Professional Social Work Advisor
Professional Social Work Advisor
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Job Description
This is Fixed Term Appointment opportunity for 23 months with the option for Secondment if preferred.
Are you a qualified and registered social worker with significant experience in public protection and children and families social work
We are inviting applications for a professional adviser role to provide policy support and professional advice to the Scottish Government Child Protection Bairns Hoose and Unaccompanied Asylum-Seeking (UAS) Children Care and Accommodation Development Units. We are looking for an individual who can identify key issues and liaise with stakeholders to articulate solutions that are workable and in keeping with social work values and principles.
The three Units drive delivery of work on a number of high profile and politically sensitive child protection policy areas working in a fast-paced environment with a high degree of Ministerial and stakeholder engagement. You will provide social work input and advice across the units work and collaborate with policy and professional leads to identify linkages risks and opportunities across policy developments including The Promise Age of Criminal Responsibility Joint Investigative Interviewing and UNCRC.
Applicants should have experience of policy development and implementation and be confident operating at a national level. We are looking for an individual who can identify key issues and liaise with stakeholders to articulate solutions that are workable and in keeping with social work values and principles.
- Provide social work input and advice across the work of the three units liaising with sources of advice and doing so bring a consistent practice focus on childrens rights equalities and family support.
- Play a key role in the development on the national Inter-agency Referral Discussion training team in partnership with other professional advisers and key partners.
- Support implementation and monitoring of adaptations to local practice and procedures in line with new national child protection guidance and related continuous improvement workstreams.
- Be a core member of the Bairns Hoose Pathfinder Project Team and support programme delivery as required.
- Continue to inform the Scottish Governments response to the growing pressures on local authorities as a result of the requirement to care for UAS children.
- Contribute to the drafting of national guidance reports and responses to issues raised by Ministers stakeholders and the public.
- Support the work of the Chief Social Work Adviser and play an active role in the Directorates professional adviser team inputting as required to policy work on the establishment of the National Social Work Agency.
- Collaborate with Social Work Scotlands Director Children and Families Lead Committees and networks to inform and influence policy and practice developments.
Responsibilities
Role Criteria
Qualifications
You must be a qualified social worker registered with the SSSC or equivalent body.
Success Profile
Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on.
Technical/Professional Skills:
- Policy Context and Purpose - Level 2
- Policy Delivery and Systems Level 2
For more information on these see here:Policy Profession standards.
Qualifications and Experience:
Significant experience of working at a senior level in children and families social work with operational experience in child protection.
Behaviours:
- Communicating and Influencing - Level 4
- Working Together - Level 4
- Making Effective Decisions - Level 4
- Changing and Improving - Level 4
Apply online providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1000 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application but all statements and examples provided must be truthful factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others or generated by artificial intelligence and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.
If invited for further assessment this will consist of an interview and presentation.
Assessments are scheduled for w/c 22nd September however this may be subject to change.
Qualifications
About us
The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including: education health the economy justice housing and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles.
Our staff are part of theUK Civil Service working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.
We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more aboutwhat we offer.
As part of the UK Civil Service we uphold theCivil Service Nationality Rules.
Working Pattern
Our standard hours are 35 hours per week. We offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options depending on the needs of the role. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying forplease contact us.
From October 2025 the Scottish Government will require staff in hybrid-compatible roles to work in-person 40% of the time either in an office or other agreed work location. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for please contact us.
Location
The post is based in Edinburgh with hybrid working in line with Scottish Government policies and guidance. Some attendance in Scottish Government buildings will be required with meetings taking place in both Edinburgh and Glasgow.
There is however considerable flexibility in working arrangements to suit personal circumstances and travel within Scotland will be necessary due to the wide range of stakeholders with an interest in these practice areas.
Security checks
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).
You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.
Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Membership
This position is a regulated role which requires the successful candidate to hold an active membership with the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme.
You can find out more about the PVG scheme and checks associated with membership in our Candidate Guide.
If you have any questions about this please contact our recruitment team.
Equality Statement
We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.
Find out more about our commitment todiversityand how we offer and supportrecruitment adjustmentsfor anyone who needs them.
Further information
For further information about the role please contact Lindsay MacDougall Head of Child Protection - or Angela Latta Deputy Chief Social Work Adviser .
Find out more about our organisation what we offer staff members and how to apply on ourCareers Website.
Read ourCandidate Guidefor further information on our recruitment and application processes.
Required Experience:
Unclear Seniority
Employment Type
Advisor
