Are you a highly organised individual with excellent administrative skills and a good understanding of governance and compliance in a charity context?

The General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church is looking for an experienced Governance and Compliance Officer who will bring professionalism and consistency to the way we service our boards and committees, enabling better information-sharing and decision-making. The postholder will also support congregations across Scotland in meeting their statutory obligations in relation to compliance on Data Protection and Health & Safety.

Who are we?

The Scottish Episcopal Church (SEC) is a diverse church in the liturgical tradition, with approximately 300 congregations across Scotland. We are part of the Worldwide Anglican Communion. The General Synod of the Scottish Episcopal Church is a registered charity serving the Church at national (or ‘provincial’) level. The General Synod Office, with a staff complement of c.30, supports dioceses (regions), congregations, clergy and laity across Scotland and facilitates the governance of the Church.

Who we’re looking for…

You should have demonstrable experience providing secretariat support to committees and have a good understanding of governance and of external statutory and regulatory requirements for compliance (for example, data protection and health and safety), preferably in a charity setting. You will also be highly organised, have excellent administrative skills and be confident in dealing with a wide range of people, both staff and volunteers.

This is a wide-ranging role which will require flexibility and adaptability.

We are an equal opportunity employer and invite applications from people of all backgrounds and from any faith or none.

Salary and benefits:

Starting salary is £34,770 (with annual increments)

Annual leave: 28 days, plus 10 public holidays). We offer a work place pension, a non-contributory defined pension scheme which allows additional voluntary contributions. We offer a flexible working policy and family friendly policies.

Hours and location: This post is offered as a full-time role (35 hours per week); however, a four-day work week will be considered with pay and holidays adjusted. Our office is located in Edinburgh, easily accessible via public transport; it also has a small car park. It is expected that the post-holder will work at least three days a week in the office (office days are negotiable).

Are you looking for a rewarding opportunity in which you can use relevant skills, knowledge, and experience to contribute to a collective endeavour and provide tangible recognition of harm to survivors? The role will involve making complex, high quality and holistic decisions that are thoughtful, robust and take full account of the unique experience of individual survivors of historical child abuse in care.

For decades, some children in residential care in Scotland were failed by those entrusted to look after them. Scotland has taken steps to face up to the failings of the past by establishing a redress scheme for survivors of historical child abuse in care. The Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Act 2021, legislated for the establishment of a survivor focused route to redress for historical child abuse in care, and in some circumstances, their next of kin.

Scottish Ministers are now looking to appoint additional panel members to Redress Scotland.

About the role

Panel members will be expected to uphold the highest standards of impartiality and objectivity in making determinations, to help foster trust in the work of Scotland’s Redress Scheme, with Redress Scotland, and survivors. Panel members will be fully supported in the role and will receive training to develop a good understanding of, and be closely guided by, statutory guidance, including the assessment framework.

We welcome applications from people who have considerable experience from a range of areas including health, law, justice, social work, and human rights. Additionally, individuals with an understanding of the Scottish care system and child development, or specialist knowledge of complex trauma, are particularly encouraged to apply.

Skills and experience required

Essential Criteria

• A track record of delivering evidence based decision making
• Working effectively with others
• Excellent communication skills
• Expertise working in emotional and psychological trauma, law, social work, health, or other relevant fields

Additional desirable criteria

• Resilience and self-awareness
• Experience of working on a decision making panel, tribunal or committee setting

This is a challenging yet rewarding role, through which you can make a real difference to people’s lives.

Time commitment

Due to the nature of the panel member role, the weekly time commitment will vary. However, it is anticipated that a commitment to attend at least 12 panel sitting days per year will be required. Additionally, there will be a need to allocate extra days each month for pre and post panel work, training, and other relevant meetings. We estimate that these activities will require a commitment of at least 38 days annually. There is scope to work additional days, up to a maximum of 180 days per year, depending on your overall availability.

Remuneration and expenses

The appointment is remunerated at a daily rate of £390 (non-pensionable). Travel and subsistence costs, as well as reasonable receipted dependant carer and childcare expenses, incurred in relation to the work of Redress Scotland, will be reimbursed.

Location

Redress Scotland is a digital first public body and has no office base. Most of Redress Scotland’s work is conducted remotely, however some ‘in-person’ meetings will be required at times to carry out the full range of panel member activities.

Further information

For full details, please download the Applicant Information Pack

For further information about Redress Scotland, please see redress.scot where you will find key reports and resources on operational activities.

Do you want to find out more about the role of a panel member at Redress Scotland? Sign up to an open session being held remotely on Thursday 14th November 2024 at 12:30, by completing the short form here: forms.office.com/e/aChL1EaEHt

If you would like to discuss the work of Redress Scotland in more detail, please send your contact details to RedressScotlandResourcing@gov.scot and we can arrange an informal conversation with a senior member of staff from Redress Scotland.

Applicants for public appointments must be legally entitled to work in the UK. Please see the applicant information pack for more details.