The Care Inspectorate is the independent assurance and improvement body for social care services and social work in Scotland. It plays a central role in providing public confidence that people experience safe, high-quality care that meets their needs, respects their rights and supports positive outcomes.
The organisation is responsible for registering, inspecting and regulating a wide range of care services for children, young people, adults and older people. It also receives and resolves complaints and, where necessary, takes action to ensure services improve when standards are not met. Alongside its regulatory role, the Care Inspectorate supports ongoing improvement across the sector by promoting effective self‑evaluation, sharing good practice and working collaboratively with services and partners.
Its work extends beyond individual services to include strategic and joint inspections with partner bodies, examining how well local systems support people across areas such as children’s services, adult care, justice and community-based provision. All activity is risk-based, proportionate and evidence-led, ensuring resources are targeted where they are needed most.
The Care Inspectorate was established under the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 as Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (SCSWIS), with a statutory regulatory role under this Act and the Public Bodies (Joint Working) (Scotland) Act 2014 to provide scrutiny, assurance and support improvement in care.
The Care Inspectorate’s vision is that everyone in Scotland experiences high-quality, compassionate care, support and learning that upholds their rights and choices. Its mission is to deliver public assurance and drive improvement by placing people at the centre of its work, supporting services to improve, acting where outcomes fall short, and keeping the public informed about the quality of care across Scotland.
The organisation is guided by a strong set of values: person-centred, impact, respect, equity and integrity, which underpin its approach to regulation, improvement and engagement. Its strategic focus is on assuring and improving services, involving and informing the public, and upholding and championing people’s rights.
The members of the Board play a vital role in the governance of the Care Inspectorate, setting its strategic direction and considering legislation and policy guidance set by the Scottish Government.
It is important that the Care Inspectorate Board has members with a variety of different skills and experience that enable the Board to work effectively. It is unlikely that anyone joining the Board will have all the skills, knowledge and experience necessary to fully carry out the role from the start of their appointment. What we are looking for is someone who can put their skills, knowledge and experience to use for the benefit of the Board, and who has the capacity and commitment to grow and develop into the role.
As a Board member, you will be expected to uphold the principles of the Scottish Regulators’ Strategic Code of Practice, a framework that guides how regulators in Scotland exercise their functions. The Code promotes regulation that is proportionate, transparent, consistent and accountable, while supporting public confidence and effective collaboration.
You will work with the Chair and other members of the Care Inspectorate Board to:
If you would like a chat about the role, please contact Jackie Irvine, Chief Executive, by email at jackie.irvine@careinspectorate.gov.scot. Further information about the Care Inspectorate, including its Corporate Plan, can be found at www.careinspectorate.com.
Remuneration is £214.00 per day, for a time commitment of on average up to two days per month. You would also receive allowances at rates set by Scottish Government for relevant travel and subsistence costs. All reasonable expenses, for example childcare, will be paid to help you focus on your work with the Board.
The time commitment is a mix of daytime Board meetings (which Board members are required to attend), committee meetings, working groups, some stakeholder engagement, development and strategy days, and reading documents. There are four formal Board meetings per year, usually in person, in public and held at the organisation’s headquarters in Dundee. However, it may be possible to plan to attend virtually if required.
We are seeking to strengthen skills and experience on the Board in relation to Financial Leadership and Governance as well as essential board skills. All successful candidates will meet all of the essential criteria. Following appointment, the successful candidates will be considered and, in due course, one will be nominated to the role of Chair of the Care Inspectorate’s Audit and Risk Committee.
You may have gained your experience through work, by being active in your community, in a voluntary capacity or through your lived experience.
Candidates must be able to demonstrate that they meet all of the essential criteria. All four essential criteria are assessed at application and at interview:
As part of the interview, candidates will also complete a Board Paper Exercise:
You will also be expected to show, in the evidence you give at application and at interview, how your behaviours and approach have been guided by the Care Inspectorate values. This will be assessed throughout the process.
Full details, including example indicators for each criterion, are set out in the Person Specification in the Applicant Information Pack.
You will be asked to provide evidence in the online application against each of the four essential criteria (Criteria 1 to 4). Each response must not exceed 400 words. You will also be asked to provide a tailored CV/career history of no more than one A4 page.
Late applications will not be accepted. Where responses exceed the word or page limit, the panel may limit their consideration to the required limit.
Shortlisting will take place on 2 November 2026 and applicants will hear about the outcome of their application by 4 November 2026. Interviews will take place on 3 and 4 December 2026 at the Care Inspectorate, Compass House, 11 Riverside Drive, Dundee DD1 4NY. It is unlikely that we will be able to offer an alternative interview date.
Scottish Ministers value highly the benefits of diverse Public Body Boards. People from all walks of life are encouraged to apply for public appointments.
Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.
This appointment round will provide guaranteed interviews for disabled people who meet the essential criteria being tested at the application stage.
Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks: Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).
Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme Membership is required for this role. Proposed appointees will be asked to complete pre-appointment checks which will include a Level 2 Disclosure Check with PVG (there is no charge for this). Appointment is conditional on satisfactory completion of these and confirmation of PVG Scheme Membership.
The devolved government for Scotland is responsible for matters that are devolved from Westminster. Areas of responsibility include the economy, health, education, justice, rural affairs, environment, and transport.
