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.
Our jobs
We are hiring for the below vacancies:
Solicitor
Job title: Solicitor
Salary: £49,710 – £54,975
Location: Flexible (Any Care Inspectorate office)
Hours: 35 hours per week
Contract: Temporary Maternity Cover to 6 January 2026
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 thatpromotes 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.
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 a period of maternity leave, reporting to the Head of Legal Services, you will have the opportunity to play an influential role in the regulation and improvement of care services. You will provide legal advice to operational staff within the Care Inspectorate. You will provide legal support for a wide range of team based corporate projects and contribute to the development of policy and guidance. You will also undertake some appearance work, representing the Care Inspectorate at court hearings and inquiries.
About you
The ideal candidate will be confident, articulate and have excellent communication skills. You will have at least 2 years’ post qualifying experience but could be an experienced solicitor interested in a challenging and varied post. You should have Sheriff Court experience, preferably in relation to statutory licensing or regulatory matters and you will hold, or be entitled to hold, a full Practising Certificate issued by the Law Society of Scotland.
Please note, if you don’t meet the full two years essential experience listed in the person specification of ‘relevant post qualifying experience, including recent Sheriff Court experience’ but still feel you meet the remaining essential criteria, then we would still consider an application from you.
To apply
You’ll find more information in the job profile and person specification.
If you would like more information or an informal chat about the role please Kenneth McClure, Head of Legal Services, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. – please note our offices are closed during the Christmas holidays.
If you believe that you are a suitable candidate for this post, please complete our online application form by 08:00 on Monday 6 January 2025.
We expect interviews to take place no sooner than 23 January 2025.
Transactions Assistant
Role: Transactions Assistant
Location: Flexible – Any Care Inspectorate office (Expectation to work from the Dundee office for your 40% office collaboration per week and for office-based tasks)
Hours: 35 hours per week
Salary: £27,696 - £30,357
Contract: Temporary to 31 March 2025
About us
We are the independent scrutiny and improvement support body for social care and social work services in Scotland. We provide assurance for people who experience care services, their families, carers and the wider public, as well as supporting delivery partners to improve the quality of care for people in Scotland. Our vision is for world-class social care and social work in Scotland, where everyone in every community experience high-quality care, support and learning, tailored to their rights, needs and wishes.
We inspect individual care services, and we also work with other scrutiny bodies to inspect the social care and social work services people are experiencing in their local areas.
Our desire is to achieve an effective and balanced way of working, that enables us to meet organisational needs and achieve a work-life balance that promotes wellbeing and collaboration opportunities. We are moving towards the expectation that all staff will work collaboratively, within and across teams, in person, for approximately 40% of their working week.
About the role
A temporary opportunity has arisen within the Care Inspectorate team that provides services to the Scottish Social Services Council.
As a member of the team, you will undertake a range of general administrative tasks to support the Transactions Manager. Duties will include processing invoices in the financial system, raising purchase orders, providing administrative support in collating banking, receipting income, receipting payments and services and responding to enquiries received.
About you
To succeed in this role, you will:
- Understand financial controls and financial environment
- Have excellent customer service skills and telephone manner
- Provide a range of administration and clerical support to a high standard including database administration
- Organise, process, record and file information and correspondence both electronically and manually
- Be accurate and show attention to detail
- Have a thorough knowledge of Microsoft Word and Excel
- Maintain high standards of confidentiality
- Work flexibly as part of a team to support the organisation
Experience of using Oracle financial system and knowledge of debt recovery is desirable.
Next steps
You’ll find more information in the job profile and person specification.
For an informal chat about the role, please contact the Transactions Manager, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
If you believe that your expertise and motivation, make you suitable for this post, please download and complete an application form and return by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by no later than 08.00 on Monday 15 July 2024. Please also complete the equal opportunities form and return this along with your application.
The interviews for this post will be no earlier than 23 July 2024.
Senior Intelligence Analyst
Role: Senior Intelligence Analyst
Contract: Temporary or secondment up to 31 July 2025
Salary: £49,227 - £54,441
Hours: 35 hours per 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 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
This post within our established intelligence team plays a key role in developing and delivering our intelligence–led ways of working. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced and highly competent analyst to take on a national role, and an opportunity to use your talents to make a real difference to people using care services across Scotland.
The Senior Intelligence Analyst will be a technical specialist, who will lead and oversee the production of a variety of analytical products. They will manage aspects of the intelligence team’s day-to-day work and provide line-management support and development for a small team. They will be proactive in identifying opportunities to develop intelligence-led working both within the Care Inspectorate, and with the many external organisations with whom we collaborate.
