Registrations
Time limited conditions expiration (Added 25 September 2020)
We are aware that many of you will have time limited conditions that were applied to your existing registration, to allow you to provide care services in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Many of these time limited conditions will be due to expire soon. We would like to remind you that if you wish to extend or amend the previous agreement (as detailed in the time limited condition), you are required to submit a variation for assessment.
This can be done through eForms.
If you no longer require the time limited condition, and wish for this to be removed from your registration certificate, please submit a variation for its removal.
Deferment of continuation of Registration Fees (added 8 April 2020)
The Care Inspectorate and Scottish Government recognise the financial and other pressures that providers of care services are currently under. To support service providers and assist with alleviating cash flow problems service providers are encountering at this difficult time the Care Inspectorate will delay the collection of continuation of registration fees due by care services until July 2020. We will review this position again in June 2020 before any fee collections are made.
This will mean care service providers need not pay any balance of the fees due for the 2019/20 financial year until July 2020.
Service providers normally due to receive fee invoices in April 2020 will not receive an invoice for the 2020/21 financial year until July 2020 (position subject to review in June 2020).
We are happy to make arrangements with service providers that would prefer not to defer the balance of 2019/20 fees. We are issuing more detailed guidance directly to care service providers.
Staffing in services during coronavirus outbreak (updated 20 March 2020)
Child to adult ratios feature in our registration and inspection of early learning and childcare (ELC). However, for other service types, including care homes, the Care Inspectorate stopped issuing staffing schedules at the point of registering a service in 2018. Instead, we expect the staffing numbers, and skills and experience of staff to reflect the needs of people who use services.
At this extremely challenging time, we will support all services in their need to apply flexibility and judgement around staffing to ensure the safety and wellbeing of people using the service. We recognise that services will need to be creative and make use of a wider range of resources. This could potentially include staff from other public services and volunteers. We recognise that this will mean services may not be able to undertake all normal recruitment checks as quickly and easily as they did before.
However, during this period it is important that providers put in place structures to support and oversee staff in their role, including any volunteers and unregistered staff. The Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) is responsible for registering the social care workforce. People can work in registrable roles for a period of 12 months without being registered, which enables services to adopt a flexible approach.
This highlights the six-month period after starting work to obtain registration. This applies to:
- new staff you might recruit
- workers covering other roles due to staff shortages
- students who seek work to help with shortages.
Senior Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Lead
Role: Senior Communications and Engagement Lead
Contract: Temporary or Secondment for up to 18 months
Salary: £49,227 - £54,551
Hours: Full time (35 hours a week)
Location: Flexible (Any Care Inspectorate office)
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 an 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 to recruit a Senior Communications and Engagement Lead to deliver against the Digital Transformation communications and stakeholder engagement plan to inform, generate interest and enthusiasm about an ambitious, complex and critical digital transformation project in line with the Care Inspectorate’s corporate plan 2022-2025. The digital transformation project aims to replace inflexible legacy systems, that are based on now outdated technologies, with an updated platform and build upon our essential risk-led scrutiny model.
You will identify and build high quality relationships internally and with external organisations, and advise on innovative communication methods to engage with stakeholders and employees, while promoting work of the Digital Transformation Project.
You will be at the forefront of developing innovative content, ideas, and concepts to drive key communications and engagement activities for the digital transformation project.
You will work closely with colleagues to support significant cultural change, consolidate excellence in the Care Inspectorate’s activities and continue to invest in our competent, confident workforce in a way that puts collaboration at the core of our work.
You will be an articulate and positive communicator, both verbally and in written form, with the ability to engage, influence and lead the development of a wide range of key stakeholder relationships, both internally and externally.
To apply
You will 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 Jodie Hogg (Operational Transformation Lead) at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please include a contact telephone number and times that would be best to reach you in your email.
IIf you believe that you are a suitable candidate for this post, please download the application form and an equal opportunities form 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 26 August 2024
It is anticipated that interviews will take place on the 10 September 2024.
Awards and charters
We are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader, the highest level of accreditation within the UK Government’s Disability Confident scheme. This recognises our strong commitment to inclusion, diversity, and the creation of an accessible and supportive workplace for all.
The Disability Confident scheme helps employers recruit and retain great people by:
- Challenging attitudes and increasing understanding of disability
- Drawing from the widest possible pool of talent
- Securing high-quality staff who are skilled, loyal and hard working
- Improving employee morale and commitment by demonstrating fair treatment
As a Disability Confident Leader, we go beyond our own organisation by:
- Advocating for disability inclusion across our sector
- Sharing best practice and encouraging other employers to become Disability Confident
- Demonstrating leadership in creating inclusive recruitment and employment practices
- Actively engaging with disabled people to improve policies and practices
The scheme has three levels designed to support employers on their Disability Confident journey:
- 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 to any candidate who meets the minimum criteria for the job. These criteria are clearly outlined in 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 accredited by Investors in Young People (IiYP) – a national award that recognises our commitment to supporting young people in developing the skills and confidence needed to succeed in the workplace.
IiYP is the only people management standard focused specifically on how employers attract, develop, and retain young talent. This accreditation highlights our dedication to creating meaningful opportunities and a supportive environment for young people entering the workforce.
We work closely with Skills Development Scotland and, when capacity allows, continue to explore opportunities to support the family of apprenticeships, including foundation, modern, and graduate pathways. For applicants, this means joining an organisation that values growth, invests in potential, and is committed to helping individuals build fulfilling careers.
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.
The Care Inspectorate uses the "Happy to Talk Flexible Working" logo to show its commitment to open conversations about flexible working from the start of recruitment. This reflects our dedication to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace where people can thrive professionally while balancing personal responsibilities.
