Person specification
Job title: Planning Coordintor
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Attributes |
Essential |
Desireable
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Experience
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Experience of collaborative/ partnership working.
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Education, qualifications and training |
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Skills and knowledge |
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Understanding of project management.
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Key performance outcomes |
Essential |
Desirable |
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Planning and organising |
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Management of resources |
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Impact and influence |
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Ability to take account of wider political and organisational sensitivities to deliver strategic objectives. |
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Objective decision making |
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Effective communication |
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Please note – these are key performance outcomes to be used to recruit into the role. Successful applicants will be assessed against all the performance indicators used in the Performance Development Review System once established in the role.
Job profile
Job title: Senior Improvement Adviser - Registered Nurse (focus on health and wellbeing)
Reporting to: Quality Improvement Manager (Health and Social Care Improvement Team)
Principal working contacts
Internal
- Quality Improvement Manager and Chief Nurse
- Health and Social Care Improvement Team
- Chief Inspectors
- Head of Quality Improvement and Participation
- Quality Improvement Support Team
- Involvement and Equalities Team
- Senior Leadership Team
- Scrutiny and Assurance Service Managers, Team Managers, and Inspectors
- Policy Team Intelligence Team and Communications team
External
- Scottish Government policy leads
- Service providers and care service staff
- Other regulatory, scrutiny and improvement bodies
- NHS boards staff and agencies, local authorities, partnerships, and integrated joint boards
- National specialist groups, e.g. Continence specialists, Nutrition specialists
- Members of the public and other stakeholders
- Professional Bodies and Royal Colleges
Job purpose
Working alongside the Care Inspectorate’s Chief nurse and Quality Improvement Manager and under the umbrella of Quality Improvement and with close collaboration with Scrutiny and Assurance. The post holder will promote standards and good practice in nursing-based care and support:
- Provide all round knowledge of the health and wellbeing of adults and older people in addition to specialist skills and knowledge in one of the following areas:
- tissue viability
- nutrition
- promoting continence
- palliative and end of life care
- frailty
- Provide general health and wellbeing advice, guidance to all teams in across the Care Inspectorate, and signpost where appropriate to specific support.
- Lead and develop aspects of the Care Inspectorate’s health and social care quality improvement functions based on current and emerging models of delivery that will facilitate improvements in practice in care services and improve the outcomes for people experiencing care.
- Build the capability and confidence of inspectors across inspection, complaints, and registration teams, in specific topic areas, supporting their learning and development and keeping the evidence base of practice current.
- To support and shape scrutiny methodology as needed.
- Develop resources to support the health and wellbeing of people experiencing care for use both internally and externally.
- Build and develop strategic partnerships across the health and social care landscape to support the delivery of health and wellbeing improvement advice and quality improvement support.
Key responsibilities
- To build capacity for health and wellbeing quality improvement in the care sector and in the Care Inspectorate, across all scrutiny and quality improvement activities.
- To ensure professional advice is provided and sourced to support the Care Inspectorate in the delivery of its scrutiny and improvement activities.
- To lead the development of specific health and wellbeing focused quality illustrations / indicators, tools and improvement support materials to support the current inspection frameworks for use by inspectors and in care services.
- To develop and maintain the relationships with national bodies/improvement bodies to co-create developments in health and social care improvement, developing guidance, sharing good practice, and expert advice and support.
- To lead in ensuring the development of effective practice materials for use by inspectors and care services.
- To advise on quality improvement design and delivery to ensure the scrutiny and improvement plan is met, and to determine impact, ensuring that health and wellbeing priorities are addressed.
- To provide expert advice and guidance to internal and external stakeholders on health and wellbeing improvement in social care.
- To promote the Care Inspectorate’s improvement work and to maintain the organisation’s reputation for supporting the development of high-quality, safe, compassionate care.
- To establish and maintain robust working relationships with stakeholders across the health and social care sectors.
- To maintain and further develop skills in quality improvement and safety including coaching, mentorship and facilitation of staff and managers both internally and externally.
