Strategic Data Officer

Job title: Strategic Data Officer

Salary: £30,495 – £31,740

Location: Flexible (Any Care Inspectorate office)

Contract: Temporary until 31st July 2025

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

This is a national role and an exciting opportunity for a motivated and enthusiastic individual to use their current IT skills and develop new analytical and data skills to make a real difference for people experiencing care across Scotland. You will support the Intelligence team in delivering key analytical support to our strategic inspection programmes, working closely with a multi-disciplinary team of Care Inspectorate colleagues and those from external agencies.

You will support the Intelligence team in providing an analytical function throughout the inspection process through the improvement and maintenance of data collection tools and by identifying and summarising key inspection findings and preparing accurate statistical reports for a range of internal and external audiences.

About you

You should be educated to SCQF level 7.

The Intelligence Team will offer training and support for the specialist software and skills required for this role. However, you will need to be confident working with raw data and comfortable working with Microsoft Excel. The successful candidate will pay close attention to detail in order to clean and validate data and identify opportunities to improve data quality.

As well as having good literacy skills, you will have an aptitude for working with facts and figures to a high degree of accuracy. Excellent IT skills are a pre-requisite, enabling you to present complex information in a meaningful way.

You will be expected to work with colleagues across the Care Inspectorate and other external organisations, and so must have excellent interpersonal skills and be prepared to develop a sound understanding of the inspection data to respond effectively to the requirements of the role.

Next steps

You’ll find more information in the job profile and person specification.

For an informal discussion about the above posts, please contact Francesca Colaco by email at 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 complete the online application form by 08:00 on Monday 9 December 2024. CVs will not be accepted.

It is anticipated that interviews will be held Wednesday 18 December 2024 at our Dundee office.

Information Governance Lead

Job title: Information Governance Lead

Salary: £55,530 to 61,314

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. 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

We are looking for a talented and experienced person to provide leadership in information governance and assurance, both internally and externally, ensuring our data protection, records management and wider information governance work is of high quality.

The post holder will provide the Care Inspectorate with leadership in information governance and assurance, internally & externally. They will be the prime source of expert advice and policy development, to create and maintain high level awareness, profile and understanding of the strategic and operational importance of information governance.

About you

You will play a key role in ensuring that the Care Inspectorate meets its statutory and legal obligations and be the prime source of expert advice and policy development to create and maintain high level awareness, profile and understanding of the strategic and operational importance of information governance. You will be capable of acting as a Data Protection Officer as defined under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018 and Data Protection Act 2018.

You will be responsible for overseeing important change programmes in how we manage, use and share information. We need applicants who are ambitious and motivated with a “can do” attitude.

You will be able to demonstrate considerable working experience in Information Governance. You will have excellent communication skills and an ability to engage with and understand the information needs of different audience types.

You’ll be able to support, develop and line manage staff, and have experience in data analysis, interpretation and management reporting.

We would welcome someone qualified as a solicitor, but that’s certainly not essential: your core skill may be in data protection or records management. Either way, you will have a detailed understanding of the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation, Freedom of Information Act and other information-related legislation and regulations, with practical experience of helping organisations meet these requirements.

You will have the ability to liaise with internal groups, external partners and system suppliers to ensure IG requirements of projects, information systems and day-to-day operations are met.

Next steps

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 Ewan Stewart at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

If you believe that you are a suitable candidate for this post, please download and complete an application form and submit it by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 08:00 on Monday 29 July 2024.

Please also complete the equal opportunities form and submit along with your application.

It is anticipated that interviews will be held in person at our Dundee Office during week of 12 August 2024.

Total rewards package

We offer an excellent total rewards package - it’s a comprehensive and strategic approach to employee compensation and benefits, that aligns with the Care Inspectorates’ aims. It encompasses various elements that will contribute to your overall employee experience, including compensation, benefits, work-life balance, and development.

Competitive salary

We offer competitive salaries for each job role with incremental pay progression for most roles. Salaries are reviewed annually and reward skills, qualifications and contributions to the Care Inspectorate’s success. New entrants will normally start on the minimum of the pay range.

Continuous service

Continuous service is recognised either where there are no breaks in service or if there is a break, it does not exceed 7 calendar days.

Continuous service is currently recognised with the following employers for the purpose of calculating statutory entitlements e.g. notice periods and redundancy entitlements: Local Authorities, National Health Service and all employers listed on the Redundancy Payments (Continuity of Employment in Local Government, etc) (Modification) Order 1999 (as amended).

