an equalities monitoring form and return by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by no later than 8am on Monday 5 June 2023.
It is anticipated that interviews will take place on Wednesday 21 June 2023.
Transactions Assistant
Role: Transactions Assistant
Location: Flexible – Any Care Inspectorate office (Expectation to work from the Dundee office for your 40% office collaboration per week and for office-based tasks)
Hours: 35 hours per week
Salary: £27,696 - £30,357
Contract: Temporary to 31 March 2025
About us
We are the independent scrutiny and improvement support body for social care and social work services in Scotland. We provide assurance for people who experience care services, their families, carers and the wider public, as well as supporting delivery partners to improve the quality of care for people in Scotland. Our vision is for world-class social care and social work in Scotland, where everyone in every community experience high-quality care, support and learning, tailored to their rights, needs and wishes.
We inspect individual care services, and we also work with other scrutiny bodies to inspect the social care and social work services people are experiencing in their local areas.
Our desire is to achieve an effective and balanced way of working, that enables us to meet organisational needs and achieve a work-life balance that promotes wellbeing and collaboration opportunities. We are moving towards the expectation that all staff will work collaboratively, within and across teams, in person, for approximately 40% of their working week.
About the role
A temporary opportunity has arisen within the Care Inspectorate team that provides services to the Scottish Social Services Council.
As a member of the team, you will undertake a range of general administrative tasks to support the Transactions Manager. Duties will include processing invoices in the financial system, raising purchase orders, providing administrative support in collating banking, receipting income, receipting payments and services and responding to enquiries received.
About you
To succeed in this role, you will:
- Understand financial controls and financial environment
- Have excellent customer service skills and telephone manner
- Provide a range of administration and clerical support to a high standard including database administration
- Organise, process, record and file information and correspondence both electronically and manually
- Be accurate and show attention to detail
- Have a thorough knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel
- Maintain high standards of confidentiality
- Work flexibly as part of a team to support the organisation
Experience of using Oracle financial system and knowledge of debt recovery is desirable.
Next steps
You’ll find more information in the job profile and person specification.
For an informal chat about the role, please contact the Transactions Manager, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
If you believe that your expertise and motivation, make you suitable for this post, please download and complete an application form and return by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by no later than 08.00 on Monday 15 July 2024. Please also complete the equal opportunities form and return this along with your application.
The interviews for this post will be no earlier than 23 July 2024.
Information Governance Analyst
Job title: Information Governance Analyst
Salary: £38,931 – £43,014
Hours: 35 hours per week
Location: Flexible (Any Care Inspectorate office)
Contract: Permanent
About us
We are the national regulator and scrutiny body responsible for providing assurance and protection for people who experience care services, their families, carers and the wider public, as well as supporting delivery partners to improve the quality of care for people in Scotland. Our vision is that people across Scotland experience high quality care that meets their needs, rights and choices.
We are a scrutiny body that supports improvement. We inspect individual care services and we also work with other scrutiny bodies to inspect the social care and social work services people are experiencing in their local areas.
Our desire is to achieve an effective and balanced way of working, that enables us to meet organisational needs and achieve a work-life balance that promotes wellbeing and collaboration opportunities. Our hybrid working policy gives you the flexibility to mix working from home with attendance at your base office and other work locations, spending no more than 60% of your working time working from home, measured over a 4-week period.
Starting salary
Please bear in mind that new entrants start on the grade minimum for the role. However, we have a generous benefits package which you will find on our website.
About the role
Information Governance sits at the heart of everything the Care Inspectorate does. The successful candidate will work with the team to support the operation and provision of the core information governance function which includes:
- Analysing, drafting and responding to external enquiries relating to Freedom of Information Scotland Act (FOISA), Information Rights (DPA 2018) and other information requests.
- Analysing, drafting and responding to internal enquiries regarding Data Protection and Information & Records Management relating to Care Inspectorate operational matters and business support practices.
- Supporting key transformational project work providing advice and guidance on Data protection and Records & Information Management.
In addition, the Information Governance Analyst will support the provision of, timely advice on Data Protection; acting as the Deputy Data Protection Officer and being able to interpret and make recommendations on Data Protection Law.
About you
You should be educated to SCQF level 9 or have the relevant skills and experience and knowledge of legal processes related to information governance and/or record management.
The successful candidate will hold a degree in a relevant subject, such as a Law Degree, or be able to demonstrate a successful track record over a minimum of two years in a similar role.
Working knowledge of the Data Protection Act 2018 and Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act (FOISA) 2002 is essential. Working Information & Records management knowledge is an advantage as is an understanding of O365 and SharePoint.
The successful individual will be part of a busy team that deals with members of the public, Care Inspectorate colleagues, and senior managers. Be able to analyse information and prepare statistical reports, have excellent communication and organisational skills with an ability to remain calm under pressure.
Next steps
You’ll find more information in the job profile and person specification.
If you would like more information please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., otherwise, we can arrange a time for an informal chat about the role with Janice Morgan-Singh (Information Governance Lead & Data Protection Officer).
If you believe that your skills, experience and motivation make you a suitable candidate for this post, complete the online application form by 08:00 on Monday 31 March 2025.
It is anticipated that interviews will be held no sooner than 17 April 2025 at our Dundee office.
