Advertised from 26 May 2025

Role

Why apply for this role?

As a Practice and Policy Advisor, reporting to the Practice and Policy Team Manager you will provide advice, support and guidance on Panel Member practice matters to the National Convener, CHS staff, Panel Members, regional Area Support Teams and other key stakeholders. You will work closely with CHS colleagues, the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA), the Scottish Government and other external stakeholders to lead and implement improvement to practice and policy across the Children’s Hearings System.

You will play a key role in developing effective practice and policy resources for Panel Members and work with the National Team to ensure that practice and policy materials are developed collaboratively in line with current legislation and the National Convener’s practice advice for Panel Members.

You will receive high quality development opportunities and support to enable you to interpret complex legislative and practice issues to improve practice and ensure high quality decision making in children’s hearings that results in better outcomes for children and families. We are particularly interested in applicants that have extensive experience of

participating in children’s hearings.

For information on how to apply, please see the bottom of the advert.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Practice and Policy Team Manager to develop practice information for Panel

Members in response to changes in legislation and internal and external policy.

• Respond effectively and consistently to written requests for practice and policy advice

from the CHS volunteer community.

• Manage requests and directions arising from children’s hearings, as delegated by the Practice and Policy Team Manager.

• Alongside your fellow Practice and Policy Advisors, co-ordinate the work of a bank of Independent Report Writers. This involves managing the end-to-end process from the point where an independent report is requested to the production and delivery of the report to the children’s hearing, managing a support network for the bank and continuing to develop the Independent Report Writer’s function.

• Work closely with the National Team and partners to ensure that all national training and resources are developed in accordance with legislation, practice information and policy.

• Work in partnership with other stakeholders on policies to improve practice in the Children’s Hearings System leading to better outcomes for children and young people.

• Contribute to national policy development by writing and responding to consultations.

• Actively consult with the CHS volunteer community regarding their experience of children’s hearings, policy and the implementation of practice changes.

• Explore ways to continuously improve the effectiveness of your role to support the delivery by the national team of CHS’ outcomes.

• To research, develop and write organisational policy and strategy as identified by the Practice and Standards Manager or the Senior Leadership team.

• In the spirit of positive team working, willingly lend support to colleagues and members of our volunteer community, when possible, in their times of pressure and demand.

Our Practice and Policy team

Our Practice and Policy Team sits within the Practice and Standards function as part of the Positive Outcomes Directorate and consists of a Practice and Policy Team Manager and three Practice and Policy Advisors. The role of the team is to promote best practice within our strong volunteer community, while collaborating with colleagues and partners to influence improvements and policy which will positively impact on the quality of decisions made with children and their families.

Life at CHS

Our 2,500 volunteer Panel Members take part in children’s hearings in their local areas, making decisions with and for infants, children and young people. The National Team supports a network of nine regional Area Support Teams who support Panel Members in their local communities.

As an organisation that works within the Children’s Hearings System, we are passionate about making a positive contribution to improving outcomes for Scotland’s children.

You can read more about our core values here as well as view an introductory video to our organisation. We also offer a generous benefits package from hybrid working, flexi hours and a fantastic pension scheme - you can check out our full benefits summary here.

Application notes

How do I apply? For more details, please download the relevant application pack which includes a full job description and a person specification.

You can access the relevant application form here:

Apply for the full-time position.

Apply for the part-time position

Please note that CVs are not accepted. For an informal and confidential discussion about the role please contact jobs@CHS.gov.scot If you would like to discuss any different working requirements or adjustments you may require throughout the recruitment and selection process please contact jobs@CHS.gov.scot

Closing Date: Sunday 15 June 2025 at midnight After the closing date, this role profile won’t be available on our website, so please save a copy when you apply.

It is anticipated that interviews will be held either week commencing 7 July or 14 July 2025.

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