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The Welsh Government operates name-free recruitment. The recruiting panel will not see personal information such as a candidate’s name and address during the sifting process. This policy is in line with our commitment to end bias and promote equality and diversity.
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Vacancy details
Vacancy title
HEO Inspectors for Childcare & Play - Welsh Essential
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Closing date
28/08/2026, 16:00
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Advertising basis
Permanent
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Actual starting salary
A starting salary between £37,111 and £41,834, may be offered to the successful candidate based on their skills, knowledge, experience and performance at interview. Current salary is not a consideration.
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Salary range or pay band
HEO £37,111 to £45,378
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Allowances
Yes
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Allowance
CIW RRA
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Work pattern
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
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Group
Operational Effectiveness Group
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Directorate
Care Inspectorate Wales
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Branch
Childcare & Play Inspection Team
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Location (s)
North Wales
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Main office base
Llandudno Junction
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Purpose of post
Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) is the independent regulator of social care and childcare. CIW registers, inspects, and takes action to improve the quality and safety of services for the well-being of the people of Wales. Inspection and enforcement are key functions in the delivery of safe, high quality regulated services to the citizens of Wales.
The primary task of an Inspector is to ensure that regulated care services provide good quality, safe care and to encourage and drive improvement. Inspectors can use their knowledge and skills to safeguard and protect the wellbeing of people using regulated services and to gather information about outcomes for people. This can be used by CIW in its evaluation of local councils and for informing policy development.
Inspectors will be responsible to a Team Manager. They will have a critical function to perform to ensure the effective and timely delivery of CIW’s core responsibilities across the full spectrum of Regulated Care Services.
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Key tasks
Maintaining oversight and management of a caseload of regulated services, ensuring the required inspections take place, monitoring levels of risk, assessing incoming concerns, and ensuring all records are kept up to date.
Carrying out inspections in line with an agreed programme (including joint inspections with Estyn in childcare and play), observing and reporting on the well-being of people using the service, identifying, and monitoring areas of non-compliance, raising and responding to safeguarding concerns.
Taking responsibility for following and progressing actions in relation to services of concern and liaising with other key stakeholders including commissioners, other regulatory bodies and safeguarding leads.
Preparing and undertaking enforcement activity including drafting statutory notices.
Collating, providing evidence to and attending Care Standard Tribunal hearings.
Working with managers to contribute to the setting and achieving of organisational performance objectives, including both quantitative and qualitative measures.
Ensuring effective communication across the team to ensure that good practice is shared, and areas of concern reported.
Contributing to the development and improvement of practice to ensure robust, consistent regulatory standards where issues of diversity and equality are fully addressed and integrated.
Keep up to date with changes in legislation, guidance, and policies, procedures and best practice development.
Ensuring the development of, and ongoing effective engagement with other stakeholders including people who use services and carers.
Preparing correspondence in relation to specific issues raised about services.
Maintaining accurate records management including the use of CRM database (CaSSI).
Take responsibility for own performance management and own professional development and seek appropriate development opportunities in accordance with the Welsh Government/CIW performance and development / management support process and in discussion with the team manager.
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Development opportunities
This post offers the opportunity to work in a dynamic organisation which champions improvements in social care through a citizen focussed approach.
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Other vacancy related information
These are WELSH essential roles based in North Wales Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) office of Llandudno Junction. Candidates are required to apply in Welsh and Interviews will be conducted through the medium of Welsh
Childcare & Play Inspection Team – Candidates are likely to come from either a teaching, educational, childcare and play sector or children social worker background
For more information about Care Inspectorate Wales Visit our website Home | Care Inspectorate Wales
If you're interested in learning more about the role and how to apply, please request our FAQ document by emailing
[email protected]
Assessment Stages: all assessment stages will be conducted in the medium of Welsh
There will be a 2-stage assessment process.
Stage 1 – Application
Stage 2 – Interview/Presentation (based on a scenario)
Stage 1: Application form only the Technical criteria will be tested at this stage, please submit evidence in Welsh
In the event of a large number of applications, an initial sift will be conducted against the lead assessment criterion: TECHNICAL 1 What relevant qualification do you hold in social care, health or education and what relevant experience in childcare, play sector, health or social care do you have.
Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Stage 2: Candidates who pass stage 1 will be invited to attend an interview and give a presentation in Welsh. All behaviour and technical skills will be assessed during the interview in Welsh.
For the presentation topic you will be emailed a scenario 5 working days prior to your interview. The scenario will be based on a situation you can expect to find yourself in whilst out on Inspection. The presentation will be assessing candidates’ reaction in line with CIW values and the behaviour ‘Communicating and Influencing’.
The presentation will be no more than 5 mins and will be timed. Visual slides will not be accepted; this will be a verbal presentation only although candidates can read from prompt cards.
Behaviour questions will be shared with the candidates prior to interviews.
A reserve list may be held for this opportunity. Any candidate who is successful in being offered a reserve status, will remain on the reserve list for 12 months
A starting salary of up to point 3 (£41,834) may be considered for candidates who demonstrate the essential skills, knowledge, and experience to an exceptional level at interview. Current salary is not a consideration.
A Recruitment and Retention Allowance of up to £4,535 per annum will be payable (for part time it will be pro rata). The allowance is attached to the post of the Inspector and is in addition to the substantive salary.
An allowance of £1,000 per year is available if you use your own car and cover more than 2,000 statutory miles per year. A valid driving licence and motor insurance is required.
As an Inspector, you will work from a blend of locations, including some time working at home, some time at your agreed office location, and some time at the premises of the service you are inspecting. The agreed office location will be the designated place of work and any remote or home working arrangement does not constitute a change to your designated place of work or contractual terms and conditions. The successful candidate will be expected to pay for their commute to their normal place of work. Travel to other locations that are not your chosen normal place of work will be paid for by CIW.
A full valid UK driving licence is necessary as this role will involve making frequent visits to premises of the service you are inspecting and relying on public transport may be difficult. We will consider reasonable adjustments for applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability
Occasional work is required outside of normal office hours to complete inspections.
Candidates should have the following Qualifications and Experience:
Social care, health or education qualification with relevant experience in childcare, play sector, health or social care.
Accepted: Any degree and significant experience in safeguarding or improving outcomes for children (early years) or adults, in childcare, play, health, or social care settings.
Examples of Acceptable Qualifications are (but not limited to):
Diploma/Degree in Social Work (or Social Care Wales equivalent)
Nursing qualification
Teaching or education qualification
Degree in Early Years/Childhood Studies
Level 5 Diploma in Leadership for Health and Social Services or Children’s Care, Learning and Development
Care Inspectorate Wales is committed to building a diverse, inclusive workforce that reflects the people we serve.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences
We particularly encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in inspection and regulatory roles
We are a Disability Confident employer and offer a guaranteed interview to disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria
Reasonable adjustments are available throughout the recruitment process
All Welsh Government staff are members of the Civil Service, and as a result are eligible for:
Civil Service Pension Scheme
31 days annual leave (pro-rated for part time)
training and development opportunities
Cycle2Work Scheme
Smart Working flexible working arrangement
Green Car Scheme (subject to availability)
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Vetting level
Enhanced
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Number of posts
3
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Contact point for further information regarding the post
[email protected]
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