By embracing flexible working, we aim to attract diverse talent, promote wellbeing, and foster a culture of fairness and transparency—values that are central to our purpose and the way we work.
Please find more information about happy to talk flexible working here.
The Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) logo represents a national initiative that helps bridge the gap between education and employment in Scotland. DYW is employer-led and works to make it easier for businesses to engage with young people in schools and colleges. Through meaningful partnerships, DYW supports young people in developing the skills, confidence, and experience they need to succeed in the world of work.
The Care Inspectorate is proud to have made a DYW Pledge, demonstrating our commitment to shaping Scotland’s future workforce and supporting young people on their journey into employment.
We are pleased to share we are a signatory of the Business in the Community Race at Work Charter. We know that ethnic minorities still face significant disparities in employment and progression, and that is something we need to change. The Charter is composed of seven calls to action for leaders and organisations across all sectors. We signed up to taking practical steps to ensure their workplaces are tackling barriers that ethnic minority people face in recruitment and progression and that their organisations are representative of British society today.
Transactions Assistant
Job Title: Transactions Assistant
Salary: £27,696 - £30,357
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, which 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
Are you detail-oriented, organised, and ready to make a real impact in a busy finance team? We’re excited to announce a fantastic opportunity to join us as a Transaction Assistant, supporting both Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable functions.
As our new Transaction Assistant, you’ll play a key role in ensuring the smooth and accurate processing of financial transactions. You’ll be working across both Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable, helping to keep things running efficiently and supporting our wider finance operations.
Your responsibilities will include:
Accounts payable
- Processing supplier invoices and matching them to purchase orders
- Preparing payment runs and resolving invoice queries
- Maintaining supplier relationships and supporting month-end tasks
Accounts receivable
- Raising customer invoices and monitoring outstanding payments
- Supporting credit control activities, including proactive debt recovery and follow-up on overdue accounts
- Assisting with reconciliations and reporting
About you
You should be educated to SCQF level 4/5 or have the relevant skills and experience for this role. You can find more about SCQF Level 4/5 on their website.
To succeed in this role, you will:
- Understand financial controls and the financial environment
- Have excellent customer service skills
- Organise, process, record and file information and correspondence both electronically and manually
- Be accurate and show attention to detail
- Have excellent knowledge and experience of using Microsoft Word and Excel
- Maintain high standards of confidentiality
- Work flexibly as part of a team to support the organisation
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 Lesley Ritchie 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 download and complete an application form and also our equal opportunities form to help us monitor and evaluate the diversity of applicants applying for our roles by 08:00 on Monday 15 September 2025.
It is anticipated that interviews will be held week commencing 22 September 2025 at our Dundee office.
Business Support Assistant (Corporate Support)
Job title: Business Support Assistant (Corporate Support)
Location: Dundee HQ
Salary: £24,561 to £27,171
Hours: 35 hours per week
Contract:
- 1 x Temporary to 31 October 2026
- 1 x 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
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 pleased to announce an exciting opportunity to work as part of the Corporate Support team at our headquarters in Dundee where you will provide comprehensive business support as part of the Corporate Services Directorate. Duties will be varied and include the provision of administrative support to heads of service and corporate teams across the organisation as well as general office support such as reception cover, purchase order processing and stationery control.
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 and accommodate changing business needs.
- Ability to prioritise conflicting demands and meet deadlines.
- Ability to forward plan and anticipate any operational difficulties.
- Excellent organisational skills.
- Ability to use initiative and prioritise own workload.
In addition, it would be desirable that you have experience of working with a range of external and internal contacts at various levels of an organisation and within an office environment.
To apply
You’ll find more information in the job profile and person specification.
If you require any further information please email the recruitment team (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
You can visit our website to see the benefits of working with us. Please note that these posts need to be located at our Headquarters in Dundee due to the nature of the tasks involved.
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 22 September 2025.
It is expected that interviews for this post will take place on Thursday 2 October 2025 at our Dundee office.
Covid-19 FAQs
As information, guidance and practice about Covid-19 is becoming established and less subject to rapid change, we are no longer maintaining the Covid-19 FAQs or the Covid-19 compendium. For key information, visit our Covid-19 information pages and the following links.
Guidance for Adult social care
- SG Adult Social Care Covid-19 guidance: This page holds for example guidance for adult care homes, visiting in care homes, care at home/sheltered housing, day care for adults, testing and vaccine.
- NHS Education Scotland: National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM)
- Care Home IPC Manual (CHIPCM)
- CH Cleaning Specification guide
- NHS Inform, Coronavirus (Covid-19): Guidance for visiting loved ones in an adult care homeCoronavirus (Covid-19): Guidance for visiting loved ones in an adult care home
Guidance for early learning, school aged childcare and childminder settings
- SG Early learning, school aged childcare and childminder settings on reducing the risks of Covid-19
- SG Routine Covid Precautions in Schools: guidance on reducing the risks in schools.
- ELC IPC elearning module
Guidance for Children and Young People (CYP)
Other useful links for all social care settings
- Health and Social Care Standards: my support, my life
- All social care staff can register for an account with TURAS using this link. Once registered you will have access to a range of online education and training including, IPC modules relevant to social care or equivalent. IPC Foundations module can be found on learn zone.
- SSSC Infection Prevention and Control modules
- PHS Social Care Guidance
- National Infection Prevention and Control Manual (NIPCM): This is deemed good practice in all other social care settings that are not adult care homes.
- SG Test and protect: Information and support for people who are asked to self-isolate because of Covid-19.
- NHS Inform: Covid-19 guidance for general information about Covid-19 and associated Covid-19 outbreak protective measures.
