The Convener of School Closure Review Panels is now recruiting persons who will be eligible to be Panel Members.

The Convener and Panels were established by, and have prescribed powers and duties under, the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 (legislation.gov.uk)Legislation is supported by statutory guidance which supports local authorities when they consult on changes to schools (including nursery) such as closing, relocating or opening a new school. Supporting documents - Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010: guidance - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

School Closure Review Panels are independent statutory bodies which have been created to enhance and strengthen the process of local authority school closures in Scotland. On 30th March 2015 the Convener and Panels took over responsibility from the Scottish Ministers for reviewing and determining local authority school closure decisions which are called-in by Ministers.

Scottish Ministers can call in a proposal when the education authority may have failed in a significant regard to comply with the requirements imposed on it by the Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Act 2010 so far as they are relevant to the closure proposal, or to take proper account of a material consideration relevant to its decision to implement the proposal.

Duties and responsibilities

The Convener is responsible for appointing and maintaining a pool of persons who will be eligible to be Panel Members. Once a school closure decision is called in by Scottish Ministers, the Convener is required to select three individuals from the pool of persons eligible to be Panel Members to form a Panel to determine each case, and to identify a Chair for each Panel.

Once a Panel is established, responsibility for the review of a closure proposal and for its determination lies with the Panel. The Convener is not involved in Panel decisions.

Administrative support, organised by the Convener, is provided to the Panels. The Convener has engaged the Scottish Arbitration Centre to provide administrative support to the Convener and the Panels.

It is difficult to predict the number of school closure decisions that will be called in by Scottish Ministers. The original estimated was five or six proposals a year, but since 2015 only six Panels have been established to review decisions. The last Panel convened was in 2021.

For more on the work of SCRP: Schools Closure Review Panel (scrp.scot)

Skills, knowledge and experience required

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

· Evidence of managing tasks involving reading complex written documents and working to deadlines.

· Experience of making effective and reasoned decisions.

· The ability to produce high quality written work.

· Good verbal communication skills.

· The ability to work well with others as part of a team.

Desirable, but not essential would be:

· Awareness of the issues involved in school closure consultations in Scotland.

· Awareness of the issues involved in the provision of education in Scotland’s rural communities.

· Legal knowledge and experience.

We welcome applications from all qualified candidates and wish to particularly encourage applications from disabled applicants and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic applicants.

Remuneration

Remuneration of £226.92 per day (which is non-pensionable) is payable. Expenses for travel and subsistence relating to the Panels will be reimbursed.

Time commitment

Ideally, should you be asked to sit on a Panel, you should be able to make a firm commitment to spend up to ten days per year on Panel business. You will also be asked to attend a Panel member training day one day each year.

Location of meetings

Administrative support for the Panels is based in Edinburgh, and induction and other training is likely to take place in Edinburgh or online. Much of the work of any Panel can be performed remotely, with support from the administrative team.

Additional information

You are disqualified from being appointed as a Panel Member if you are a member of the Scottish Parliament; a Local Authority Councillor; a member of the House of Commons or House of Lords.

If you have any initial questions or requests for clarification, please email juliet@scrp.scot

The best part of my job is the people. I became a Support Worker as I wanted to help make a difference to someone’s life, however big or small.’

- Margaret, Visualise Support Worker

Successful candidates who have passed their probationary period, will get the chance to work towards an SVQ2 or SVQ3.

Do you want to join a team that is making a real difference to people’s lives? If so, Visualise Scotland are looking to recruit committed and passionate individuals for Support Worker positions that will allow you to work as part of a close knit, skilled and talented team.

Working for Visualise involves supporting adults living with disabilities to have the best quality of life possible, supporting their independence and choice. This can be in our housing support, day services or care at home. This includes supporting people with their day-to-day life- getting them ready in the morning, supporting them with personal care and hygiene, preparing food and meals, getting out and enabling them to take part in hobbies and leisure activities, using public transport, administering medication, attending appointments, managing their finances and accompanying them to social events. We are looking for someone who thrives on building relationships and working in a fast-paced environment where two days are never the same.

