Inspector (early learning and childcare services)
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
You’ll have recent experience of supporting the delivery of high-quality care and learning for children and you will have significant knowledge of current developments and challenges within the sector. With your expertise in ELC, including school age childcare and childminding, you’ll share our determination that care services should work well for children – every time.
We’re currently recruiting for vacancies in our inspection teams. We welcome applications from candidates across mainland Scotland and in particular we would like to see applications from applicants who are fluent in the Gaelic language or willing to develop their skills in this area.
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 and learning for children. You’ll listen carefully to children, and their families to understand what is important to them. You will evaluate their experience of ELC, childminding or school aged childcare services. You will engage with care service providers, managers and staff and be confident in advising on improvement to support services to deliver improved outcomes for children.
The skills you need
If you think this job is where you can make a real difference to children’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 ELC 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 ELC sector and be an advocate for children 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: £46,116 - £54,441 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 (for those who have previously been inspectors with us in the last two years).
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.
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.
This is an exciting time to join the Care Inspectorate, with an opportunity to be at the heart of change as we consider the impact of the ELC expansion and the future expansion of one year old care and the Scottish Government’s commitment to school aged childcare. Playing our part in delivering on the Promise to Scotland’s children and young people.
We’ve recently changed our recruitment process and how we assess new people and now is the perfect time to come and join 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. You’ll also find more information in the job profile and person specification.
If you’re ready to apply now, please click here to access our gateway questions and application form. Your application should be received no later than 08:00 on Monday 3 June 2024.
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 on Monday 24 - Tuesday 25 June 2024, and Stage 2 no earlier than Monday 8 July 2024 over a 2 week period.
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 Scrutiny & Assurance Directorate, and Strategy & 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 role of Inspector supports or conducts regulatory or strategic scrutiny activity by exercising ‘authorised person’ functions in terms of the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act or secondary legislation made thereunder are ancillary to the Care Inspectorate’s primary authorised officer role and are defined as secondary authorised officers. This role supports or conducts regulatory or strategic scrutiny activity; however, the role purpose is broader than simply exercising the organisation’s inspection powers defined in the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 and secondary legislation made thereunder.
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.
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Corporate parenting
Corporate Parents are public bodies with legal duties and responsibilities towards care experienced children and young people. Part 9 of the Children and Young People (Scotland) Act, 2014 relates to Corporate Parenting. This applies to every child who is looked after by a local authority, and every young person under the age of 26, who was looked after on their 16th birthday.
Our organisation is one of a list of 24 corporate parents mentioned in the Act.
A person is care experienced if they have ever been looked after by a local authority; whether that be in foster care, kinship care, residential care, secure care, or if they have been subject to compulsory measures of supervision at home. Children and young people who are care experienced have among the poorest outcomes of all children and young people in Scotland. It is our job as corporate parents to try and improve this.
In 2020, we took the decision to refer to care experienced young people as “our children and young people”. This reflects our values, responsibilities and commitments as corporate parents.
As a corporate parent, we expect to carry out many of the roles any parent should. We have a duty to work with other corporate parents, to best meet our shared responsibilities, promote the wellbeing of our children and young people and keep them safe from harm.
Our Corporate Parenting Report (2017-2020)
Our corporate parenting group has made some significant achievements during the three-year cycle of our plan, which are discussed in our corporate parenting report (2017-2020). We also have a version of our corporate parenting report for children and young people.
Some of our key achievements and improvement include:
- The development of a complaints text service for children and young people and improved materials to inform children and young people on how they can make a complaint.
- Personal care planning guidance: our children and young people have personal plans. These give guidance to care services on how to meet their needs, wishes and choices. We met 120 of our children and young people to help them develop these to a high standard.
- Our young inspection volunteers support a range of our inspection activities. This short video provides a little insight into how they help us engage with children and young people meaningfully.
- We have worked with Who Cares? Scotland and our young inspection volunteers to develop and deliver training for all board members, executive group members and senior managers.
Our Corporate Parenting Plan (2021-2023)
Our Corporate Parenting Plan (2021-2023) has six high level commitments with four areas of focus and a set of detailed actions. We have also developed a version of our Corporate Parenting Plan for Children and Young People.
We pledge to listen to our children and young people, take action and do our best to improve their life chances. These are our six commitments. The action plan in our Corporate Parenting Plan (2021-2023) shows in detail how we will meet them:
- We will strive to meet the needs of our young people and promote their rights.
- We will listen to our young people and we will learn how their experiences of the ‘care system’ can best shape our approach to scrutiny, engagement and improvement to help improve the lives of others.
- We will continue to inspect different services and partnerships and report on how well they work together. We will help services share what works well and learn from what needs to improve, to help make sure that our young people get the right support at the right time.
- When one of our young people makes a complaint about the care they receive, we will take that complaint seriously and we will respond in a timely, thorough and proportionate way. We will always provide feedback to the person who made the complaint in a way that they will understand.
- We will improve opportunities for our young people to develop skills, experience, and confidence to achieve their personal, employment and career ambitions.
- We will work with other corporate parents to make sure that together we can do our best for our young people.
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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 with the LGBT Charter who support us as 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
In 2018, we were awarded LGBT Youth Scotland’s Foundation Charter award.
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.
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Personal Assistant to the Interim Executive Director of Transformation, ICT & Digital
Location: Dundee
Salary: £22,425 - £23,964
Contract: Temporary until 31 March 2022 – potential for extension
About the role
The Care Inspectorate is a scrutiny body that supports improvement in care. Our vision is that people across Scotland receive high quality care that meets their needs, rights and choices. We are a national organisation, employing in excess of 600 staff working across our network of offices and from home.
Reporting to the Executive Support Officer, you will be responsible for providing an efficient and effective confidential tailored support service to the interim Director of Transformation, ICT and Digital.
This role will include organising and preparing documents, preparation of meeting papers and taking minutes for specific directorate meetings together with composing routine correspondence, diary management and arranging travel and accommodation. In addition, you will be required to develop and administer a system for dealing with enquiries, recording, acknowledging receipt of and re-directing letters and monitoring progress of responses with limited direction.
You will be an excellent organiser and communicator with proactive and friendly inter-personal skills together with a multi-tasking ability and flexible approach, working well under pressure to meet tight deadlines.
You will have excellent word processing and IT skills with experience of Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and experience of diary management and minute taking.
You can find out more about the role in the person specification, job profile and job advert.
Next steps
If you believe that your expertise and motivation make you suitable for this post, please complete an application and return by email to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 8am on Wednesday 14 April 2021. Interviews will be held by Teams video call on Wednesday 21 April 2021.
If you require any further information, or for an informal chat, please contact Claire Corbett (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) Please note that initially you will be required to work from home due to the current covid situation.
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Our jobs
We are hiring for the below vacancies:
-
Applications Manager (closes 08:00 on Monday 15 July 2024)
-
Transactions Assistant (closes 08:00 on Monday 15 July 2024)
- Information Governance Lead (closes 08:00 on Monday 29 July 2024)
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