Procurement
Supplier payments
We are committed to the ‘Confederation of British Industry Prompt Payment Code’ for the payment of bills for goods and services we receive. It is our policy to make payments in accordance with the Scottish Government’s instructions on prompt payment and a target payment within 10 days.
National Fraud Initiative (NFI)
We participate in the NFI under powers introduced by the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Act 2010 and incorporated in Part 2A of the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000. The information we provide can be found here.
The exercise uses computerised techniques to compare electronic data held within and transferred between public and private sector, to identify the existence of possible fraud or error.
Our overarching privacy notice also provides details of your rights in relation to data processing, including the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner. If you have any queries about Data Protection in the Care Inspectorate, please contact our data protection officer via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Procurement has a significant role to play to achieve the Care Inspectorate’s objectives, and our seven key principles are reflected in our procurement strategy.
Our 2023-2026 Procurement Strategy:
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sets out our priorities and proposals for procurement over the planning period
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identifies those factors that will influence the way in which we manage the procurement process
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describes the arrangements for monitoring and evaluating the strategy.
Public Contracts Scotland
Our contracts register for all competitively advertised contracts exceeding £50,000 is published on the Public Contracts Scotland portal. We publish high value tenders on the Public Contracts Scotland (PCS) advertising website. We encourage businesses to register for free on this site. It will give you access to a large number of high and low value public authority contract opportunities across Scotland, including the Care Inspectorate. You can also view our profile.
We do not maintain an internal register of suppliers or have an approved supplier list.
It covers lower value contract opportunities but also those above the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) threshold.
Our conditions of contract
- Conditions of contract for the purchase of goods
- Conditions of contract for the supply of services
- Conditions of contract for the supply of consultancy services
- Conditions of contract for the supply of goods and related services
Our procurement practices - values and promotion of tenders
As a public sector organisation our procurement activity is guided by legislation and best practice, with the route being determined by the potential total value of the contract.
- Less than £10K - the principles of adequate competition apply
- Between £10K and £50K – most commonly advertised on the Public Contracts Scotland portal, utilising the Quick Quote facility
- Greater than £50K but below the GPA threshold - most commonly advertised on the Public Contracts Scotland portal, utilising the Notice facility
- GPA threshold and above - Advertised in both Find a Tender Service and the Public Contracts Scotland portal, utilising the Notice facility
Supplier opportunities, guidance and support - useful websites
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A national Dynamic Purchasing reserved for Supported Businesses has been established to provide products and services to the Scottish public sector.
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The Online Supplier Journey makes it easier for Scottish companies to bid for work in the public sector.
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The website guides firms, large and small, through each step in the process – setting out what to expect from buyers and what is expected of them, simplifying guidance, making it easier to understand. It is particularly useful for small businesses.
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The journey guides businesses through the process of applying for contracts, making the system more streamlined and easier to understand and has been developed with the help of Scottish companies who have already gone through the process.
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The Single Point of Enquiry is an independent, impartial and confidential service for suppliers to the public sector in Scotland. The service offers advice on the procurement rules which must be followed by public bodies in Scotland and information on how contracts are advertised and awarded. If you have concerns about a specific tender exercise, they can work with you and the buying organisation to try and resolve your concerns. They do not have formal powers to investigate suppliers’ concerns or change decisions made by buying organisations. Feedback from suppliers contributes to improvements in public procurement practices in Scotland.
- Scottish Enterprise Net Zero Accelerator Tool – this is designed to help businesses work towards a net zero future using practical, inclusive and data-led solutions.
The Supplier Development Programme (SDP)
Scotland’s free tender training service for SME’s is a programme of tender training events.
The programme has been designed to ensure that SME’s can easily progress through the various different course levels with free events in or near their business location, plus many of the courses can be accessed online via webinar, reducing the time burden on small businesses being out of the office.
The programme includes a wealth of courses, including “hot topics” such as Community Benefits and Sustainable Procurement, as well as core issues such as finding contracts and completing ESPDs. So whether you are just starting out and wish to find out about how to work with the public sector or need to improve your tender skills, SDP will have a course for you. Please click on the following link to browse and book a course and get tender ready: https://www.sdpscotland.co.uk/events-training/
Supplier Cyber Security
Cyber-attacks (such as phishing, ransomware, hacking, etc.) are becoming an increasing threat to our economy and society. No internet-connected organisation, however large or small, is immune.