Good interpersonal skills, patience and a willingness to learn are essential. Experience of working with people with disabilities is desirable but not essential as full training and support will be provided. Visualise provides quality support. We were graded 5 (very good, by Care Inspectorate in 2020).

About Visualise Scotland

Visualise is a small Edinburgh based charity providing support to adults who have complex support needs. The people we support are treated and respected as individuals with personalised care at the heart of what we do. We have a good record of providing high-quality support.

We are proud of our role as a local employer, and we pay over the Scottish living wage. We also offer a great staff benefits package, including Sick Pay, Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Pay, Life Insurance and access to the Hospital Saturday Fund and a Credit Union.

We provide a comprehensive induction and a variety of training including epilepsy, first-aid, and manual handling. We are passionate about developing our employees and helping them achieve their career goals.

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Health & wellbeing programme
• Sick pay
• BHSF Rise- Free Confidential Advice and Support
• AIG Smart Health- Mental Health Support and Access to GP 24/7
• Hospital Saturday Fund- Contributory Scheme that covers Optical and Dental Expenditure, Physiotherapy, Hospital Stays and surgery.

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Edinburgh: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Work Location: In person

Join Us as Treasurer at Friends at the End

Are you a passionate advocate for human rights and dignity? Do you have a knack for numbers and a heart for service? Friends at the End SCIO is seeking a dedicated and skilled Treasurer to join our team and help drive our mission forward.

About Us

Friends at the End (FATE) is a Scottish charity that supports individuals' choices at the end of life. We advocate for a change in the law to allow the choice of an assisted death for terminally ill, mentally competent adults. Our mission is to provide information, support, and guidance on end-of-life options, empowering people to make informed decisions.

Role Overview

As our Treasurer, you will play a critical role in ensuring the financial health and sustainability of FATE. You will oversee our financial management, reporting, and planning, ensuring that we can continue to support our community and advocate for compassionate end-of-life choices.

Key Responsibilities:

• Maintain accurate financial records and prepare monthly management accounts.
• Oversee the preparation of annual budgets and financial statements.
• Ensure compliance with relevant financial regulations and guidelines.
• Responsibility for paying staff and expenses on a monthly basis.
• Liaise with external auditors and manage the annual audit process.
• Provide financial advice to the board and support strategic planning.
• Monitor cash flow and manage financial risks.

What We're Looking For:

• Proven experience in financial management, accounting, or a similar role.
• Strong knowledge of financial regulations and best practices.
• Excellent analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Proficiency in financial software and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to present financial information clearly.
• A commitment to our mission and values.

Why Join Us?

• Make a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals and their families.
• Collaborate with a passionate and dedicated team.
• Develop your skills and experience in the charity sector.
• Be part of a forward-thinking organisation advocating for human rights.
• Contribute to one of our time's biggest civil liberty issues and be part of changing history.

The SPSO is the final stage for complaints about organisations providing public services in Scotland. We investigate complaints across a wide range of sectors including councils, the NHS, housing associations, most water and sewerage providers, the Scottish Government and its agencies and departments, colleges and universities, prisons, and most Scottish public bodies.

We also carry out independent reviews of decisions that councils have made on community care and crisis grant applications under the Scottish Welfare Fund.

We have an additional role as the Independent National Whistleblowing Officer, the final stage for the process for those raising whistleblowing concerns about the NHS in Scotland.

We are looking to recruit a new Team Assistant to join our Improvement, Standards and Engagement (ISE) team. The post-holder will play a pivotal role in the effective running of our team by providing administrative support across all functions of the team. The role will involve management of all shared team email inboxes and administration associated with incoming emails. You will also provide important administrative support for work led by colleagues in the ISE team, such as supporting our Child Friendly Complaints project and our Engagement and Communications Team.

To be successful in this role, ideally you will have a minimum of 1 year's general clerical or administrative experience. You will be able to demonstrate an eye for detail, strong administration and organisation skills, accurate data input skills together with excellent interpersonal skills.