- Winter (21/22) Respiratory Infections in Health and Care Settings Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Addendum
- Disposal of LFD tests: SEPA position statement.
- HSE Disinfecting Premises
- National Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection (ARHAI) Scotland Compendium
- SG Coronavirus (Covid-19): advice for people on the Highest Risk List
Corporate Support Officer
Job title: Corporate Support Officer
Salary: £32,253 - £35,676
Hours: 35 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Location: Dundee Head Office - this post supports corporate meetings and business services at our head office in Dundee.
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
Due to retirement an opportunity has arisen within the corporate support team which will have a key role in coordinating and providing an effective high quality business support service to the corporate and core support functions of the Care Inspectorate. Reporting to the Executive and Committee Support Manager, the role is responsible for the management of the corporate support team, with a focus on organising, planning and assigning work appropriately. This includes managing the reception service for our headquarters in Dundee. The role requires careful assessment of work priorities, enquiries and requests to ensure the delivery of a cohesive business support service, with an emphasis on excellent customer service. The development and review of support procedures and information systems is a vital element of the role, as well as the ability to organise and attend meetings to take accurate notes/minutes and action records. The role also has contract management responsibility, liaising closely with the procurement team as and when required.
About you
Ideally you will hold a relevant qualification in administration management or business studies and have experience of providing administrative support at senior level, staff supervision systems and people management. In addition, it would be advantageous to have experience in supporting internal senior management meetings. You will be highly organised, have excellent planning, communication and IT skills and be able to manage conflicting priorities and work to tight deadlines.
Having a positive approach to teamwork and customer service, you will focus on the improvement of services.
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 Fiona McKeand 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 download and complete an application form and also our equal opportunities form to help us monitor and evaluate the diversity of applicants applying for our roles by 08:00 on Monday 11 August 2025.
It is anticipated that interviews will be held on 26 August 2025 at our Dundee office, Compass House, 11 Riverside Drive, Dundee, DD1 4NY.
Archived updates (2021)
Letters to care homes and letter to housing settings (Added 20 December 2021)
The Scottish Government has issued two letters following the First Minister’s Parliamentary Covid-19 statement relating to further population based guidance and measures to take effect from midnight on 17 December to stem the flow of transmission of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2.
The first letter contains updated advice on adult care home visiting. The second letter contains updated guidance on visiting and social activities within supported housing settings.
Visiting in adult care homes updated in light of Omicron (Added 16 December 2021)
The Scottish Government has issued a letter to adult care homes, setting out updated guidance on visits in and out of adult care homes. This guidance follows the First Minister’s parliamentary Covid-19 statement of 14 December relating to further population-based guidance and measures to take effect from midnight on Friday 17 December to stem the flow of transmission of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2.
The letter emphasises that visiting and outings from care homes should continue to be supported and the measures that should continue to be in place to more safely enable these. This includes stringent IPC, testing and recommendations to limit the number of households that meet with a resident at any one time to a maximum of two households.
You can read the letter here.
Letter from Scottish Government on isolation for social care staff (Added 13 December 2021)
Donna Bell, Director of Mental Wellbeing and Social Care, has issued a letter with information on self-isolation arrangements for social care staff.
The letter outlines that the current guidance: DL(2021)24 - Update on isolation exemptions for Health and Social Care staff (scot.nhs.uk) for social care (and healthcare staff) should still be applied with one important addition.
This existing isolation policy for staff who are household or passing contacts of Covid-19 positive cases, exempts them from the requirement to self-isolate for 10 days when they:
- are double-vaccinated
- are asymptomatic and remain asymptomatic
- undertake a PCR test (which returns a negative test result before returning to work)
- undertake daily LFD testing for the remainder of the 10-day period.
An important addition to this is that staff must be
- double vaccinated and have had their booster.
You can read the letter here.
Letter to all registered childcare providers regarding Omicron Covid-19 variant (Added 10 December 2021)
The Scottish government has issued a letter from Elanor Passmore, Deputy Director of Early Learning and Childcare, to all registered childcare providers. The letter contains an update on the Omicron Covid-19 variant and its potential impact on the childcare sector.
A letter has also been issued from Shirley-Anne Somerville, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, with an education update regarding the new Omicron variant.
Testing update for care home staff in response to Omicron and protective measures (Added 9 December 2021)
In response to the Omicron variant of Covid-19 and emerging concerns about transmission, The Scottish Government has asked staff in the adult and older people care home sector to carry out an LFD test on a daily basis in addition to their weekly PCR testing.
Additionally all social care staff are encouraged to consider taking a LFD test on a daily basis, and particularly on the days they are working with potentially vulnerable people.
Staff are encouraged to record their result (positive and negative) on the portal for work based testing kits (issued from care home) or the portal for kits collected at a pharmacy.
Extra test kits can be collected at local pharmacy sites.
The Scottish Government has also released two letters from DCMO (Graham Ellis) and DCNO (Anne Armstrong) on “minimising the risk of Covid-19 transmission over the winter period” to adult care homes and care at home, supporting housing and day services.
Adult to child ratios and new notification during Omicron (Added 11 January 2022)
Like all services, early learning and childcare settings are operating under unprecedented circumstances due to the pandemic. The Omicron variant will be extremely challenging, particularly in terms of staffing.
To support continued delivery of safe, high-quality childcare for children and families as we move through this stage of the pandemic, we have temporarily adjusted our policy position on adult to child ratios and introduced a new notification.
High-quality experiences for children should be paramount. Adjusting adult to child ratios must only be used when all other options for additional staffing have been exhausted and a risk assessment has been undertaken. Our guidance gives information on the approach to risk assessment and the required notification.