- To challenge outdated and unsafe practice directly with service providers, sharing evidence from research and expert advice to shift practice and achieve the necessary improvement in care quality.
- To support the delivery of the Care Inspectorate’s corporate plan.
- Monitor, evaluate, and report on all key areas and tasks advising on progress and challenges regularly.
- To carry out any other reasonable tasks necessary to support the Care Inspectorate’s business.
Relationship management
- Work with the Care Inspectorate’s Chief Nurse, Quality Improvement Manager, Head of Improvement Support and Chief Inspectors to develop and facilitate a comprehensive approach to relationship management between the Care Inspectorate and various parts of the health and social care sector.
- Ensure effective communication of the Care Inspectorate’s quality improvement support role in social care to practitioners and managers in the health sector.
- Demonstrate a commitment to the Care Inspectorate’s aims, vision and values and to the Care Inspectorate’s overall objective of improving care in Scotland.
Other duties
This job may require extensive travel and involve overnight stays. This job profile is a broad picture of the post at the date of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time. Consequently, the post holder will be required to carry out any other duties to the equivalent level that are necessary to fulfil the purpose of the job, and to respond positively to changing business needs.
The post holder will be expected to work autonomously in the main but also within a group, with agreed priorities and objectives. Objectives for this post will be agreed jointly with the relevant line manager and Head of Improvement Support and will be reviewed on a regular basis.
Job profile
Job title: Information Governance Lead
Responsible to: Head of Intelligence
Principal working contacts
Internal
- Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO)
- Deputy SIRO
- Executive Directors and senior managers
- Information Asset Owners and Administrators
- Internal subject matter experts in related disciplines
- Head of IT Service Delivery, Organisation and Workforce Development, Legal
- Services and Customer Services
- Information Governance Team
- Managers and employees of the Care Inspectorate
External
- UK Information Commissioner
- Scottish Information Commissioner (SIC)
- National Records of Scotland
- Care Inspectorate strategic partners
- Care service providers and people experiencing care
- Members of the public
Job purpose
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. They will also assure the Care Inspectorate that it is meeting its statutory and legal obligations and be capable of acting as Data Protection Officer as defined under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018 and Data Protection Act 2018.
The post holder will lead on delivering information governance support across the Care Inspectorate, supported by the Deputy SIRO and the Information Governance team, and will bear responsibility for performance and/or service delivery. The post holder will be responsible for managing their own and their team’s workload ensuring that work is completed to the required high standard in a timely fashion. The post holder must possess highly developed specialist knowledge, underpinned by theory and experience.
Key responsibilities/accountabilities
Operational management
- Develop and implement corporate strategy, policies and procedures to support IG and effective use of information, in line with business and legal requirements and ensure that they are kept up to date and in line with changes to the Care Inspectorate’s internal and external operating environment.
- Coordinate the identification, assessment, reporting and management of risk in relation to all aspects of information governance (IG) within the Care Inspectorate, including regular review of the Information Risk Register and reporting to the Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) and Senior Management Team.
- Monitor and report on compliance and performance as required by Care Inspectorate governance arrangements and lead on creating and implementing improvement plans.
- Be capable of acting as Data Protection Officer for the Care Inspectorate and acting as key contact with the supervisory authority and leading on preparations for and on-going compliance with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation and revised UK Data Protection Act.
- Support the proportionate, lawful and secure use and sharing of personal data, implementing, monitoring, auditing and reviewing the Data Processing Contracts, Information Sharing Protocols, Privacy notices, Data Protection Impact Assessments and Compliance Checks.
- Develop, oversee and monitor IG training for staff, implement clear and robust information and data handling standards and procedures, raise awareness of IG responsibilities, and promote awareness and best practice.
- Coordinate and manage the organisation’s response to information security vulnerabilities and incidents.
- Coordinate and manage responses to all statutory requests for information received by the organisation, including Subject Access Requests and Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act requests.
- Develop and maintain corporate information governance tools and standards, for example, business and security classifications, metadata schemes, lifecycle retention schedules and information asset registers and ensure local implementation and compliance.
