For decades, children in residential care in Scotland were failed by those entrusted to look after them. Scotland is taking steps to face up to those failing by establishing a financial redress scheme for survivors of historical child abuse in care.

While nothing can ever make up for the suffering survivors have endured, financial redress can provide acknowledgement and recognition of the harm done. The national redress scheme will offer a non-adversarial alternative route to justice and access to support and apology.

To deliver this, the Scottish Government has supported the creation of a new ‘non-departmental public body’ entitled Redress Scotland. This body will assess and make decisions on applications from survivors (and in some cases next of kin) seeking redress. Redress Scotland will be entirely independent of the Scottish Government.

Organisation

Redress Scotland is primarily a decision-making body. It will not process applications, provide support to applicants or arrange payments. In order to make best use of public resources, all administrative aspects of the national scheme will instead be carried out by Scottish Government without impinging on the independence of Redress Scotland’s decision-making.

The Role

Redress Scotland is seeking to appoint a Policy and Improvement Lead, who will have responsibility for supporting the development, implementation and monitoring of policies across Redress Scotland, as well as, the quality assurance and improvement framework for Redress Scotland with a key focus on continuous improvement. The post holder will provide regular information, analysis and reports to senior managers, the Oversight Board and the Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee.

The post holder will be expected to provide well-evidenced advice and guidance across all areas of Redress Scotland and the scheme. You will take the lead to review our current policies and procedures and deliver a plan which prioritises what needs to be updated and when, ensuring our policies are fit for purpose and in-line with legislation and best practice, and aid us to deliver on our priorities as an organisation. You will also be expected to ensure the Redress Scotland senior management team and Oversight Board members are well supported by providing them with high quality briefings and decision papers. The post holder will also support engagement with Scottish Government and other key stakeholders is joined up, collaborative and cohesive. The post holder will be required to establish and maintain strong, positive and effective working relationships with key stakeholders internally and externally.

The quality assurance and improvement framework will include all aspects of operations and support consistent, fair and transparent decision making by Redress Scotland’s independent panel members. The post holder will support the senior management team to develop and report on key performance indicators for the organisation. Work on quality assurance and improvement using data to effectively drive forward improvement will contribute to the development of a working culture in which people continuously learn and develop their work, ensuring Redress Scotland is a learning organisation.

Working collaboratively across the organisation, the post holder will engage with people to develop and deliver performance measurement and plans for improvement. This requires an organised and systematic approach, ensuring that quality assurance and improvement work is reliable, robust and supports a culture of continuous improvement where everyone in Redress Scotland contributes and influences progress and change. Due to the complexity of the work of Redress Scotland, the post holder is expected to be able to respond to and manage sensitive matters with diligence and care.

Main duties include:

• Research, develop, write, and evaluate policies and procedures to ensure they align to the strategic aims of Redress Scotland, and meet legislative requirements.
• Carry out equality impact assessments on all new and amended policies and procedures.
• Adhering to the relevant governance arrangements and providing reporting and information to the Audit and Risk Committee and the Oversight Board.
• Support in the development and implementation of the quality assurance and improvement framework for Redress Scotland in line with our mission, values and operating plan.
• Support the delivery of continuous improvement across Redress Scotland, ensuring that insight and intelligence is gathered from across the whole of the organisation which will support the delivery of quality standards and objectives.
• Provide information, analysis and reports on quality assurance and improvement work for the senior management team, Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee and Oversight Board which supports organisational growth and enables flexibility in approach.
• Actively seek out and share good practice within and beyond Redress Scotland which supports and leads to improvement across the organisation.
• Develop a reporting framework to report at various levels in the organisation anticipating sensitive issues, any risks, and providing advice and inputs to develop the work of Redress Scotland.
• To provide regular insight reporting on key issues and emerging trends including how these may impact on strategy, policy and operations.
• Along with the Redress Scotland team, work with colleagues in the Scottish Government to improve the quality of shared work on processes and meeting agreed standards, including developing quality checks and agreeing improvements with the remit and legislation and developing guidance as appropriate.
• Provide development and learning opportunities on quality assurance and improvement to the Redress Scotland team, working with others to deliver these sessions to meet learning needs.
• Complete checks and thematic reviews , providing high quality feedback that supports people and processes to improve.
• Develop and implement a plan for quality assurance and improvement work, monitoring and reporting on progress ensuring it is manageable and relevant for all involved.
• Able to provide good leadership and engage people to ensure that all work is aligned to supporting our Corporate Plan in line with our values of compassion, dignity and respect.
• Proven ability to work across an organisation leading and motivating teams to support and deliver change.

Essential Criteria:

• experience of policy development which considers legal requirements and guidance in a complex environment and supports a culture of continual learning and improvement;
• ability to write effective, easy to follow, clear and accurate policy and supporting documentation;
• effective presentation skills with the ability to present information in a simple and compelling manner to aid understanding for a variety of audiences;
• is able to support preparing reports and business cases and draft correspondence in line with areas of responsibility;
• excellent IT skills with exceptional proficiency in the use of Word, Excel and other micro soft tools and will easily adapt skills to become proficient with bespoke systems and digitals technologies to support hybrid working;
• demonstrable experience of managing and facilitating complex stakeholder relationships to achieve consensus and progress with a solution focused approach:
• is able to draw on key information and carry out thematic reviews across Redress Scotland and present and report on finding to various audiences including board and committees;
• ability to travel to other locations, flexible with working hours on occasion, when required to meet the demands of the role;
• can design, implement and put in monitoring systems a quality framework which considers how well we are working and what we can do to continually improve;
• excellent communication skills with a wide range of people including survivors and external stakeholders ensuring our values throughout ;
• the ability to develop an understanding of trauma and how it impacts on people, with the resilience to cope with being exposed to, and hearing about, experiences of historical abuse.

Desirable criteria:

• A general understanding of the work of Redress Scotland, residential child care and education and the experience of survivors of historical abuse in care.

Qualifications:

• Previous experience in delivering continuous improvement and innovation across an organisation or service in a collaborative way.
• Previous experience of developing and establishing a new quality assurance and improvement framework in new organisations or business areas.
• Knowledge and experience of working in organisations that are responsible for delivering services for people who have been affected by trauma.

To apply, please visit our website and submit application by noon on Thursday 29 September 2022 at noon

Interviews: On or around the 21st October

Further information

The work of Redress Scotland has been developed through the voice of lived experience since its inception. Applications are being encouraged and welcomed from talented individuals who have lived experience of the care system. If you meet the essential criteria we will guarantee you an interview.