We are looking to people who do not have a background in social services (lay members).

About the role

Panels hear evidence and make decisions about a worker’s fitness to practise. Applicants should have a genuine interest in ensuring our regulated workforce is fit to practise and that people who use social services are protected. You must be an independent thinker who is confident working together with panel colleagues to make decisions on what can be complex issues. You must have a strong sense of fairness, integrity and professionalism and an ability to deal sensitively with the confidential matters before them.

You should be aware of trauma informed practice and in particular the Trauma Informed Justice Framework.

To apply for this role, you do not need experience in regulatory or panel work as we will provide full training.

About the role

SSSC assesses applications to the social work register from people with non-UK social work qualifications. Our external assessors provide an independent assessment on an application and have an important role in ensuring we reach a robust decision.

Individuals willing to carry out this role would be part of a wider bank of external assessors.

We are looking for people who have a deep understanding of social work education, excellent written and oral communication skills, and the ability to critically analyse complex information.

Who we are

We are the independent regulator for social service workers in Scotland. Our work means the people of Scotland can count on social work, social care and early years services being provided by a trusted, skilled, and confident workforce.

We protect the public by registering social work, social care, and early years workers, setting standards for their practice, conduct, training, and education and by supporting their professional development. Where people fall below the standards of practice and conduct, we can investigate and act.

What you need to succeed

For each application, you will assess the content of the qualification and the supervised and assessed practice learning against the Standards in Social Work Education (SiSWE). Consideration will also be given to post-qualifying learning experience where applicable.

You will provide a report for each application and discuss your recommendation with the SSSC assessor and quality assurer at a professional discussion meeting. Meetings normally take place online, although may occasionally be held in our Dundee offices, and may cover more than one application at a time.

Occasionally we conduct aptitude tests for applicants who require a compensatory measure to gain recognition for registration. We may ask you to provide services related to the preparation and carrying out of these tests.

From time to time, we may ask you to carry out assessment of other awards by mutual agreement as part of the SSSC’s wider work in recognising qualifications for registration.

You will need to be available for around at least 5-10 days a year, sometimes more depending on the number of applications received and if asked to support the wider mutual recognition of qualification work.

Fees and expenses

• £230 for each application considered in advance of a meeting

• £90 for attending a meeting or development session

• Fees for aptitude tests will be decided on individual basis

• Reasonable travel expenses will be paid (although we currently aim to hold assessment meetings online)

Contract

• A yearly contract will be reviewed annually and re-issued based on business needs

• You will be self-employed and not become an employee of the SSSC

Why work for us

We are an ambitious, enthusiastic, and supportive organisation. With around 300 employees, you can really make an impact here.

Our office is in Dundee but, during COVID-19, this role is home based until we don’t need to physically distance. We encourage remote working and support a less office-based format even after restrictions are lifted. We are developing our agile working policy and are happy to discuss individual arrangements and consider agile working as an option, depending on job requirements (such as being in the office for training events and meetings etc) and meeting the eligibility criteria determined by the new policy. We welcome applications from candidates outside Dundee and the surrounding areas.

Are you passionate about protecting people who use social services?

We are looking for people to sit as independent Panel Members on the Scottish Social Services Council’s (SSSC) Fitness to Practise Panels.

We are looking to appoint lay members to our panels. Panels hear evidence and make decisions about a worker’s fitness to practise. Applicants should have a genuine interest in ensuring our regulated workforce is fit to practise and that people who use social services are protected. They must be independent thinkers who are confident in working together with panel colleagues to make decisions on what can be complex issues. They must have a strong sense of fairness, integrity and professionalism and an ability to deal sensitively with the confidential matters before them.

To apply for this role, you do not need experience in regulatory or panel work as full training will be provided. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, in particular from people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, and from those with a disability. We also hope to expand the age range of our pool of panel members and encourage applications from younger people. It is important that our panels are as diverse as the workforce we regulate.

Find out more

Read about the role of our Sub-committees here.

Lay and Social Service Members are expected to work to theNine Principles of Public Life.

We have an exciting vacancy for a talented and experienced Involvement and Engagement Coordinator.

This new post will support our engagement strategy, involving our stakeholders including people with experience of social work, social care and early years services and bringing their voices into our work.

In this role you will coordinate our external engagement, working with colleagues to involve the right people at the right time in our work and acting on feedback and intelligence to improve and develop our services and the sector we work in.

The role is in our Communications and Policy Department in the Strategy and Performance Directorate.

You will work with your colleagues in the department, across the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and with our partners, generating ideas and developing creative approaches to engagement campaigns and content.

We are the independent regulator for social service workers in Scotland. Our work means the people of Scotland can count on social work, social care and early years services being provided by a trusted, skilled and confident workforce.

We protect the public by registering social work, social care and early years workers, setting standards for their practice, conduct, training and education and by supporting their professional development. Where people fall below the standards of practice and conduct, we can investigate and take action.

Our office is in Dundee but this role is home based at the moment as we develop our agile working policy. We encourage remote working and support a less office-based format. We are happy to discuss individual arrangements and consider agile working as an option, depending on job requirements (such as being in the office for training events and meetings etc) and meeting the eligibility criteria determined by the new policy.

We welcome applications from candidates outside Dundee and the surrounding areas.

Find more information about us here on our website and on facebook.com/thesssc

and twitter.com/SSSCnews

For an informal chat about the role, please contact Nicola Gilray at nicola.gilray@sssc.uk.com

We have an exciting vacancy for a talented and experienced Stakeholder Involvement and Engagement Coordinator.

This new post will support our new engagement strategy, involving our stakeholders including people with experience of using social work, social care and early years services and bringing their voices into our work.

In this role you will coordinate our external engagement, working with colleagues to involve the right people at the right time in our work and acting on feedback and intelligence to improve and develop our services and the sector we work in.

The role is in our Communications and Policy Department in the Strategy and Performance Directorate.

You will work with your colleagues in the department, across the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) and with our partners, generating ideas and developing creative approaches to engagement campaigns and content.

Who we are

We are the independent regulator for social service workers in Scotland. Our work means the people of Scotland can count on social work, social care and early years services being provided by a trusted, skilled and confident workforce.

We protect the public by registering social work, social care and early years workers, setting standards for their practice, conduct, training and education and by supporting their professional development. Where people fall below the standards of practice and conduct, we can investigate and take action.

What you need to succeed

You will:

• have a degree or equivalent in a relevant subject and well-developed influencing, organisational and problem solving skills
• have professional experience in involvement and participation
• have experience of stakeholder engagement, involvement, co-design and participation principles and methodologies
• have experience of working with and managing external networks especially those for people using social work, social care and early years services and carers
• have experience of planning, managing and evaluating campaigns
• be a skilled, customer focused communicator.
• have experience of analysing insights, preparing reports and making recommendations to staff at all levels
• have experience of coordinating and facilitating engagement activity with groups
• have demonstrable understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion in relation to involving people in service design.

Why work for us

We are an ambitious, enthusiastic and supportive organisation. With around 300 employees, you can really make an impact here. We offer a generous salary, flexible working arrangements, a full range of benefits, local government pension scheme and up to 43 days holiday (dependent on service).

Our office is in Dundee but this role is home based at the moment as we develop our agile working policy. We encourage remote working and support a less office-based format. We are happy to discuss individual arrangements and consider agile working as an option, depending on job requirements (such as being in the office for training events and meetings etc) and meeting the eligibility criteria determined by the new policy.

Find more information about ushere on our websiteand on facebook.com/thesssc and Twitter @SSSCNews.