At a Glance
- Tasks: Coordinate national inspection planning for social care services across Scotland.
- Company: Care Inspectorate, dedicated to improving care quality in Scotland.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and a supportive work-life balance.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a dynamic and impactful environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the quality of care for people in Scotland.
- Qualifications: Experience in planning and coordination, with strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 34722 - 38403 £ per year.
Location: Flexible, any Care Inspectorate office across Scotland
Salary: £34,722 - £38,403
Hours: 35 hours per week
Contract: Temporary for 12 months (potential for further extension)
Closing date: 08:00 Monday 27 July 2026
Interview date: Week commencing 17 August 2026, in person
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:
- Person-centred: we put people, empathy, compassion, and kindness at the heart of everything we do
- Respect: we value everyone's dignity and are respectful in everything we do
- Equity: we embrace diversity and nurture an inclusive environment where everyone is supported to achieve equal outcomes
- Integrity: we act impartially, fairly, and consistently, upholding transparency and accountability in all our actions
- 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
The Care Inspectorate's role is to regulate and inspect care and support services, carry out scrutiny of social work services and conduct joint inspections with other scrutiny partners of services for adults and children. We have a significant role in providing assurance and protection for people who use services, their families and carers and the wider public as well as supporting delivery partners to improve the quality of care for people in Scotland.
In this demanding and challenging role, you will manage and co-ordinate the delivery of national inspection planning across a wide range of social care services and services for children and adults. This role ensures that the Care Inspectorate makes the best use of its resources and performs effectively and efficiently as an independent scrutiny and improvement body. This will include the management, co-ordination and delivery of scrutiny and improvement planning activities and plans for the current year, as well as draft plans for subsequent years, ensuring inspection planning activities are consistent with the Care Inspectorate’s objectives and targets.
About you
You will have a strong operational background in planning activities, together with workload planning, prioritisation and allocation experience. You will be educated to SCQF level 7 (for example, Advanced Higher, Higher National Certificate (HNC), Professional Development Award, Certificate of Higher Education, Modern Apprenticeship, SVQ, etc.) or have relevant skills and experience in planning coordination. You will also have supervisory experience and demonstrate a broad level of knowledge of working within inspection/regulation of care and associated IT systems. In addition, you will have excellent communication skills and the ability to translate plans into action.
Next steps
If you would like more information or an informal chat about the role, please contact Sarah McMaster. 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 Monday 27 July 2026. We anticipate holding panel interviews with a skills exercise during the week commencing 17 August 2026, in person.
Starting salary: New employees start at the minimum salary for the grade. However, we offer a generous benefits package.
Planning Coordinator (Inspection) in Barnard Castle employer: Care Inspectorate
The Care Inspectorate is an exceptional employer dedicated to improving the quality of care across Scotland. With a strong emphasis on work-life balance, our hybrid working policy allows for flexibility while ensuring that employees can contribute meaningfully to our mission. We foster a supportive and inclusive culture that values personal growth, offering numerous opportunities for professional development within a dynamic and impactful environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Planning Coordinator (Inspection) in Barnard Castle
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We think you need these skills to ace Planning Coordinator (Inspection) in Barnard Castle
Some tips for your application 🫡
Emphasise your understanding of public policy:In your application, make sure to highlight any knowledge or experience you have related to public policy, governance or community engagement. Show us how you can contribute to the public sector’s mission, especially if you've worked on relevant projects or initiatives before!
Tailor your CV to the sector's expectations:When crafting your CV, focus on including experiences that showcase your ability to work within government structures or similar environments. Use clear, concise language and consider adding any volunteer work or internships that reflect your commitment to public service.
Show flexibility and willingness to learn:Since this is a temporary role, it’s crucial to convey your adaptability and eagerness to pick up new skills quickly. In your cover letter, let us know how you plan to make the most of this short-term experience and what you hope to learn from it.
Include relevant certificates and training:If you've completed any training or have certifications that are relevant to the role (like public administration, project management, or data analysis), don't forget to mention them. These can really make you stand out in the application process!
How to prepare for a job interview at Care Inspectorate
✨Demonstrate Your Commitment to Public Service
In the government and public sector, showing that you're genuinely passionate about serving the community is key. Get ready to share examples where you've contributed to social good or tackled community issues, as this will resonate with interviewers from Care Inspectorate.
✨Prepare for Policy and Regulatory Questions
Expect questions about policies, regulations, or recently implemented government initiatives. Brush up on the latest news relating to public sector developments—being informed will help you demonstrate that you're ready to hit the ground running, especially in a temporary role.
✨Flexibility is Your Best Friend
Since this is a temporary role, emphasise your ability to adapt quickly. Share examples where you've successfully taken on new challenges or adjusted to different team dynamics, that'll show Care Inspectorate that you’re reliable and can effectively support various projects without a long onboarding process.
✨Prepare to Showcase Teamwork Skills
In the public sector, collaboration is vital. Be ready to discuss past experiences working in teams, especially in diverse environments. Highlight how you've contributed positively to group settings—this could really set you apart from other candidates in this temporary role.
