Appointment of Members to Board Care Inspectorate

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:

• ensure the Board acts in the best interests of the person receiving care and support, and maintain public confidence in the organisation as a public body;
• ensure the Board develops vision, strategies and clear objectives to deliver organisational purpose in the context of Scottish Government…