- Manage delivery of the Care Inspectorate’s Records Management.
- Improvement Plan and act as the statutory contact for Records Management, as required under the Public Records (Scotland) Act 2011.
- Support improvement of current record creation and record keeping standards to ensure that the Care Inspectorate is holding adequate records of business activity and decision making to meet statutory and legal requirements and as evidence of its accountability and transparency.
- Ensure that information governance requirements are integrated into business processes, standard operating procedures and organisational change.
- Advance the “digital by default” agenda and exploit opportunities to automate information governance through technology solutions and tools electronic record-keeping within Care Inspectorate systems.
- Observe the provisions of and adhere to all Care Inspectorate policies and procedures.
- Carry out your duties in accordance with our Health and Safety policies, procedures, guidance, practices and legislative requirements, taking reasonable care for your safety and that of others who may be affected by what you do or fail to do while at work.
Relationship management
- Demonstrate a commitment to Care Inspectorate’s aims, vision, values and overall objective of improving care in Scotland.
- Prepare and deliver briefings, reports and presentations on IG to colleagues within and outside the Care Inspectorate in a manner that is informative, contextual and easily understood.
- Provide advice and guidance to staff on IG issues, including statutory and regulatory compliance.
- Act as a subject matter expert and staff mentor on all aspects of information governance.
- Liaise with and build professional working relationships with partner organisations on IG matters.
- Monitor individual and service performance.
- Line manage and motivates staff.
- Conduct staff appraisals.
- Ensuring that the team deliver the information governance service to the required high standard.
Other duties
This job description is a broad picture of the post at the date of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties, and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time. Consequently, the post holder will be required to carry out any other duties to the equivalent level that are necessary to fulfil the purpose of the job, and to respond positively to changing business needs.
Job profile
Job title: Personal Assistant
Responsible to: Executive Support Officer
Principal working contacts
- Executive Support Officer
- Members of the Strategy and Improvement Directorate
- Strategic Management Team
- Senior Managers
- Executive and Committee Support Manager Executive and Committee Support Team Corporate Support Team
- Scottish Government and other external bodies and partners
Job purpose
To provide high quality, confidential PA support to the Executive Director of Strategy and Improvement.
Key responsibilities
- Check and prioritise all email correspondence and meetinginvitations on behalf of the Executive Director.
- Develop and administer a system for dealing with enquiries and correspondence on behalf of the Executive Director, including composing responses to routine correspondence.
- Monitor progress of the preparation of replies by colleagues to correspondence to the Executive Director, within appropriate timescales.
- Manage and co-ordinate the Executive Director’s diary, making appointments and arranging meetings, events, booking venues, organising catering and hospitality for visitors as necessary.
- Make all travel and accommodation arrangements for the Executive Director.
- Prepare and circulate agendas and paperwork for meetings, as required.
- Attend meetings as required at our head office and at various locations across Scotland, in order to take notes/minutes and prepare action records.
- Assist in the preparation of PowerPoint presentations/speeches as required.
- Establish good working relationships in regular communication with other officers of the Care Inspectorate, external partners, Scottish Government and members of the public.
- As part of the wider Executive Support team, provide PA support cover in the absence of the other PAs.
- Carry out your duties in accordance with our Health and Safety policies, procedures, guidance, practices and legislative requirements, taking reasonable care for your safety and that of others who may be affected by what you do or fail to do while at work.
Relationship management
- Ensure productive and smooth working arrangements and protocols between staff delivering directorate support and all other Care Inspectorate employees.
- Develop and maintain constructive and co-operative working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective and efficient directorate support.
- Demonstrate a commitment to the CareInspectorate’s aims,vision and values and to the Care Inspectorate’s overall objective of improving care in Scotland.
- To ensure effective communication of the CareInspectorate's work with people who experience care, carers, relatives and advocates.
Other duties
This job may require some travel and may involve some overnight stays and unsocial hours.
This job description is a broad picture of the post at the date of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time. Consequently, the post holder will be required to carry out any other duties to the equivalent level that are necessary to fulfil the purpose of the job, and to respond positively to changing business needs.