About you
You will be educated to SCQF level 9 in a subject which includes a significant numerical component, you will ideally come from a background which includes statistical analysis, intelligence analysis, data science, operational research or business intelligence. You will be expected to work with colleagues at all levels in the Care Inspectorate therefore, in addition to your advanced technical and analytical capabilities, you must have excellent interpersonal skills, and be capable of conveying complex findings clearly both verbally and in writing.
Next steps
You will find more information in the job profile and person specification.
For an informal discussion about the post, please contact Ingrid Gilray, Intelligence and Analysis Manager by email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) in the first instance.
You can visit our website to see the benefits of working with us including information on our offices across Scotland.
If you believe that you are a suitable candidate for this post, please download and complete an application form and equal opportunities 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 2 September.
We expect interviews to take place no earlier than 12 September 2024.
Our customer service
The strategy and the associated internal and external customer service standards show how we will embed a customer focus across all of our work, including redesigning the way we engage with people and how we build internal and external relationships. The aims of the strategy are to ensure an inclusive approach to providing quality services to our customers and colleagues.
Internal Customer Service Standards
External Customer Service Standards
Inspector (registration)
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 and learning as we are, and you’re experienced in the field, we’d love to hear from you. We are looking for talented people to join us in making a difference.
About you
We are looking to add resource to a team of Inspectors to support the work of the Registration teams.
You will be able to achieve significant improvement in outcomes for people and children and families through the range of day-to-day responsibilities. The role is different and very varied:
- give advice on registration matters both internally and externally
- assess registration and variation applications across the full range of care service types
- assess allegations of illegally operating services and take forward regulatory action in this respect.
You’ll be improvement focused, confident in your professional knowledge base and able to apply it to influence others. You will be flexible, able to prioritise, to respond to short-notice deadlines and manage an ever-changing caseload. You will work closely with inspection and complaints colleagues in our inspection teams.
We are a national team so would welcome applications from candidates across mainland Scotland. As an inspector you must be able to travel with occasional overnight stays as required.
About us
We are different because of our great benefits, our investment in learning and development, and the opportunity this role will give you to help shape high quality experiences in childcare across Scotland.
What you will be doing as an inspector
Making a difference through working with services delivering care for children and adults. You’ll work with people experiencing services, service providers, managers and staff and be confident in supporting and advising on improving outcomes for children and adults.
Click here to watch a short video on what one of our inspectors has said about their role.
The skills you need
If you think this job is where you can make a real difference to service user’s experiences, there are a few things you need. Whilst it’s important to have the basics, we will support you in developing your skillset as an inspector throughout your journey with us.
You’ll be confident about what good-quality care and learning looks like and how to deliver it across the sector. You’ll be resilient and adaptable, can work on your own initiative or as part of a team, manage competing priorities, build effective networks with partners, and have strong communication skills. Equally, you’ll be good at analysing information and evidence, and you’ll have excellent writing skills to produce reports that are clear, concise, and focused on outcomes. You will have a sound and insightful understanding of the challenges facing the sector and be an advocate for service users recognising what is important to them.
We need you to have a relevant qualification (minimum SCQF Level 9) and be registered or eligible to register with a professional body like the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) or General Teaching Council (GTC). Please see further information at the bottom of this advert on recent updates to the registration process for the SSSC.
All new entrants will start on the grade minimum for the role however we have a generous benefits package which is highlighted below.
Salary and benefits
- Salary: £46,569 - £54,975 plus excellent benefits.
- Network of offices across Scotland.
- Flexible Hours: 140 hours to be worked over a 4-week period.
- Up to 37 days annual leave (after 5 years’ service) + 6 fixed public holidays.
- Contract: Permanent, two-year secondment, or locum (where candidates have previously worked for us as inspectors).
We desire 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.
In addition to our excellent benefits package, we also pride ourselves on the values we hold, person-centred; fairness; respect; efficiency and integrity - all supported with a culture of care and kindness. We’re proud to be a progressive, supportive employer, and equality, diversity and inclusion are important to us.
What next?
Click here to find out more on our careers site. You can also contact the Recruitment team at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further information.
If you’re ready to apply now, please click here to access our gateway questions and application form. access the application form. Your application should be received no later than Monday 3 March 2025 at 08:00.
The Care Inspectorate is committed to recruiting, retaining and developing a workforce that reflects the diverse communities that we serve. It is vital that we monitor and analyse diversity information so that we can identify how we can improve the way we meet the needs of our applicants and staff. To assist us to monitor the effectiveness of our equality and diversity practices, we would encourage you to complete the equalities monitoring form at the end of the application form.