Supporting Winter Planning in Care Homes and Care at Home Care Inspectorate November 2021 to March 2022 (Added 18 November 2021)
The Care Inspectorate is aware that many care services continue to experience challenges this winter. We are keen to support services by adapting what we do where necessary to assist them to care for people.
In adult services there is a national social care sector winter preparedness plan for 2021/22, and in alignment with this the Care Inspectorate has developed their own winter plan.
As part of reviewing our processes to support the sector during the winter period we have reviewed the requirement for care homes and care at home to apply for variations in some instances.
This is to assist the sector to provide support to a wider group of people who will benefit from accessing care services during this unprecedented time.
The Care Inspectorate has taken the position that during this winter and until end of March 2022 there will be no requirement for providers to submit a variation for any care service where:
- a care home for older people is caring for younger adult’s care or adult service caring for older people where the service can meet the needs of that person.
- care at home services care for clients with different care needs that are not noted on their certificate of registration where the service can meet the needs of that person.
- change of operational hours.
In these circumstances, there is no requirement to submit a variation form. Instead, the provider should simply confirm in writing through eforms, using the notification “Changes to service delivery’.
Within the notification, the provider should note the change to the service provision and confirm the service can meet the care and welfare needs of the individuals that they are providing care for.
The notification will not in itself trigger an inspection but may trigger contact from the inspector to discuss the changes you have put in place.
There is no requirement for care homes who are admitting people on interim care basis until care at home is available to notify the care inspectorate. This information will be provided to us from the oversight teams of care homes or adult or older people being used in local areas to provide interim care.
We are working with the sector to produce some guidance on supporting people on interim basis before a return home and will share this through the provider updates and on our Hub.
Letter to all registered childcare providers (Added 18 November 2021)
The Scottish Government has issued a letter to all registered childcare providers to provide clarity for settings on seasonal celebrations that they may be planning. The letter also highlights some key compliance messages as we move into the winter period.
Supporting short notice recruitment and deployment (Added 16 November 2021)
In light of ongoing staffing problems due to Covid-19, the Care Inspectorate is maintaining current flexibility that allows providers to deploy staff before satisfactory recruitment checks are returned. Providers are reminded of the importance of ensuring that all appointments are risk assessed and that staff with pending checks are mentored and supervised at all times.
Similarly, the Care Inspectorate and SSSC are continuing to allow greater flexibility regarding staff being temporarily deployed to work in different types of care service. Staff are usually registered by the SSSC for a particular type of care service and need to make a separate application in order to work in a different setting.
Under the current circumstances, providers can now recruit and deploy SSSC registrants flexibly across different service types in order to fill gaps in staffing directly caused by Covid-19.
Winter respiratory infections in health and care settings: IPC Addendum (Added 21 October)
ARHAI Scotland (Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection) has produced infection prevention and control guidance for this coming winter on respiratory infections in health and care settings. The guidance recognises a surge is likely in respiratory viruses and infections in addition to Covid-19 over this winter season and it supersedes the three Covid-19 addenda for acute, care home, and community health and care settings first published in October 2020.
The guidance is aligned with soon-to-be-published UK guidance Infection Prevention and Control for Seasonal Respiratory Infections in Health and Care settings including SARS-CoV-2 for Autumn Winter 2021/2022.
You can access the guidance and appendices with the following links:
- Winter (21/22), Respiratory Infections in Health and Care Settings, Infection Prevention and Control Addendum
- Appendix 17 (AGPs and Post AGP Fallow Times)
- Appendix 18 (Physical Distancing in health and care settings).
These documents are being issued to stakeholders to give advance notice of content and allow for implementation planning ahead of live launch on Monday 1 November 2021.
The three current Covid-19 addenda will remain live and online until 1 November when they will be archived and the new guidance published.
ELC Covid-19 Update for September 2021 (Added 5 October)
The Scottish Government has published the Early Learning and Childcare Covid-19 Update for September 2021.
Open with Care update – one named visitor to visit during managed outbreaks in care homes (Added 16 September)
Yesterday the Scottish Government updated the "Open with Care guidance" to recommend that care homes, with support from their local health protection team, can now move to support one named visitor to visit during managed outbreaks in care homes.
The Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care, Kevin Stewart, has released a letter outlining this new advice.
Reminder of update to exception from self-isolation of Health and Social Care staff, in particular if the close contact is a household member (Added 10 September)
The Scottish Government has released updated guidance to reflect that a Health and Social Care member of staff will be required to have daily lateral flow testing for 10 days following their last exposure to Covid-19.
If the index case (contact) is a household member, the daily LFD testing will begin from the date the household contact develops symptoms or when a positive test (LFD or PCR) is returned if asymptomatic.
The policy framework states Health and Social Care staff are eligible for exemption from self-isolation under the same conditions as the general population. As of the 9th August 2021 the conditions are as follows: Exemption from self-isolation applies even if there is ongoing exposure to the index case, e.g. a household member.
The National Infection Prevention and Control Manual Covid-19 addenda update (Added 9 September)
The National Infection Prevention and Control Manual Covid-19 addenda on physical distancing in Health and Social Care has been updated.
A summary of the changes can be found here.
Update on isolation exemptions for health and social care staff (Added 2 September)
From 9 August people (including health and care workers) identified as close contacts of someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 were no longer required to automatically self-isolate if they are double vaccinated (within certain conditions).
You can find out more here.
Additionally this revised policy document sets out the conditions which will enable Health and Social Care staff who are Covid-19 close contacts to return to work if they do have to isolate.
ELC Covid-19 Update for August 2021 (Added 31 August 2021)
The Scottish Government has published the Early Learning and Childcare Covid-19 Update for August 2021.