Job profile
Job title: Senior Communications and Engagement Lead
Reporting to: Operational Transformation Lead
Principal working contacts
- Senior Transformation Business Owner
- Operational Transformation Lead
- Digital Transformation project team
- Executive Director of IT & Digital Transformation (SRO)
- Head of Corporate Policy and Communications
- Communications team
- Care Inspectorate employees/teams
- 3rd party delivery teams
- External stakeholders and providers
Job purpose
Working closely alongside the Senior Transformation Business Owner and Operational Transformation Lead, the postholder will deliver the communications and stakeholder engagement plan to inform, generate interest and enthusiasm about, and seek feedback on the Care Inspectorate’s digital transformation project with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
The postholder will identify and build high quality relationships internally and with external organisations. They will ensure that communications and engagement work undertaken supports organisational strategic objectives, including transformational change, and the communications and policy strategy.
The postholder will advise on innovative communication methods to engage with stakeholders and employees, while promoting the work of the Digital Transformation Project. The postholder will be responsible for leading key communications and engagement activities for the project, including supporting the Senior Transformation Business Owner and Executive Director of IT & Digital Transformation in delivery. This includes supporting the development and implementation of the project’s communications strategy, advising on risk, opportunities and public posture.
Key responsibilities
Strategic management
- Drive internal stakeholder management and engagement with a strategic focus to ensure seamless project communication.
- Listen to the views of and actively seek feedback from these stakeholders on the project as it develops.
- Work closely with different teams and directorates to identify key stakeholders, their needs and concerns, and develop tailored communication strategies to address them.
- Develop compelling communications content – using the organisation’s communications channels, including email, intranet, website, events and social media – to ensure stakeholders are kept informed and engaged throughout the digital transformation project.
- Provide specialist advice to project colleagues on stakeholder engagement and communication acting as a specialist point of contact.
- Lead innovative engagement approaches to keep content fresh and impactful.
- Identify and manage communication risks, ensuring timely resolution.
Operational management
- Ensure proactive and effective communication with stakeholders through a variety of channels.
- Regularly undertake activities to build trust in the work of the project.
- Manage, develop, create and deliver innovative, engaging and informative content, including presentations, newsletters, videos, and FAQs, to support the communication and engagement plan.
- Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the communications and engagement plan, and adjust strategies as necessary to ensure maximum engagement and participation from stakeholders.
- Ensure that consistent and complementary messaging is delivered across projects and communications channels and in line with the organisation’s corporate messaging.
- Provide communication advice, guidance, practical materials and assistance to colleagues as required.
- Keep abreast with key issues affecting communications, particularly in the social care sector as a whole.
Relationship management
- Develop a productive working relationship with colleagues, including the communications team and other Care Inspectorate teams.
- Ensure effective working protocols in accordance with the Care Inspectorate’s Communications, Human Resources, Finance, IT and Operations function.
- Liaise with external bodies, statutory and voluntary, to promote the work of the Care Inspectorate and share good practice, and seek feedback to inform the project.
- Represent the Care Inspectorate as required at meetings.
- Ensure effective communication of the Care Inspectorate’s work with people who use care services, carers, relatives and advocates.
- Demonstrate a commitment to the Care Inspectorate’s aims, vision and values and to the Care Inspectorate’s overall objective of improving care in Scotland.
Other duties
This job description is a broad picture of the post at the date of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time. Consequently the post holder will be required to carry out any other duties to the equivalent level that are necessary to fulfil the purpose of the job, and to respond positively to changing business needs.
This job requires some travel and may involve some overnight stays and unsocial hours.
Job profile
Job Title: Communications Co-ordinator (Safe staffing programme)
Responsible to: Communications Manager
Principal working contacts
- Communications Manager
- Communications colleagues
- Head of Corporate Policy and Communications
- Chief Nurse
- Safe staffing programme lead and team
- Managers and employees of the Care Inspectorate
- External suppliers and agencies
Job purpose
To provide communications advice and deliver communications activity to support the promotion and understanding of the safe staffing programme. Communications activity to support other projects will also be required.
