About the job

Job summary

We are currently seeking dedicated individuals to lead the protection of vulnerable populations. Make a meaningful impact and join our team!

 

Disclosure Scotland is an executive agency of the Scottish Government, provides criminal record checks to organisations in support of safe and inclusive recruitment practice and manages the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme. It makes decisions on behalf of Scottish Ministers on when someone should be barred from working with vulnerable groups and maintains the lists of people who are barred from working with children and protected adults.

 

We receive referrals from multiple sources including employers, professional regulators, and UK police forces. We gather information from different organisations and apply a structured decision-making approach to decide whether someone should be included in the barred lists. This work requires adherence to the legislative framework, guidance, the ability to critically analyse complex and diverse information, and apply professional judgement to make defensible decisions on behalf of Scottish Ministers.

 

This is an exciting time to be joining the team as we prepare to implement the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 which will change the disclosure system, supporting people previously involved in offending behaviour to move on whilst strengthening our focus on protecting the most vulnerable people.

As a Determinations Manager you will be working collaboratively as part of a management team to oversee, direct, and support staff to ensure cases are concluded at the earliest opportunity, ensuring unsuitable people are removed from the workforce without delay and minimising the impact on individuals of being under consideration for listing. You will be accountable for the team’s performance and will play a lead role in driving continuous improvement, initiating, and leading developments and supporting staff to do so likewise.

 

You will be responsible for ensuring the quality, consistency, and defensibility of decisions balancing fairness and safeguarding. You will be self-aware, understanding when to seek advice and escalate decisions to the Head of Protection Services.

 

This work is professionally and personally rewarding and is a critical part of Scotland’s public protection strategy. Applicants should be aware that some of the information considered while carrying out duties can be distressing in nature. The Determinations Managers need to be resilient and play a key role in supporting staff to deal with this.

 

Job description

• Lead casework teams to undertake effective and efficient enquiries, analyse information, provide constructive challenge, and make defensible decisions that appropriately balance fairness and safeguarding.
• Act as senior decision maker in the most complex or marginal cases and chair regular case conference meetings.
• Accurately maintain electronic casework systems, ensuring sensitive personal data is managed appropriately and support teams to do likewise.
• Work collaboratively with other Determinations Managers to ensure the appropriate prioritisation of activities and allocation of resources to deliver team goals and objectives.
• Support continuous improvement by leading on actions designed to transform how we work.
• Line manage senior caseworkers, supporting staff development and the achievement of objectives. Guide and support staff where necessary when they encounter distressing information.
• Promote and model a culture that is focused on delivering excellent safeguarding outcomes, and a positive team ethos that supports a friendly, qualitative, learning-focused, and resilient workplace for all.
• Deputise for the Head of Protection Services at internal and external forums and contribute to a programme of engagement with key stakeholders

 

Person specification

1. Experience of making complex, risk based recommendations or decisions relating to potentially harmful or criminal conduct within a legislative or regulatory framework.

2. Operational delivery and management experience with a track record of leading teams to achieve goals.

3. Experience of leading and implementing improvement and innovation within the context of operational delivery.
4. Excellent written and oral communication skills, with experience of working collaboratively as part of a team and building positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders to achieve objectives.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £43,725, Scottish Government contributes £11,805 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

To apply please use the link provided and follow the application process.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.