Opening with care beyond Level 0 (Added 7 August 2021)
Scottish Government have issued two letters – one for care homes and one for care at home services - on opening up visiting now we are at Level 0. The letters outline expectations of services and include links to guidance that services should follow.
You can read the letter for care homes here.
You can read the letter for care at home services here.
Updated Covid-19 guidance for all childcare providers (Added 4 August)
The Scottish Government has made some important changes to the guidance to support the continued safe operation of early learning and childcare, childminding and school-aged childcare settings.
Read the letter to providers here.
Read the letter to local authorities here.
You can find a checklist of mitigations at August 2021 here.
Links to guidance for each setting can be found at the links below:
Early learning and childcare Covid-19 update for July (Added 3 August)
The Scottish Government has shared their early learning and childcare Covid-19 July update. It contains lots of key information, important updates and useful links. Find out more here.
Restrictions to staff movement – update on the guidance (Added 9 July 2021)
The Scottish Government Adult Social Care Winter Plan for 20-21 recommended restricted staff movement across social care settings to limit transmission of Covid-19. With the range of protections now in place, care homes can exercise discretion to relax the restrictions on staff movement safely. As a result, Sustainability Funds available to support additional costs of restricting staff movement were withdrawn from 30 June 2021.
It remains the case that minimising staff movement across social care settings helps limit virus transmission, and continuity of staffing promotes better care quality and experience. These should be key considerations in workforce planning.
Health Protection Scotland Covid-19 information and guidance remains unchanged and up to date.
Annex B of the guidance will be updated shortly.
Restrictions to staff movement – update on the guidance (Added 6 July 2021)
The Scottish Government Adult Social Care Winter Plan for 20-21 recommended restricted staff movement across social care settings to limit transmission of Covid-19. With the range of protections now in place, care homes can exercise discretion to relax the restrictions on staff movement safely. As a result, Sustainability Funds available to support additional costs of restricting staff movement were withdrawn from 30 June 2021.
It remains the case that minimising staff movement across social care settings helps limit virus transmission, and continuity of staffing promotes better care quality and experience. These should be key considerations in workforce planning.
Health Protection Scotland guidance remains unchanged and up to date:
HPS Website - Covid-19 - information and guidance for care home settings (scot.nhs.uk)
Annex B of the guidance will be updated shortly.
ELC Covid-19 Update for June 2021 (Added 6 July 2021)
The Scottish Government has published the Early Learning and Childcare Covid-19 Update for June 2021.
Implementing Open with Care: a joint statement on supporting visiting in care homes (Added 1 July 2021)
The Care Inspectorate, Scottish Care, the Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland, and Social Work Scotland have issued a joint statement in support of the Scottish Government’s Open with Care guidance. This guidance and accompanying documents set out how care homes in Scotland should be opening up to visitors in a way that enables meaningful contact that makes a positive difference to the lives of residents and their loved ones.
You can read the statement here.
Use of face coverings in social care settings (Added 24 June 2021)
The Chief Nursing Officer has issued a letter to care home providers and care at home providers with an update on the use of face mask guidance in social care settings.
The letter outlines new guidance that is now available on using face coverings in social care settings. This guidance can be accessed here.
New frontline workers: vaccination access (Added 21 June 2021)
The Scottish Government has issued a letter with information on the processes for scheduling
vaccinations of the frontline health and social care workforce. Specifically, those new to a
service since the commencement of the Covid-19 Vaccination Programme (those not already vaccinated as part of the JCVI priority group, or within their age range).
You can access the letter here.
Larger delivery of LFD (NSS) testing kits in June for social care staff (Added 15 June 2021)
We have been informed by Scottish Government that in the coming months, the LFD testing kits services receive will come in smaller boxes; most likely boxes of seven kits. These testing kits will be approved for self-testing at home. Until this new stock is available, services will continue to use the Innova LFD kits of 25 tests. Your next delivery will be larger than usual. This is because stock is to be issued before the end of June in order to meet Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) requirements.
EU Settlement Scheme closes on 30 June – act now (Added 15 June 2021)
To stay in the UK, EU citizens who were living in the UK by 31 December 2020 must apply to the UK Government’s EU Settlement Scheme. This includes those EU citizens who may have been living here for many years. The deadline for applications is fast approaching, with the scheme closing on 30 June 2021. Even if someone has an EU permanent residence card or an EU residence certificate, they will still need to apply. If they do not apply, they may lose their right to live in the UK. Irish citizens and those with indefinite leave to remain do not need to apply.
A package of support is available for anyone who needs additional help. The Stay in Scotland toolkit includes information on the EU Settlement Scheme, details of the application process, and links to other resources. Full details can be found here.
Citizens Advice Scotland operates a free national helpline as part of its EU Citizen Support Service. Anyone can get information, advice and support for applying to the EU Settlement Scheme by calling the freephone helpline on 0800 916 9847. The service has qualified advisers who will help people apply to the EU Settlement Scheme. Citizens Advice Scotland has two solicitors who can help people with more complex immigration histories.
The legal charity, JustRight Scotland, has published a series of factsheets on EU citizens’ rights. These factsheets detail rights to vote and work, and access healthcare, education, housing and benefits in Scotland.
This information may apply to you personally, your staff, or people you provide care to and their families. Please consider whether anyone you know is from the EU and if they are, please share these ‘Stay in Scotland’ resources with them.
Letter from the Minister on re-opening of building-based days services for adults (Added 8 June 2021)
Kevin Stewart, Minister for Mental Wellbeing and Social Care has written to provide clarity for services on who has authority to sign off the risk assessments required for them to re-open. You can read the letter here.