Key responsibilities
- Help create and deliver a communications plan for the safe staffing programme, which aligns with the communications strategy.
- Work with the safe staffing programme team to promote its work and engage with the sector on this important area of legislation.
- Deliver a broad mix of high-quality communications solutions to tight and demanding schedules.
- Support production and promotion of the organisation’s information and promotional collateral, primarily for the safe staffing programme and for other projects as required.
- Represent external communications on project groups, taking responsibility to provide dedicated advice and support.
- Write copy in clear conversational style, following the Care Inspectorate corporate style, for a wide range of content and material, primarily for the safe staffing programme and for other projects as required.
- Edit and proof copy written by others to ensure clarity and consistency.
Relationship management
- Develop supportive and productive working relationships with colleagues.
- Ensure effective working in accordance with Care Inspectorate protocols.
- Liaise and work collaboratively with professionals and external bodies to promote the work of the Care Inspectorate and share good practice.
- Represent the Care Inspectorate as required at meetings and events.
- Ensure effective communication of the Care Inspectorate’s work with people who use care services, carers, relatives and advocates, primarily for the safe staffing programme and for other projects as required.
- Commit to the Care Inspectorate’s aims, vision and values to put people at the heart of our overall objective to improve care in Scotland.
Other duties
This job may require some travel, overnight stays and unsocial hours. This job description is a broad picture of the post at the date of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list and jobs can change and evolve over time. The post holder will be required to carry out any other duties to the equivalent level that are necessary to fulfil the purpose of the job, and to respond positively to changing business needs.
Job profile
Job title: Accountant
Responsible to: Senior Accountant
Principal working contacts
- Head of Finance and Corporate Governance
- Finance & Procurement Manager
- Senior Accountant
- Finance Officers
- Transactions Manager
- Procurement Officer
- Senior Managers in the Care Inspectorate
- Internal and External Auditors
Job purpose
Support the Finance and Procurement Manager and the Senior Accountant to deliver a comprehensive finance service to the Care Inspectorate in line with Care Inspectorate policies. This role also supports the provision of financial services to the Scottish charity regular, OSCR.
Key responsibilities
Annual budget:
- Supporting the preparation of the annual budget, including reviewing financial plans to ensure high quality budget setting and monitoring.
Budget monitoring:
- Preparing monthly budget monitoring information to budget holders to meet their individual needs.
- Support budget managers with the management of their budgets by providing financial advice and guidance in line with financial regulations and other financial processes to make sure the operational requirements of the Care Inspectorate are met.
- Ensuring financial transactions are properly recorded.
- Developing financial management reports within the financial management system.
Reconciliations and ledger control:
- Reviewing suspense and control account reconciliations monthly.
- Ensure all month and year end procedures are performed within the timescales agreed with the Senior Accountant.
- Leading on the financial management of specific grant funded projects.
- Managing cashflow and banking arrangements for the Care Inspectorate.
- Prepare monthly grant in aid claims.
Annual accounts:
- Assisting in the production of the Care Inspectorate and OSCR’’s annual statutory accounts. This includes liaising with finance staff, budget holders and auditors, and ensuring all working papers are prepared to a high standard.
- Review monthly analysis to ensure information is accurate for our statutory accounts.
Other tasks:
- Prepare draft reports to Senior Managers and Committee.
- Providing financial training and ongoing support to non-finance staff.
- Developing procedures to ensure the integrity and accuracy of financial data.
- Maintaining and developing finance systems and processes including undertaking process improvement and LEAN reviews.
- Preparing or reviewing statutory returns, as required.
- Preparation and submission of quarterly VAT returns.
- Participation in Best Value reviews, including reporting on the findings.
- Supporting the maintenance and development of the financial system.
- Working in partnership with managers and key stakeholders to jointly develop finance plans necessary to support their operational plans.
- Support the Senior Accountant to risk assess applications to register services to ensure that services understand their responsibilities and are financially resourced to establish, maintain and improve service provision.
