Strategic Inspector

Vacancy details

Salary

£77,676

Hours

35

Contract

permanent

Closing date

08:00 Monday 28 September 2026

Interview date

w/b 19 October 2026

About us

We are a scrutiny body that supports improvement. That means we look at the quality of care in Scotland to ensure it meets high standards. We are responsible for providing assurance and protection for people who experience care services, their families, carers and the wider public. Our vision is that people across Scotland experience high-quality care that meets their needs, rights and choices.

Our values

1.

Person-centred

we put people, empathy, compassion, and kindness at the heart of everything we do

2.

Respect

we value everyone's dignity and are respectful in everything we do

3.

Equity

we embrace diversity and nurture an inclusive environment where everyone is supported to achieve equal outcomes

4.

Integrity

we act impartially, fairly, and consistently, upholding transparency and accountability in all our actions

5.

Impact

we focus on making a positive impact for everyone experiencing care in Scotland whilst ensuring our work delivers the best value to the public

Work-life balance

Our desire is to achieve an effective and balanced way of working, which enables us to meet organisational needs and achieve a work-life balance that promotes wellbeing and collaboration opportunities. Our hybrid working policy gives you the flexibility to mix working from home with attendance at your base office and other work locations, spending no more than 60% of your working time working from home, measured over a four-week period.

About the role

As a strategic inspector, you will lead and support inspections that evaluate how well services and local partnerships work together to deliver positive outcomes for people across Scotland. We are particularly interested in applicants with a background in justice.

You will assess strategic planning, leadership, and delivery across sectors such as health, social work, education, and justice with a strong focus on how lived experience informs and shapes care and support.

Using national frameworks, data, and evidence, you will produce high-quality public reports that highlight strengths, identify areas for improvement, and support meaningful change.

You will work closely with senior leaders, the Scottish Government, and national partners to influence improvement, contribute to the development of inspection methodologies, and support both internal and external quality assurance initiatives.

This is a key leadership role with significant scope to make a lasting impact on the quality of care and support in Scotland.

You will find more information in the job profile and person specification below.

Starting salary

New employees start at the minimum salary for the grade. However, we offer a generous benefits package.

Next steps

If you would like more information or an informal chat about the role, please contact recruitment@careinspectorate.gov.scot.

If you believe that your skills, experience and motivation make you a suitable candidate for this post, please complete our online application form by 08:00 on Monday 28 September 2026.

We anticipate holding interviews during the week commencing 19 October 2026 at our Dundee office