We anticipate holding Stage 1 of our assessment process between Friday 14 - Monday 17 March, and Stage 2 no earlier than Monday 7 April 2025 over a 2 week period at one of our main offices.
If you successfully complete our selection process, we’ll either confirm you’re the preferred candidate for a suitable vacancy (based on your specialism and location) or you’ll be invited to join our talent pool for future vacancies that would be suitable for you.
Registration information and process
As an Inspector you will support the Assurance and Improvement Directorate to ensure that the Care Inspectorate meets its responsibilities as defined by the Public Services Reform Act 2010 and other relevant legislation.
The successful applicant must be registered with a professional body (this can be NMC, GTCS, NMC, HCPC, SSSC), within three months of appointment.
For SSSC registration, there is a specific registration category for Care Inspectorate Authorised Officers (AO). Regulated Care Inspectors who register with SSSC will do so as a Primary Authorised Officer under both types of work (Social Care and Children & Young People). Primary Authorised Officers will require to complete a Professional Development Award in Scrutiny and Improvement Practice within 5 years of initial registration.
Employees will be expected to maintain registration with the same professional body throughout their employment in the Care Inspectorate. This includes employees working in authorised officer roles who are recruited to the Care Inspectorate based on their registration with the NMC, GTCS, HCPC or other recognised professional body. It is a contractual requirement to maintain registration with the same professional body and employees should not transfer their registration to the SSSC from another recognised professional body, including the NMC, GTCS or HCPC.
Job profile
Person specification
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.
Planning Coordinator
Role: Planning Coordinator
Salary: £31,938 - £35,328
Hours: 35 hours per week
Location: Flexible – Any Care Inspectorate office across Scotland
Contract: Temporary for 12 months (potential for further extension)
About the role
The Care Inspectorate's role is to regulate and inspect care and support services, carry out scrutiny of social work services and conduct joint inspections with other scrutiny partners of services for adults and children. We have a significant role in providing assurance and protection for people who use services, their families and carers and the wider public as well as supporting delivery partners to improve the quality of care for people in Scotland.
In this demanding and challenging role you will manage and co-ordinate the delivery of national inspection planning across a wide range of social care services and services for children and adults. This role ensures that the Care Inspectorate makes the best use of its resources and performs effectively and efficiently as an independent scrutiny and improvement body. This will include the management, co-ordination and delivery of scrutiny and improvement planning activities and plans for the current year. As well as draft plans for subsequent years, ensuring inspection planning activities are consistent with the Care Inspectorate’s objectives and targets.
About you
You will have a strong operational background in planning activities, together with workload planning, prioritisation and allocation experience.
You will be educated to SCQF level 7 (e.g., Advanced Higher, Higher National Certificate (HNC), Professional Development Award, Certificate of Higher Education, Modern Apprenticeship, SVQ, etc.) or have relevant skills and experience in planning coordination.
You will also have supervisory experience and demonstrate a broad level of knowledge of working within inspection/regulation of care and associated IT systems. In addition, you will have excellent communication skills and the ability to translate plans into action.
Next steps
You’ll find more information in the job profile and person specification.
For an informal discussion about the above post, please contact Deborah Holroyd, Head of Business Change 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.
If you believe that you are a suitable candidate for this post, please download and complete an application form and an equal opportunities 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 April 2024.
It is anticipated that the assessment for this post will be held in person around 8 May 2024. The assessment will be a competency based interview and a skills exercise.
Planning assistant
Job title: Planning Assistant
Salary: £27,696 - £30,357
Hours: 35 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.
We desire 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
Working as part of the inspection planning team, you will provide comprehensive support in the delivery of all inspection planning activity. You will have a key role in the development and delivery of the Care Inspectorate’s planning resources. Working with colleagues, internal and external, to devise and implement a range of initiatives, ensuring that the Care Inspectorate develops sound policies, procedures and practices in relation to its planning activities.
About you
You will have excellent interpersonal and organisational skills, be highly skilled in all Microsoft Office packages, particularly Microsoft Excel, and be experienced in manipulating data. You should also be able to work on your own initiative and enjoy a challenge.
You should be educated to SCQF level 4.
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 Judy Gilmour - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Sarah McMaster 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.
If you believe that your skills, experience and motivation make you a suitable candidate for this post, complete the online application form by 08:00 on Monday 3 March 2025.
It is anticipated that interviews will be held in the week beginning 17 March 2025 at our Dundee office.
About Us
Inspector - Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) (0)
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.