Cyber-attacks may be targeted at specific organisations or individuals, or untargeted, where attackers indiscriminately attack as many vulnerable machines or users connected to the internet as possible. These attacks are as real a risk to the small business that relies on a database of customers to distribute its goods as they are to multinational banking organisations.
As part of the Scottish Public Sector Action Plan on Cyber Resilience Scotland’s public sector organisations are encouraged to adopt a common approach to supplier cyber security. Links to authoritative sources of advice and support can be found at the Scottish Government Cyber Resilience website.
The NCSC’s small business and charities guides can be found at National Cyber Security Centre - NCSC.GOV.UK
You can get a free digital health check and 1:1 support at Business Gateway's Digital Boost.
Annual Procurement Report
Our progress towards achieving our strategic procurement priorities has been published in our CI Annual Procurement Report 2022-23. This report also provides information on our regulated procurement activity for 22-23 and our planned procurement activity for the two year period 2023-25.
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Work with us
Who we are and what we do
As the scrutiny and improvement body for social care and social work in Scotland, we exist to ensure services are of the highest quality and meet people’s needs.
The Care Inspectorate is a dynamic and rewarding place to work. Our staff are passionate, talented and knowledgeable with experience from a range of different backgrounds. We share a common commitment to high-quality care and we make a real difference to people’s lives.
If you want to make a difference and champion high-quality care that meets the needs, rights and choices of people across Scotland, join us at the Care Inspectorate.
Whatever role you have, your experience and contributions are valued, and you will be a vital part of our unique and influential organisation.
Our values are at the heart of our organisation and guide everything we do. You can find more about our values in our Strategic Workforce Plan.
Our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
We want future employees to understand and recognise the importance we give to equality, diversity and inclusion and we would like to attract candidates who can demonstrate this commitment too.
Please read our Equality, diversity and inclusion statement of intent.
We want to increase the diversity of our workforce. We especially welcome applications from people with disabilities, people with care experience, people from a minority ethnic background, young people, men (we currently have 79% female workforce) and people from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans community. We want a workforce that reflects the wider Scottish population that we serve.
As a human rights organisation, we recognise that protected characteristic groups face multiple barriers in the employment sector. We take evidence-based positive action steps to ensure our workforce (including volunteers) is diverse, inclusive and respects human rights. This aligns with the Equality Act 2010.
We invite protected characteristic groups to explore any recruitment challenges and connect with us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to arrange a meeting.
Disability confident - guaranteed interview scheme
The Care Inspectorate has achieved Disability Confident Level 2 status (The Employer Award). We are continuing to take steps to help disabled people to fulfil their potential. 
In practical terms this means, if a candidate has a disability and meets our essential criteria for a job, they are eligible through the guaranteed interview scheme and would automatically be shortlisted for interview. It also means that we will plan for, and make reasonable adjustments to, the assessment and interview process – for example, small things such as allowing candidates to complete a written test using a computer or by giving more time can make a substantial difference to how well a candidate can perform at interview. We will also make sure that people involved in the interviewing process understand the Disability Confident commitment and know how to offer and make adjustments.
Our action plan will be collaborated on and shared to ensure we commit to the level 2 status. Further information about the Disability Confident Award and what this means is available on their website.
If you have a disability and require a reasonable adjustment(s) to apply for a job with us, please reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to arrange a discussion. For support with the interview process and/or during employment, please note this on your application form.
Care experienced - guaranteed interview scheme
We recognise care experience as someone who has been formally looked after by a local authority, in the family home (with support from social services or a social worker), in kinship care with family, friends or relatives (including informal kinship care), foster care, residential or secure care or legally adopted.
We want to encourage applications from individuals who are care experienced, enabling access to employment, education, experiences, and volunteering opportunities.
We are committed to offering care experienced candidates an automatic interview if they meet the essential criteria detailed in the job profile. It could also mean that we will plan for, and make reasonable adjustments to, the assessment and interview process, for example, allowing candidates to see the interview questions in advance of the interview, or by asking questions in a different way. These small adjustments can make a substantial difference to how well a care experienced candidate can perform at interview, for instance help with travelling to interview, adjusting timing and format of interview. We will also make sure that people involved in the interviewing process understand our commitment to care experienced people and know how to support the adjustments, not only at the recruitment stage but during employment too.