Continuous service with the following sectors in addition to the above, is currently recognised for the purposes of calculating entitlements to occupational sick pay, maternity leave and annual leave: further and higher education sector and the voluntary and private providers of the care sector.

Hours of work

We have a standard working week of 35 hours for all employees and managers and 40 hours for senior manager roles. Inspectors work 140 hours over each 4-week period.

Flexible working

We have several policies in place that support flexible working and time off when you need it, such as flexitime, flexible hours, carers leave and special leave.  Most of our people work flexibly and value how this supports their work-life balance. 

Our flexitime system gives you the flexibility to temporarily change your times of work each day to meet your personal requirements. 

We welcome discussions on flexible working, as it enhances talent, engagement, performance, and retention while supporting our equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) goals. With guidance from Working Families and the Government’s Flexible Working Taskforce, we aim to design roles that prioritise flexibility.

Hybrid working

You’ll be able to work from home and the office, as part of our hybrid working approach. 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 expect all staff to work in person for at least 40% of their working time. This is two days a week for those on a standard 35 or 40 hour contract.

Annual leave

You’ll receive a generous 37 days annual leave (after five years’ service) as well as six fixed public holidays. Also, our offices are closed over the Christmas period!

Family focussed

We have a family friendly policies in place including maternity, adoption and shared parental leave. We also aim to create a supportive working environment for carers in the workplace.

Wellbeing

Should you become ill or be unable to work due to an injury we will continue to pay sick pay for authorised periods of absence dependent on your level of service allowing you to focus on getting better.

We supply an employee assistance programme, supplying unlimited access to a range of specialist support and information on finances, relationships, health, legal and family care.

We also offer a wide range of wellbeing initiatives, including specialist webinars, counselling, and a listening service. 

Employee development

We are committed to the development and learning of all our staff. Everyone takes part in regular supervision through our LEAD (learn, experience, achieve and development) performance and development process. We provide training and support so you’ll be the best you can be and provide opportunities to learn, develop and share your skills and experience with others.

• Secondments - Secondments help develop and nurture talent and help colleagues to reach their full potential. We offer three types of secondment opportunities: 1. Internal assignment, where existing Care Inspectorate employees undertake work for a fixed period that is not their usual job. 2. Incoming secondment, where a person comes from another organisation to fill a post. 3. Outgoing secondment, where a Care Inspectorate employee undertakes work for another organisation.
• Career Breaks - Your circumstances may change, for a variety of reasons, and you may need to take time out or take up another development opportunity. Our Career Break Policy allows eligible employees to take an unpaid break, of between six months and two years. Our career break scheme enables employees to take an extended period of unpaid leave and provides a guaranteed return to work later.

Travel expenses

We have access to a nationwide network of offices. Where your role includes travel, you will be able to claim up to 45 per mile (per the policy) and subsistence allowances where you must stay overnight. Overnight stays and public transport bookings (which are preferable) can be made and paid in advance by the organisation.

Saving schemes

My Lifestyle provides our cycle to work and childcare voucher schemes along with discounts to a huge range of retailers including supermarkets, restaurants, holiday operators, cinemas and much more.

All staff can claim a financial contribution of up to £70 towards the cost of glasses or contact lenses where needed for Display Screen Equipment (DSE) purposes.

There is also access to credit union membership (a community loans and savings organisation, an alternative to a high street bank usually with helpful terms).  

Pension

We offer a defined benefit pension scheme (CARE) on a career average basis. 

The scheme is administered on our behalf by the Tayside Pension Fund where you will find full details of the scheme and how benefits are calculated.

Flexible retirement

If you are age 55 (or over) and you have at least 2 years membership with the Tayside Pension Fund you can request flexible retirement. This is a choice where you can access all, or a proportion of your pension earned to date but at the same time as receiving your pension you can continue working for the Care Inspectorate. Flexible retirement is an attractive way it can help with work life balance and the transition into full retirement.

To qualify you must reduce your working hours and/or grade to the extent that your revised salary is no more than 80% of your current salary.

Awards and charters

We are a Disability Confident employer committed to inclusion and diversity within our workplace.

The Disability Confident scheme helps employers recruit and retain great people, and to:

• challenge attitudes and increase understanding of disability
• draw from the widest possible pool of talent
• secure high-quality staff who are skilled, loyal and hard working
• improve employee morale and commitment by demonstrating fair treatment

It also helps identify those employers who are committed to inclusion and diversity in the workplace.