- Keeping up to date with developments in financial regulations/legislation and best practice, sharing knowledge across the team to ensure continuous development and improvements in the service offered.
- Actively contributing to the wider aims, workload and objectives of the finance function, ensuring that they are consistent with best practice and ensuring the provision of a sound finance service across the Care Inspectorate.
People management:
- Lead, manage and provide professional advice to the Finance Officers.
- Support, develop and coach direct reports through regular 1-1 supervision and appraisal and lead on consistent, high-quality practice amongst staff and support development.
- Promote a positive and inclusive working environment which supports continuous professional development.
- Manage the Finance Officers, reviewing work, prioritising and managing workload. Carry out training and development, recruitment and absence management.
- Promote the health, safety and welfare of employees, with responsibility for ensuring that the Care Inspectorate health and safety policies, procedures and practice and legislative requirements are met across the team.
- Carry out your duties in accordance with our Health and Safety policies, procedures, guidance, practices and legislative requirements, taking reasonable care for your safety and that of others who may be affected by what you do or fail to do while at work.
- Promote diversity, equality of opportunity, fairness, dignity and trust, ensuring that these principles are upheld across all areas of service delivery.
Relationship management:
- Model corporate behaviour and demonstrate commitment to organisation values.
- Develop and maintain constructive and co-operative working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective and efficient directorate support.
- Promote the principles of collaborative working throughout the organisation and in all working practices in accordance with the Partnership Agreements with the trade unions.
- Ensure effective working protocols in accordance with the Care Inspectorate’s Communications, Human Resources, Finance, IT and Operations function.
- Project a professional image for the Care Inspectorate when dealing with colleagues and external stakeholders.
- Demonstrate a commitment to the Care Inspectorate’s aims, vision and values and to the Care Inspectorate’s overall objective of improving care in Scotland.
Other duties
This job profile is a broad picture of the post at the date of preparation. It is not an exhaustive list of all possible duties, and it is recognised that jobs change and evolve over time. Consequently, the post holder will be required to carry out any other duties to the equivalent level that are necessary to fulfil the purpose of the job, and to respond positively to changing business needs.
Person specification
Job title - Modern apprentice
Attributes
Experience
Essential
Care Experienced - aged 16 up to the age of 29 for completion of the MA qualification.
Desirable
Experience of planning, organising and problem solving (in a non-work context).
Education, qualifications and training
Essential
- Willingness to undertake and complete an SVQ (Scottish Vocational Qualification) that matches with the job role/funding criteria.
- Commitment to undertake further training and development in the role (particularly if needed for desirable skills).
Skills and knowledge
Essential
- Good working knowledge of Outlook and Word.
- Comfortable with using numbers.
- Communication skills – includes reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
Desirable
- Use of Excel, PowerPoint, Aha Slides (or similar) and Microsoft Forms.
- Attention to detail.
- Enjoys working in a focused way.
Key Performance Outcomes
Effective communication
Essential
- Shows a positive image when communicating both inside and outside the organisation.
- Listens actively to people, questions and checks understanding.
Desirable
Chooses right communication style depending on people’s needs.
Planning and organising
Essential
- Uses a focused approach to make best use of time.
- Able to be flexible to meet changing priorities.
Desirable
Prioritises work effectively to meet aims.
Flexibility
Essential
- Listens to feedback and ideas from people and takes right action.
- Understands where a flexible approach is needed.
Desirable
Adapts well to change, adjusting priorities as needed.
Team working
Essential
- Shows respect and fairness towards others, values diversity and is non-discriminatory in their actions.
- Values and makes use of the skills, knowledge, and experience of others.
Desirable
Works together as part of a team and is supportive of others.
Personal Accountability and Responsibility
Essential
Contributes positively and finds how tasks can be improved.
Takes ownership for own development and willing to accept help and guidance.
Desirable
Demonstrates initiative within their own area of work.
Please note – these are key performance outcomes to be used to recruit into the role. Successful applicants will be assessed against all the performance indicators used in the Performance Development Review System once set up in the role.
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.