Charity registered in Scotland SC026076
Who Cares? Scotland is the national membership body for Care Experienced people. Since 1978, we have worked to ensure that the voices of Care Experienced children, young people and adults are heard, respected and acted upon. As a membership organisation, Who Cares? Scotland protects and advances the interests and outcomes of Care Experienced people of all ages across the country. We deliver lifelong independent advocacy, create spaces of belonging and identity, and influence national policy to secure a lifetime of equality, respect and love for Care Experienced people.
Reporting directly to the Board, the Chief Executive will be expected to build on the organisation’s monumental achievements, delivering our vision of a lifetime of equality, respect, and love for Care Experienced people. Ensuring the organisation’s long‑term financial sustainability by diversifying income aligned to our mission, you will also lead the growth and effectiveness of our independent advocacy services across Scotland to uphold the rights of Care Experienced people.
Strengthening Who Cares? Scotland’s role as the first-choice voice of the care community, you will build strategic partnerships, create meaningful opportunities for members to connect, and drive our national policy influence, including shaping the Scottish Government’s work on the future of care to secure better outcomes for Care Experienced people.
As CEO, you will be a leader who can connect, influence, and build strong relationships at all levels. You will be confident in asserting the views and interests of our membership to policymakers, while remaining approachable and receptive to their perspectives. Your leadership will respect and amplify the voice of lived experience, taking a trauma-informed approach in all decision-making. You will bring proven experience in strategic thinking, financial planning, staff development, and managing budgets and relationships within a high-pressure, politically sensitive environment, while building strong partnerships with both internal and external stakeholders.
At a pivotal moment, as Scotland prepares for Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill and continues to strive to achieve The Promise, this role offers a unique opportunity to influence the future of care in Scotland, ensuring that Care Experienced people have a voice in every decision that affects them.
Who Cares? Scotland is Scotland’s only national independent membership organisation for Care Experienced people. Our mission is to secure a lifetime of equality, respect, and love for Care Experienced people in Scotland.
At the heart of Who Cares? Scotland’s work are the rights of Care Experienced people, and the power of their voices to bring about positive change. We provide individual lifelong relationship-based independent advocacy and a broad range of imaginative participatory and engagement opportunities for Care Experienced people across Scotland. We work alongside Corporate Parents and communities to broaden understanding and create change. We work with policy makers, leaders, and elected representatives locally and nationally to shape law, policy and practice, working together to build on the aspirations of The Promise and secure positive change.
The postholder will play an important role in our Evidence & Impact team, supporting the organisation to evaluate its activities, demonstrate the impact they make, and continually learn from our work. As a key part of the Evidence and Impact team, the postholder will help to ensure we have the strong evidence and funding base needed to positively grow the organisation and work towards achieving our vision for Care Experienced people.
We particularly welcome applications from people with experience of the care system who meet the criteria for the post.
If this sounds like the role for you, we would love to hear from you. For an informal conversation about this opportunity please contact Donna Nicholas, our Evidence & Impact Manager on dnicholas@whocaresscotland.org