Support can be provided where a care experienced candidate has given consent. Individuals can choose to disclose whether they are care experienced or not; and choose to accept additional support or not at any stage of recruitment and or employment. Where support is requested, we are able to deliver tailored support in an appropriate way.
If you are care experienced and need support prior to applying or with the application process, please contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. For support with the interview process and/or during employment, please note this on your application form.
Minority ethnic communities
We are committed to initiatives to create organisational and cultural change around race equality and to foster an environment which encourages diversity, including anti-racism in the workplace. The Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Organisations (CEMVO) Scotland and a number of staff networks (including our race equality in employment group) have helped develop our race equality in employment plan.
We are keen to receive applications from people from minority ethnic communities. If any support is needed with our application and interview process, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Young people
We encourage applications from all ages and want a workforce that reflects the wider population that we serve. We especially welcome applications from young people to align with our commitment to the Young Persons Guarantee in providing opportunities for young individuals to secure employment or training. We recognise by diversifying the age demographic within our workforce this will contribute to building a stronger, more resilient workforce for the future and acknowledge our vital role in creating opportunities for Young People as they prepare for and take their first steps into the world of work.
We are committed to supporting the Young Person's Guarantee and work closely with Skills Development Scotland to offer modern apprenticeships.
If you need assistance with applications or interviews, feel free to reach out to us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Awards and charters
We are proud to have achieved a number of awards and accreditations of recognition and accomplishment. We believe that the work undertaken and time invested in attaining these awards and accreditations grows and embeds and inclusive culture within the Care Inspectorate. These also represent our commitment to embracing best practices and our responsibility to keeping our skills and knowledge up-to-date.
You can click here to view all of our awards and charters.
More than just a job
We’ve got a lot to offer and you’ll be joining a great team where you’ll be able to contribute right from the start.
We’re passionate about our work and making a difference
Our expert workforce champions high-quality care and we work collaboratively with other organisations and the care sector to share good practice and support and spread improvement and innovation across Scotland. We also use the evidence and intelligence we gather to help shape and influence local and national policy and practice.
We value and listen to our staff so we can learn together
We work hard to make sure everyone feels involved and appreciated, with a sense of belonging. Learning and improvement are at the heart of what we do. We go out of our way to listen to all of our staff and act on what they say, so we can learn and improve together.
We invest in our staff to make sure you can give your best
We know that to perform at our best we need great people. So, we provide training and support you to be the best you can be and provide opportunities to learn, develop and share your skills and experience with others. You can also participate in our coaching programme which offers access to one off or blocks of coaching with a coach of your choice.
If you’re registered with a professional body, we provide support for continuing professional development (CPD) and
re-validation. Everyone participates in regular supervision through our LEAD (learn, experience, achieve and development) performance and development process.
If you join us as an inspector, we will also offer you an accredited and highly respected professional qualification through our scrutiny and improvement practice development award.
We’ll make sure you fit right in
You will be warmly welcomed and have access to a range of activities including induction to your team, the organisation and your role. We offer a friendly and supportive place to work, where our values underpin the work we do and how we work together. Find out more about our induction process here.
We work hard to create a healthy working environment where your wellbeing is supported
We encourage a healthy work-life balance. We have a number of policies in place that support flexible working and time off when you need it, such as flexi-time, flexible hours, home/hybrid working, carers leave and special leave. The vast majority of our people work flexibly and value how this supports their work-life balance. We also offer access to a wide range of wellbeing initiatives, including specialist webinars, videos, podcasts, counselling, a listening service and access to the unmind app.
As we open up our offices again, you’ll be able to work from home and the office, as part of our hybrid working model.
Total rewards package
We offer an excellent total rewards package – it is a comprehensive and strategic approach to employee compensation and benefits, that aligns with the Care Inspectorates’ aims. It encompasses various elements that will contribute to your overall employee experience, including compensation, benefits, work-life balance, and development.
Please see our total rewards package.
Our offices
We have offices all over Scotland.
Sign up to our enewsletter and select ‘vacancies’ as a topic of interest to stay updated with our vacancies.
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Volunteering
Become a young inspection volunteer
We inspect care and social work services to make sure they are high quality and meet the needs of people who use them. We believe we can make care better by working with people who have personal experience of care.
Our involvement and equalities charter outlines how we involve people who use care services and informal carers in our work.