Information Analyst
Role: Information Analyst
Location: Flexible – any Care Inspectorate office
Salary: £38,553 to £42,597
Hours:35 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
About us
We are the national regulator and scrutiny body responsible for providing assurance and protection for people who experience care services, their families, carers and the wider public, as well as supporting delivery partners to improve the quality of care for people in Scotland. Our vision is that people across Scotland experience high quality care that meets their needs, rights and choices.
We are a scrutiny body that supports improvement. We inspect individual care services, and we also work with other scrutiny bodies to inspect the social care and social work services people are experiencing in their local areas.
Our desire is to achieve an effective and balanced way of working, that enables us to meet organisational needs and achieve a work-life balance that promotes wellbeing and collaboration opportunities. We are moving towards the expectation that all staff will work collaboratively, within and across teams, in person, for approximately 40% of their working week.
Starting salary
Please bear in mind that new entrants start on the grade minimum for the role. However, we have a generous benefits package which you will find on our website.
About the role
This is a national role, and an opportunity to use your analytical and data skills and experience to make a real difference for people using care services across Scotland. This might include analysing data from numerous internal and external sources to produce insightful intelligence that in turn helps our inspectors target their work; setting up and automating dashboards of management information; or preparing major statistical publications in line with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics. You will be confident manipulating and interrogating large volumes of raw data, using a variety of software and analytical techniques, and have an eye for detail when it comes to data quality.
About you
You should be educated to SCQF Level 9 (with a subject that includes a significant numerical component). You will ideally have a background in business intelligence, data science, data analysis, operational research, intelligence analysis or data analysis. You will be familiar with business intelligence software (Power BI, Tableau etc.) and proficient in a relevant programming language (SAS, SQL, Python or R etc.). You will be expected to work with colleagues at all levels in the Care Inspectorate therefore must have good interpersonal skills and be capable of conveying complex findings clearly both verbally and in writing. Excellent IT and analytical skills are a pre-requisite, enabling you to manage and analyse large amounts of data and present complex information in a meaningful way.
To apply
You’ll find more information in the job profile and person specification.
If you would like more information or an informal chat about the role, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.t or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
If you believe that your skills, experience and motivation make you a suitable candidate for this post, please download and complete an application form and equal opportunities form and return both to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 08:00 Monday 26 August 2024.
Interviews and assessments will take place at our Dundee office no earlier than 6 September 2024.
Business Support Assistants
Job title: Business Support Assistants
Location: Flexible (Any Care Inspectorate office)
Salary: £24,561 to £27,171
Hours: 35 hours per week
Contact: Permanent and Temporary
About us
We are the national regulator and scrutiny body responsible for providing assurance and protection for people who experience care services, their families, carers and the wider public, as well as supporting delivery partners to improve the quality of care for people in Scotland. Our vision is that people across Scotland experience high quality care that meets their needs, rights and choices.
We are a scrutiny body that supports improvement. We inspect individual care services, and we also work with other scrutiny bodies to inspect the social care and social work services people are experiencing in their local areas.
Our desire is to achieve an effective and balanced way of working, that enables us to meet organisational needs and achieve a work-life balance that promotes wellbeing and collaboration opportunities. We are moving towards the expectation that all staff will work collaboratively, within and across teams, in person, for approximately 40% of their working week.
Starting salary
New entrants will start on the grade minimum for the role. However, we have a generous total rewards package, which you can find more about on our website.
About the role
We are excited to recruit motivated individuals to provide comprehensive business support in various Business Support Teams across our organisation. We have several temporary and permanent roles and have offices all over Scotland. Some of our posts will require a more office based approach depending on the function and duties associated within a team, in particular at our Dundee Headquarters.
You will support different parts of our organisation performing a range of administrative duties as well as advice and guidance to colleagues across the organisation. As well as being part of a small team you will be part of the wider organisational business support department which supports a range of administrative functions. You will also need to undertake wider general administrative duties and tasks as part of the office you will be based in as appropriate. Duties will be varied and may include reception cover, filing, word processing, data input, and general administrative duties. You will be proficient in adapting to various bespoke databases.
About you
We are looking for organised individuals who have good attention to detail, are customer-focused and enjoy working in a busy environment and within supportive teams. You will have a positive attitude and be keen to develop your skills and take on new challenges.
Successful candidates will demonstrate experience and a successful record of accomplishment within a similar role and be educated to SCQF level 5.
The successful individuals will have:
- A good working knowledge of Microsoft packages to include O365, Outlook; MS Forms; Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
- A flexible, positive approach to work.
- Ability to react to changing priorities and to prioritise conflicting demands.
- Ability to forward plan and prevent any operational difficulties.
- Excellent organisational skills.
- Ability to work on your own initiative and prioritisation of workload.
In addition, it would be preferable to have experience of working with a range of external and internal contacts at various levels of an organisation and social care sector experience.
To apply
You’ll find more information in the job profile and person specification.
If you require any further information or for an informal chat, please contact Alison Allan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. in the first instance.
You can visit our website to see the benefits of working with us including information on our offices across Scotland.
If you believe that your ability and motivation, make you suitable for this post, please complete our online application by no later than 08:00 on Monday 26 August 2024.
It is expected that interviews for this post will take place no earlier than 16 September 2024
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.