Lived Experience Member of the NCS Advisory Board

This is a great chance to use your experience to help improve social work, social care and community health in Scotland. As a member of the National Care Service (NCS) Advisory Board, you’ll share your knowledge and insights to make care better for people. You’ll join a diverse group of board members. Together, you’ll advise decision‑makers on how to achieve better outcomes. Your lived experience is vital. It will help shape care services that are fair, accountable and meet the needs of people across Scotland.

The NCS Advisory Board gives advice to:

• Scottish ministers
• Council leaders
• Integration authorities
• Health boards

The Board’s purpose is to:

• Strengthen national support and oversight of social care, social work and community health services
• Drive improvement in these services
• Ensure people with experience of giving or receiving care help set priorities for improvement
• Bring more transparency to the planning, funding and delivery of these services

Responsibilities:

We’re looking for people who can use their experience of health and social care to help make it better. This experience may come from work, volunteering, community activity, or your own lived experience.

As a member of the Advisory Board, you will:

• Share your insights to help improve social care, social work and community health services
• Work with other members to explore what needs to change and why
• Take part in discussions that shape advice to Scottish ministers, council leaders, health boards and integration authorities
• Attend meetings and help ensure the voices of people with lived experience are heard

You will not represent others with similar experiences. Your own insight is what matters. Together, the board will use everyone’s insight to advise leaders on change. You’ll be expected to uphold the Principles of Public Life in Scotland.

Essential Criteria:

• Personal experience: This could be recent or current personal experience of one or more of the following:

• A long‑term health condition or disability
• Directly providing care services as part of the paid workforce
• Being an unpaid carer
• Experience of care as a child or young person

How to Apply:

Before you start your application, please download the applicant information pack. When you’re ready, select the ‘Apply’ link at the top of the advert. As part of the online application process, you’ll need to upload evidence showing how you meet the following criteria:

• Personal Experience: Upload a statement that details your personal experience of the health and social care system. It should be a maximum of 500 words.
• Collaborative Experience: Upload a statement that explains your collaborative skills and experience of working well with others. It should be a maximum of 500 words.

Remuneration and time commitment:

You can claim payment of £180 per day (7.5 hours or more) for time spent on board work. You should note that this payment could impact benefits you receive. Board members do not have to accept payment. This fee is non‑pensionable. Expenses will be reimbursed.

Completed applications must be submitted by 05 December 2025 (23:55).

Our commitment to you - equality statement:

We want the board to include people with a wide range of experiences and perspectives. People from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply. We know applying for roles can be challenging. If you need adjustments such as extra time, help with technology, or something else, tell us. We’ll make sure the process is fair and accessible.

If you have any issues with your application, contact the NCS Support Team at JoinNCSBoard@gov.scot.