Planning Officer x4 - MID07311 in Dalkeith

Midlothian HSCP are looking to recruit 4 Planning Officers to help drive forward our transformation agenda within Health and Social Care. These exciting posts will cover a range of project areas and will work alongside Senior Managers to deliver on transformational change within Midlothian. We are currently looking at how our Social Work services can be best equipped to meet the challenges we face, what we need from our Hospital and care home sector and what our services for older people and people with learning disabilities need to look like. This is a challenging but exciting time to be joining Midlothian Health and Social Care Partnership.

We are focused on redesign, ethical commissioning, alignment with third sector and co-production/codesign with service users, carers and families. The posts will be well supported, interesting and diverse. You will join a small but growing Planning Officer Team that will have clear links to operational services and managers.

KNOWLEDGE

The jobholder must hold a degree level qualification in social work or an acceptable equivalent discipline or a post-graduate qualification from a recognised professional institute. In order to exercise the wider remit of the post, in particular the awareness of professional and legislative changes and the development of good practice following the publication of reports, a jobholder requires post-qualifying experience to include the following:

• Direct practice experience of service planning or development
• Substantial experience in the delivery or management of services within a social care environment
• Practical experience of partnership working and joint commissioning
• Proven report writing and presentation skills

This experience is gained through having held a variety of roles in the service provision field. The jobholder calls on a knowledge of social work and related legislation, a wide knowledge of Council policies, and an understanding of the needs and expectations of external partners and providers and must have an understanding of the interrelationship between individual and aggregated need in order to assess, prioritise and choose between options. This Post requires education to degree level with postholders frequently having undertaken additional post qualifying training or having considerable post qualifying experience. Professional qualification in Social Work, Health, or related discipline.

CLOSING DATE - 26th February 2026

INTERVIEW DATE - 9th & 10th March 2026

Requirements

This post is considered Regulated Work with Children and Protected Adults under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act, 2007. Therefore, it is an offence to apply if you are barred from working with children or protected adults. Successful candidates will require PVG Scheme membership for Regulated Work with Children and Protected Adults. You will be required to join the Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme Update check prior to commencing employment with Midlothian Council, the cost of which will be met by you.

If you have difficulty applying for this post or accessing attached documents, or if you have a disability and reasonable adjustment is required, please email recruitment@midlothian.gov.uk to discuss with a member of the Recruitment Team stating the post reference number.

Midlothian Council is currently undergoing a period of transformation, changing and improving the way it delivers services in Midlothian. As a consequence, there are a number of existing employees for whom we are committed to seeking suitable alternative employment within the Council in accordance with our legal obligations. Candidates are advised that, for some vacancies, internal candidates in this situation will be interviewed before the wider selection pool and a slightly longer delay may be experienced before application outcomes can be advised to you.

If you are a trainee of a Midlothian Council Training Programme, have a disability or you are a care experienced young person who has previously been a looked after child, you are eligible for a guaranteed interview if you meet the essential criteria for the post.