Looking to make a real impact in safeguarding and public protection across Scotland?
We are inviting applications for a professional adviser to provide policy support and professional advice to the Scottish Government Adult Support and Protection (ASP) and Public Protection Unit.
This is a Fixed Term Appointment opportunity for 23 months, with the option for Secondment if preferred.
The Unit drives delivery of work on a number of high profile and politically sensitive adult and public protection policy areas, working in a fast-paced environment with a high degree of Ministerial, internal, and external stakeholder engagement. The Unit’s aim, working collaboratively with a range of policy teams, is to ensure that those vulnerable to harm get the right support at the right time; and that our work individually and collectively supports response, protection, and recovery from harm.
Work of the ASP Professional Social Work Adviser will contribute to aims of the wider public protection unit, to identify linkages, risks and opportunities across a wide range of policy developments, taking a whole system, lifespan approach. This includes mental health law and operations; adults with incapacity; substance use; child protection; MAPPA; violence against women and girls; and suicide prevention, as well as missing people, homelessness and other emergent priorities.
Current ASP-specific priorities include revision of national guidance for general practice; development and implementation of a learning and improvement programme, building on local and national evidence; data use to underpin learning and improvement at local and national level; and undertaking and embedding learning arising from learning reviews.
Responsibilities
- Provide social work input and advice across the Unit, liaising with sources of advice and expertise, including working with partners to ensure voices of frontline line social workers and people who use services inform current, holistic advice.
- In doing so, bring a consistent practice focus on adult support and protection and public protection throughout Scottish Government and partners.
- Contribute to workforce intelligence and national ASP priorities, driving collaboration with other policy areas to raise awareness of ASP and embed key messages to promote identification and protection of adults at risk
- Play a key role in supporting the dissemination and embedding of the ASP Learning and Development Framework and development of national resources, in partnership with the National Adult Support and Protection Co-ordinator and key partners, including the ASP Learning and Development Network, the National Implementation Group and its subgroups, and Iriss.
- Support implementation and monitoring of adaptations to local practice and procedures in line with new and emergent national adult protection guidance and related continuous improvement workstreams.
- Provide social work input to implementing ASP practice improvement using robust qualitative and quantitative data; collaborate with Iriss on analysis, reporting and use of data at local and national levels; provide significant input to the National ASP Data Reference Group; implement self-evaluation tools/techniques for local and national improvement; support development and embedding of best practices relating to ASP processes, the role of the Council Officer, chronologies, and learning reviews.
- Contribute to the drafting of national guidance, reports and responses to issues raised by Ministers, stakeholders and the public.
- Support the work of the National Social Work Agency and work closely with the Senior Professional Social Work Adviser for Adults, who will provide professional supervision
- Collaborate with Adult Protection Committee Convenors, Social Work Scotland’s ASP Sub-group, NHS Public Protection Leads Group, Police Scotland Strategic Forum and other networks to inform and influence policy and practice developments.
About us
The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland. We have responsibility for a wide range of key policy areas including: education, health, the economy, justice, housing and transport. We offer rewarding careers and employ people across Scotland in a wide range of professions and roles.
Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service , observing the Civil Service Code and working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.
We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer .
As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules .
Working pattern
Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role, including Flexi-leave. Scottish Government staff in hybrid-compatible roles should aim to work in-person 40% of the time, either in an office or other agreed work location. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.
Security checks
Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).
You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website , and read about the Government Vetting Charter , or about all the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide .
Internal candidates may need to gain higher security clearance than they currently hold if successful in their application.
Equality statement
We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.
Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.
Further information
Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website .
Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.
Skilled Worker Sponsorship not being offered
Skilled Worker sponsorship is not available for this role. As a result, we are unable to appoint candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship now or in the future. Applicants must have an existing and ongoing right to work in the UK.
Qualifications
You must be a qualified social worker registered with the SSSC or equivalent body
Success profile
Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on. The Success Profile will include the Professional / Technical skills, Experience and Behaviours. Please note - only items marked in the Profession Job Profile with a star (*) should be included in the advert.
Technical / Professional Skills:
For more information on these see here: Policy Profession standards
Experience
Behaviours:
Find out more about Success Profiles .
How to apply
Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1000 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.
Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.
If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and a presentation. Assessments are scheduled for 09/07/26 - 22/07/26 however this may be subject to change.
Recruitment Principles
As a government organisation, we adhere to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and we investigate any complaints received in relation to recruitment cases.