ELC Covid-19 Update for May 2021 (Added 3 June 2021)
The Scottish Government has published the Early Learning and Childcare Covid-19 Update for May 2021.
Materials for schools and childcare settings (Added 3 June 2021)
The Scottish Government has created new resources to encourage safe behaviors by families, and to help parents and carers to understand the steps that they can take to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission.
These resources can be accessed at the following links:
These links lead to a number of resources that can be printed and displayed in settings or shared with families.
Most of these were shared recently, but the toolkit now contains translations of all PDF documents in the following: BSL, audio, easy read, Arabic, Gaelic, Chinese (Simplified), Urdu, Punjabi, Polish, Romanian.
Recording of LFD test results on the reporting portal (Added 3 June 2021)
There has been a small development with the NSS portal that should hopefully save you some time in recording your LFD tests results. From now on, when you are recording testing results on the NSS portal, you will no longer need to insert the serial numbers for LFD kits on the portal. However you should continue to insert the Lot Numbers.
Undertake the PDA in Technology Enabled Care (Added 2 March 2021)
Over the next 12 months NHS Education for Scotland will fully fund 10 candidates from across Health and Social Care to undertake the Professional Development Award (PDA) in Technology Enabled Care. The usual cost per candidate is £600.
The qualification will be accessed through online distance learning in partnership with Bon Accord Support Services, Aberdeen who are an SQA Approved Delivery Centre.
You can find more information in the application form.
Application Forms must be returned to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 5pm Monday 15 March 2021.
Adult care homes: visiting guidance (Added 25 February 2021)
The Scottish Government has published new guidance for care homes on visiting during the pandemic plus tools and resources on visiting, and supporting residents in homes with Covid-19.
This guidance recommends that care homes now put in place the necessary arrangements to safely resume meaningful contact between care home residents and their loved ones.
Donna Bell, Director for Mental Health & Social Care, has issued a letter to care home providers explaining the new guidance and the steps to supporting it to be adopted across Scotland in the near future.
Update for parents/carers of children returning to ELC and P1-3 (Added 18 February 2021)
Jason Leitch, National Clinical Director, has issued a letter to parents and carers of children returning to ELC and P1-3. The letter explains the reasoning for the decision to enable younger children to return to ELC and schools next week.
Please share this letter with all families as early as possible.
The Scottish Government has created a template letter that you may find helpful in your own parental communication.
Parent Club will also be producing a poster with these key points, which will be distributed early next week.
Update on childcare re-opening to all pre-school children (Added 16 February 2021)
Today the First Minister confirmed that, following a continued suppression of the coronavirus figures, early learning and childcare settings (which includes nurseries, playgroups, and family centres) can re-open to all pre-school children from 22 February.
The Scottish Government has issued a letter to all childcare providers with more information.
Guidance for deployment of agency staff to care homes during Covid-19 pandemic (Added 12 February 2021)
The Scottish Government has issued a letter to all adult care homes in Scotland which contains guidance for deployment of agency staff to care homes during Covid-19 pandemic.
Childminding Business Sustainability Fund (Added 9 February 2021)
On 21 January, the Scottish Government confirmed that £1m would be made available to provide grant support to childminders in light of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on their businesses.
The Scottish Government has today confirmed that additional funding will be made available in order to increase the fund to more than £3.2 million.
This £3.2 million fund will provide for a £750 business sustainability grant to be made available to all childminding services registered with the Care Inspectorate as of 1 February 2021.
The Scottish Government has issued a letter to all childminders with more information on the fund.
Update on childcare re-opening to all pre-school children (Added 02 February 2021)
Today the First Minister announced the Scottish Government’s intention that childcare settings can re-open to all pre-school children from 22nd February. This is subject to continued progress in suppressing the virus and will be subject to final confirmation in two weeks’ time.
The Scottish Government has issued a letter to all registered childcare providers with more information.
Care home visiting guidance during current restrictions (Added 02 February 2021)
During the current restrictions, garden and window visits to adult care homes are still possible and we expect services to support and facilitate this appropriately. It is essential that people are able to see and connect with loved ones.
We expect garden and window visits to be available in all care homes.
While areas are in Level 4, indoor visiting should be limited to essential visits. There is guidance on what is an essential visit and this is in the Scottish Government guidance we have given a link to below.
We encourage care homes to work with families, and their local health protection/public health teams, to risk assess individual situations to allow visits to take place where possible.
Services should also be supporting residents to stay in touch with loved ones regularly using technology and with help from staff.
If you have any questions please contact your allocated inspector.
All guidance for care homes, including visiting, can be found in our COVID compendium.
Additionally, the Scottish Government has provided guidance on visiting adult care homes during the pandemic.
Listening and caring in confidence (Added 02 February 2021)
Listening and caring in confidence is a free, confidential, on-line service for care home and care at home staff. The service is offered by Faith in Older People and provides the opportunity to consider your own needs and wellbeing so that you can continue to support those you care for.
ELC Covid-19 Update for January 2021 (Added 02 February 2021)
The Scottish Government has published the Early Learning and Childcare Covid-19 Update for January 2021.
Covid-19: Scottish workbook 2020 updated (Added 26 January 2021)
The Scottish Government have updated the Covid-19: Scottish workbook which explains how local and national public health agencies should take the action needed to prevent coronavirus spread, together with advice on management of outbreaks. Sector specific advice cards can be found under supporting file here.
Draft quality framework for family-based care (Added 26 January 2021)
In July 2018 we began introducing new frameworks for inspection and self-evaluation across the range of services which we regulate. We have now developed the draft quality framework for family-based care in consultation with providers, inspectors, umbrella bodies and membership organisations.