The scheme has 3 levels designed to support employers on their Disability Confident journey, these are:

• Disability Confident Committed (Level 1)
• Disability Confident Employer (Level 2)
• Disability Confident Leader (Level 3)

We actively encourage applications from people with a disability by offering an interview, where the candidate meets the minimum criteria for the job.  The criteria can be found on the person specification for each vacancy we advertise. 

We are members of Happy to Translate (HTT) - a national scheme which enables organisations to engage effectively with customers who speak little or no English.

Members are inclusive organisations that are committed to making their services available to all. Guidelines help members to embed an ethos of cultural awareness and sensitivity in every aspect of their communications so that customers are not marginalised as a result of language barriers.

HTT tools and processes equip staff with the skills and knowledge needed to communicate with those who speak little or no English. 

Our LGBT Charter Group works to support us to be an inclusive employer. 

We develop policies and procedures that engage with the LGBT community across Scotland.  They tell us about the care services they experience.

Our purpose is to deliver the action plan from our  Equality Outcomes and Mainstreaming Report. ​ We are focused on promoting LGBT:​

•  Equality​
•  Diversity ​
•  Inclusion​

The real Living Wage is an independently calculated rate based on the cost of living and is paid voluntarily by employers.  

The rate is calculated annually by The Resolution Foundation on an analysis of the wage that employees need to earn in order to afford the basket of goods required for a decent standard of living. This basket of goods includes housing, childcare, transport and heating costs.

Living Wage Scotland was established in April 2014 with the aim of increasing the number of employers in Scotland who are recognised for paying their staff the real Living Wage. Hosted by The Poverty Alliance, Living Wage Scotland works in partnership with the Living Wage Foundation and is funded by the Scottish Government.

We recognise and are committed to the Living Wage.  Being an accredited Living Wage employer demonstrates us as a responsible employer to our staff and networks.

We are committed to being a LGBTQ+ leader, creating an environment where all our employees can flourish and be free to be themselves. 

Please find more information on Stonewall Diversity here.

We have been accredited by Investors in Young People (IiYP) – This is a National Award that recognises the important work that organisations do in assisting young people aged 5 to 25 gain employability skills and who assist them into the world of work.

The IiYP Award recognises and celebrates the important work that the Care Inspectorate has invested in to help young people prepare for future employment and assist them in making their career choice.

Investors in Young People is the only people management standard that focuses on an employer’s recruitment and retention of young people. We are committed to working closely with Skills Development Scotland to offer modern apprenticeship.  This represents a true commitment as an employer to the training and development of young people. 

The Plain English Campaign recognise organisations and individuals who have genuinely made an effort to present themselves using clear and concise English.  Our organisation is committed to providing public information as clear as possible.

Our organisation is committed to providing an environment where people who are bereaved feel supported by the people around them.

Scotland’s first Bereavement Charter for Children and Adults was launched in April 2020.  The Care Inspectorate are proud to have been involved alongside other organisations in the development of the Bereavement Charter. 

It contains thirteen statements which describe what the best bereavement care and support should look like.  It has been developed to support individuals and communities who struggle with the death of someone they know or someone in their community.  The charters is designed to help us understand not only the importance of bereavement support, but what that support needs to look like and attempts to describe what good bereavement support can look like and what difference it can make.  It is hoped that the Charter will help us as a nation become more effective at supporting people to grieve.

Please find more information about the Bereavement Charter here. 

We are proud to announce that we are an Established Carers Positive organisation.  We are committed to providing a working environment where carers are valued and supported.  Carer Positive is funded by the Scottish Government award that is awarded to employers who can provide evidence that they meet criteria in five areas.

• Identification of carers
• Policy
• Workplace support
• Communication, awareness raising and training
• Peer support

Please find more information about Carer Positive here.

Committed to discussing alternative working patterns.

Please find more information about happy to talk flexible working here.

We are committed to working with partner organisations to connect 16-24 years olds with opportunities within our workforce.

The Young Person’s Guarantee aims to connect every 16 to 24 year old in Scotland to an opportunity.  This could be a job, apprenticeship, further or higher education, training or volunteering.  It could also be an enterprise opportunity.

We recognise our vital role in creating opportunities for Young People as they prepare for and take their first steps into the world of work.