If you have personal experience of using a service or you have cared for someone close who has used a service, there are many ways you can get involved with us. You do not have to have any qualifications. You must be aged between 18-27 to apply.
Training dates
We are holding training on the followiung dates:
Week 1:
- Tuesday 13 August
- Wednesday 14 August
- Thursday 15 August
Week 2:
- Wednesday 21 August
- Thursday 22 August
Applicants must be available to attend all training dates.
How to apply
You can apply to become a young inspection volunteer by completing our application form:
- online (Microsoft Forms)
- by printing a paper copy (PDF) and posting it to Participation and Equalities Team, Compass House, 11 Riverside Drive, Dundee, DD1 4NY
- or we can support you to submit an application.
For more information you can download our information leaflet.
Hear what some of our young inspection volunteers said below.
If you would like to find out more about becoming a young inspection volunteer, need help to complete the application form or would like us to post you an application form - please email Julie Brown at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Consultations
We are committed to consulting with all our stakeholders about our work. We value your thoughts and welcome any comments that you have.
Sign up to our consultation platform to stay up to date with all our open consultations.
Open consultations
We have no consultations right now.
Closed consultations
Shared inspection framework for ELC services including childminding and school-aged childcare
The Care Inspectorate and Education Scotland are working together to progress the development of a shared inspection framework. We would like to thank all those who took time out of their very busy schedules to complete the consultation and provide valuable feedback to support the ongoing development of the shared inspection framework. We are working to address the feedback and issues raised in the consultation as we move forward in developing the shared framework. We remain committed to delivering a shared framework for the sector in September 2024.
Depriving and restricting liberty for children and young people in care home, school care and secure accommodation services
We would like to thank everyone who responded to the above consultation. We recognise that services are treading a delicate balance between taking necessary action to keep children and young people safe, whilst not unnecessarily restricting liberty. Our new position paper aims to set out our attitude, expectation, and actions around the restriction and deprivation of liberty in care home, school care and secure accommodation services. This includes circumstances where children and young people may be deprived of their liberty, where their liberty is restricted, or where this is a risk through environmental design and/or care practices. You can see the paper here.
Staffing method framework
We would like to thank everyone who responded to the above consultation. We will review this feedback and issue a repsonse shortly.
Mainstream Boarding Schools and School Hostels Design Guide
We would like to thank everyone who responded to the above consultation. We will review this feedback and issue a repsonse shortly.
Review of our Technology and Digital Opportunities Guide
We would like to thank everyone who responded to the above consultation between March 21 and April 11 2021. You can review the feedback from this consultation here.
Corporate Plan 2022-25
We would like to thank everyone who responded to the above consultation between October 26 and November 28 2021. We will review this feedback and issue a repsonse shortly.
Draft policy position in relation to registration, and variation of existing conditions, for services for adults with learning disabilities and/or autistic adults where support is linked to accommodation
We would like to thank everyone who responded to the above consultation between November 8 and December 5 2021. You can review the feedback from this consultation here.
Care Homes for Adults – The Design Guide and Care Homes for Children and Young People – The Design Guide
We would like to thank everyone who responded to the above consultation between 21 June and 19 July 2021. You can review the feedback from this consultation, and our response to the feedback below:
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Our staff
Our workforce is highly skilled and experienced in all aspects of social care. Over 600 staff work across Scotland, inspecting thousands of services.
Our inspectors work in specialist national teams that allow best practice to be shared across the country. We also want to make sure that the people inspecting care services have frontline experience in the same sector.
We believe that people in Scotland should experience a better quality of life as a result of accessible, excellent services that are designed and delivered to reflect their individual needs and promote their rights.
Our values are:
1. Person-centered: we will put people at the heart of everything we do
2. Fairness: we will act fairly, be transparent and treat people equally
3. Respect: we will be respectful in all that we do
4. Integrity: we will be impartial and act to improve care for the people of Scotland
5. Efficiency: we will provide the best possible quality and public value from our work
6. Equality: we will promote and advance equality, diversity and inclusion in all our work and interactions
Our 11 offices are based throughout the country from the Borders right up to the Shetlands Isles. Find an office near you.
It is important to remember that all Care Inspectorate staff carry identification and you should ask to see this. If you are not sure of the person who has called or visited you, you should call us on 0345 600 9527 to confirm their identity.
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