We want your feedback to ensure that we are developing quality illustrations that reflect good practice, legislation and the range of care and support provided and that should be experienced.
When you have looked at the draft quality framework please let us know your views by completing our short survey.
Connecting Care Homes – have you applied for digital devices? (Added 26 January 2021)
In November 2020, £1 million of new funding was announced by the Scottish Government to provide digital devices to every registered care home in Scotland. This includes care homes for children and young people.
These devices are to support those living in care homes to connect digitally with all aspects of their life - health, education, wellbeing and to keep in contact with family and friends.
The scheme has been well received, with over 600 applications received during December. Each care home has received one or two iPads and, for those with limited connectivity, a Mifi unit has also been provided to ensure access to the internet.
Applications can still be made by care homes and more details can be found here.
Reinstatement of statutory entitlement and Covid financial support (Added 22 January 2021)
Legislation that places a duty on education authorities to make available 1140 hours of funded ELC to all eligible children from August 2021 has been laid in the Scottish Parliament for its consideration.
The Scottish Government has issued a letter to all registered childcare providers outlining what this will mean for them.
Reinstatement of statutory entitlement and Covid financial support (Added 22 January 2021)
Legislation that places a duty on education authorities to make available 1140 hours of funded ELC to all eligible children from August 2021 has been laid in the Scottish Parliament for its consideration.
The Scottish Government has issued a letter to all registered childcare providers outlining what this will mean for them.
Letter to adult care home providers (Added 22 January 2021)
The Scottish Government has issued a letter to adult care home providers which provides advice on vitamin D supplements for care home residents.
Covid-19 vaccine easy read information (Added 21 January 2021)
Public Health Scotland have produced two pieces of easy read information guidance for COVID 19 vaccines. One is aimed at those with dementia and the other for people with learning difficulties.
Guidance on coronavirus testing for the care at home sector (Added 21 January 2021)
Guidance and materials are available to support testing of staff working in the following community based care services:
- Care at home – LFD or PCR testing
- Sheltered housing and housing with multiple occupancies – LFD testing
- Adult day centres/ adult day care services – LFD testing
- Personal assistants (providing care and support to adult clients within social care ) – LFD testing
The roll-out of testing will commence from 18 January. Distribution of testing kits is currently underway.
Supporting information and training materials to support rollout, including dates for workshops around taking the test, can be found here.
Letter to childminders (Added 21 January 2021)
The Minister for Children and Young People has issued a letter to all childminders which outlines the Scottish Governments Childminding Action Plan. The letter also provides information on how to access the financial support available to childminders.
Letter to adult day care services (Added 21 January 2021)
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport has issued a letter to adult day care services to clarify that essential day service support can continue throughout the current lockdown and adult day centres can continue to operate.
Care Inspectorate agency staff webinars February 2021 (Added 21 January 2021)
We are inviting all agency staff working in adult and older people care homes to attend one of our free webinars that will be delivered in February 2021.
As well as registered nurses these are open for all agency staff to attend.
The webinar will share ideas to support wellbeing and recovery in the context of Covid-19.
- Explore the updated Care Home Infection Prevention and Control Addendum including the SIPCs.
- Explore why infection prevention and control is important for all staff across the care home
- Share the agreed Agency working principles
- Update on testing and vaccinating
- Sign posting to Covid-19 and infection control specific resources taken from national guidance and simplified by the Care Inspectorate into a one stop shop for adult social care.
- Share the learning from frequently asked questions (FAQs) from services
- Discuss effective application of good infection prevention and control practices
You can find more information, including the dates of the webinars, here.
To register for one of the webinars, please use this link to register for your preferred date.
Infection Prevention and Control / Covid-19 – Webinars for All Care Home Staff (Added 21 January 2021)
NHS Education for Scotland invites all care home staff to attend a webinar on Infection Prevention and Control/Covid-19. Webinars will be delivered in January 2021.
The webinars are free and aim to provide staff with key infection prevention and control information they will need to protect themselves and others in the care home setting.
You can find out the dates of the webinars and how to register here.
The importance of services operating within cohorts or ‘bubbles’ (Added 19 January 2021)
With the new strain of Covid-19 having an increasing impact on services for children and young people, we would like to remind providers of the importance of services operating within cohorts or ‘bubbles.’
This means that in order to decrease the chance of transmission, staff should not be routinely moving between settings, even if they are part of the same organisation. Further detail on this can be found in Coronavirus (Covid-19): residential childcare.
The same applies to young people, who should not be freely moving between care settings. Any movement between settings increases the risk of transmitting the virus, allowing it to spread so it is essential that services adhere to the guidance.
Any new admission, including for those on short term placements, must be individually risk assessed and a decision on testing made in discussion with the Health Protection Team as detailed in Covid-19: Information and Guidance for Social, Community and Residential Care Settings.
Preventing the spread of coronavirus (added 19 January 2021)
NHS Scotland have released guidance on using contact tracing to prevent the spread of coronavirus if you test positive.
Letter to adult day care services (Added 18 January 2021)
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport has issued a letter to adult day care services to clarify that essential day service support can continue throughout the current lockdown and adult day centres can continue to operate.
Update on review of Building Better Care Homes guide (Added 14 January 2021)
The design guidance for care homes for adults Building Better Care Homes is currently under review.
To support us with the early part of this work, we established a group of representatives from Scottish Care, COSLA, Scottish Government, Local Authority Building Standards Scotland, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service, Health Protection Scotland, Heads of Planning Scotland, Society of Chief Officers of Environmental Health, HSE, HIS, Public Health Scotland, Scottish Futures Trust, and representatives from banking forums and architecture firms.
