Appointment of Chair and Member to the Scottish Commission on Social Security.
The Scottish Commission on Social Security (SCoSS) is an independent body set up in 2019 to provide independent
scrutiny of the Scottish social security system and hold Scottish Ministers to account.
The Commission is separate from the Scottish Government and from the Scottish Parliament. It carries out its work
independently of both, but works closely with both.
Information on the Commission’s functions are set out within Section 22 of the Social Security (Scotland Act) 2018.
SCoSS’s role is made up of three parts:
Scrutinising draft regulations and publishing a report including recommendations to the Scottish Government.
Reporting on the Social Security Charter to the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament on whether the
expectations in the Social Security Charter are being met. The Scottish Government and Social Security Scotland
published the Social Security Charter in January 2019. It is called ‘Our Charter’.
Responding to requests from the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government to report ‘on any matter relevant to
social security’ when asked by either of them.
You can find out more about the Board and the work that it has done on the SCoSS webpage. This includes reports, information about the
organisation and minutes of Board meetings.
Chair
The Chair will be reimbursed for reasonable travel and other expenses incurred to carry out their role, such as:
- Any travel and subsistence costs
- Reasonable childcare or carer expenses
- Disability-related
reasonable adjustments
The Chair will be expected to devote up to 60 days per annum. You will be expected to attend meetings of the Body
regularly, to prepare for and to contribute fully to these and to perform your other functions. Board meetings
are currently held roughly every 4-6 weeks and there are often ad-hoc meetings in between as well.
Skills/Experience Required
Scottish Ministers welcome applications from people from a wide range of backgrounds who have the following
skills/knowledge/experience:
The following priority criterion:
This is in addition to either one or both of the following priority criteria:
- The ability to use your lived experience of the impact of disability arising from a physical or mental
impairment, to help bring about positive change
- Experience of policy development and/or delivery;
implementation and/or evaluation of policy in a public service context.
Applicants must also provide evidence of the following essential criteria:
- Analysing information and making recommendations
- Working collaboratively, constructively and effectively
with others
- Personal Commitment to progressing the Social Security Principles.
Members
Members will be reimbursed for reasonable travel and other expenses incurred to carry out their role, such as:
- Any travel and subsistence costs
- Reasonable childcare or carer expenses
- Disability-related
reasonable adjustments
Members will be expected to devote up to 36 days per annum. You will be expected to attend meetings of the Body
regularly, to prepare for and to contribute fully to these and to perform your other functions. Board meetings
are currently held roughly every 4-6 weeks and there are often ad-hoc meetings in between as well.
Skills/Experience Required
Scottish Ministers welcome applications from people from a wide range of backgrounds who have the following
skills/knowledge/experience:
The following priority criterion:
- The ability to use your lived experience of the impact of disability arising from a physical or mental
impairment, to help bring about positive change. This may include experience as a carer or as someone advocating
for those with lived experience of the impact of a disability.
Applicants must also provide evidence of the following essential criteria:
- Analysing information and making recommendations
- Working collaboratively, constructively and effectively
with others
- Personal commitment to progressing the Social Security Principles.
- Understanding of
policy development and/or delivery; implementation and/or evaluation of policy in a public service
context.
Engagement Event
There will be an online Engagement event held on Wednesday 27 March 2024 from 10:00 – 11:00, with the existing
interim Co-Chairs of SCoSS. This is an opportunity to find out more about SCoSS and ask any questions that you
may have. If interested in attending please email Julie.McKinney@gov.scot