So far, our review has taken account of learning from the pandemic, views of the group and previous feedback.
In the coming months, our next step will be to consult widely on draft guidance with the care home sector and other stakeholders. We want everyone with an interest in care homes for adults to have the opportunity to take part in our consultation. We will update you in due course, to let you know how you can get involved.
When the time comes, we hope you can take part and we look forward to engaging with you.
Lateral flow testing for care homes (Added 14 January 2021)
The Scottish Government has updated its guidance on adult care home lateral flow testing to include an updated letter for all care homes.
Temporary financial support for childcare sector (Added 13 January 2021)
Today the Deputy First Minister has announced that the Scottish Government will:
- make temporary financial support available to private and voluntary sector day care of children providers, and childminders currently providing childcare to 12 or more children, who have remained open for key worker and vulnerable children during the period of the temporary restrictions.
- provide support for childminders who are most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
A summary of the announcements is provided below. Further information is set out on the Scottish Government’s information pages on the financial support available to the sector.
More information on these support measures will be provided as soon as possible.
COVID Restrictions – Temporary Financial Support
Day care of children providers, and childminders who are currently providing childcare to 12 or more children, currently should be open only to key worker and vulnerable children. Further information on the temporary restrictions is provided in the supplementary guidance.
As a result most of these services are open only for small numbers of children, and this can create financial pressures for providers.
That is why temporary financial support will be available to those services who are currently only permitted to operate for vulnerable children or those of key workers, to help mitigate the reduction in income resulting from operating below capacity and ensure these settings can remain open.
Support will be provided through grants to services that are open to deliver childcare to key worker and vulnerable children during the temporary restrictions.
This will include day care of children’s services, childminders who care for 12 or more children and out of school care providers.
To be eligible for the Fund settings need to be registered with the Care Inspectorate as being either:
- a ‘day care of children’ and a ‘Private’ or ‘Voluntary or Not For Profit’ service; or
- a ‘childminding service’ and currently caring for 12 or more children.
Providers will also need to confirm that their service is open and operating for key worker and vulnerable children.
The funding will be available for each four week period the current temporary restrictions are in place.
More information will set out on the Scottish Government’s information pages including details on the level of grants that will be available, and how providers can access this support, as soon as possible.
Care home testing guidance (Added 11 January 2021)
The Scottish Government has today released new guidance on care home testing.
The updated guidance includes:
- Reported testing issues and workarounds.
- Arrangements for resupply of tests, including emergency arrangements to reorder tests in urgent situations.
- Details on workshops in January on care home testing (updates and feedback).
- Link to updates and care home testing FAQ guidance.
Letter to all registered childcare providers (Added 7 January 2021)
Following the First Minister’s announcement on Monday 4 January that further public health measures in response to the new variant of Covid-19 are to be put in place, the Scottish Government has issued a letter to all registered childcare providers.
The letter confirms the updated guidance which will apply until at least 1 February 2021.
Covid-19: Supplementary National Child Protection Guidance updated (Added 7 January 2021)
The guidance includes the following changes:
- Updated to reflect National Strategic Framework (November 2020)
- Updated to reflect effective practices during Covid-19 in relation to Registration through virtual Child Protection Planning/Case Conferences
- References updated and supplemented.
To ensure that you are using the most up to date version, please access it through the website.
Updated guidance on the submission of Covid-19 notifications (Added 7 January 2021)
We recently updated our guidance on the submission of Covid-19 notifications. We have now included some additional information that has come from frequently asked questions.
- Where staff have ongoing symptoms after 14 days or symptoms of ‘long COVID’, services can end their confirmed outbreak with either a negative test from the staff member or agreement from public health.
- If a service currently has a confirmed case of Covid-19, they do not need to notify us of further suspected cases until after the confirmed case(s) has been ended.
- Only one end of confirmed case(s) notification is required (per outbreak). This should be used to signify that there are no current confirmed cases in the service regardless of whether it was an individual or multiple confirmed cases submitted.
- Only one end of suspected case(s) notification is required. This should be used to signify that all suspected cases in the service have either had a negative test or shown no symptoms for 14 days. Where a confirmed case notification has been submitted, the service is automatically deemed to be in an outbreak and there is no need to submit and end of suspected cases notification.
Children and young people complaint text service (Added 7 January 2021)
We launched a new children and young people complaint text service on 5 January 2021. This text service will add to the other ways young people can raise concerns about the quality of their care.
This service will allow young people to be more informed about their rights to quality care and support which we hope will build trust and allow us to improve their experience of care.
Letter to all registered childcare providers (Added 7 January 2021)
Following the First Minister’s announcement on Monday 4 January that further public health measures in response to the new variant of Covid-19 are to be put in place, the Scottish Government has issued a letter to all registered childcare providers.
The letter confirms the updated guidance which will apply until at least 1 February 2021.
New pharmacy service for care homes (Added 7 January 2021)
A service that offers consultations and advice for minor illnesses is available in all community pharmacies across Scotland. The service is open to those living in care homes and allows care homes and pharmacy teams to work closely together in new ways to support residents.
A guidance sheet gives a broad overview of how NHS Pharmacy First Scotland will work in the care home setting and what you will need to do to access the service. You may also speak with your community pharmacy team(s) to agree further details on how you will work together.
Adult social care: end of EU transition period (Added 7 January 2021)
The Scottish Government has published information for social care providers on access to the National Services Scotland Support Call Centre in the event of disruption to essential products or supplies due to Brexit.
Coronavirus (Covid-19): Visiting an adult care home (Added 7 January 2021)
Guidance for the safe visiting of adult care homes during the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic is available here. This NHS inform page provides advice and information for family and friends of people living in adult care homes.
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.