Scottish Commission on Social Security - Chair Appointment

Appointment of Chair to the Scottish Commission on Social Security

The Scottish Commission on Social Security (SCoSS) is an independent body set up in 2019 to provide independent scrutiny of the Scottish social security system and hold Scottish Ministers to account.

The Commission is separate from the Scottish Government and from the Scottish Parliament. It carries out its work independently of both, but works closely with both.

Information on the Commission’s functions are set out within Section 22 of the Social Security (Scotland Act) 2018. SCoSS’s role is made up of three parts:

1. Scrutinising draft regulations and publishing a report including recommendations to the Scottish Government.
2. Reporting on the Social Security Charter to the Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament on whether the expectations in the Social Security Charter are being met. The Scottish Government and Social Security Scotland published the Social Security Charter in January 2019. It is called ‘Our Charter’.
3. Responding to requests from the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government to report ‘on any matter relevant to social security’ when asked by either of them.

You can find out more about the Board and the work that it has done on the SCoSS webpage. This includes reports, information about the organisation and minutes of Board meetings.

Remuneration and time commitment

The Chair role is paid at a gross daily rate (i.e. before tax) of £306 per day (7.5 hours). This role is non-pensionable. This means that there is no pension contribution paid.

The Chair will be reimbursed for reasonable travel and other expenses incurred to carry out their role, such as:

• Any travel and subsistence costs
• Reasonable childcare or carer expenses
• Disability-related reasonable adjustments

The Chair will be expected to devote up to 60 days per annum. You will be expected to attend meetings of the Body regularly, to prepare for and to contribute fully to these and to perform your other functions. Board meetings are currently held roughly every 4-6 weeks and there are often ad-hoc meetings in between as well. 

Scottish Ministers welcome applications from people from a wide range of backgrounds who have the following skills/knowledge/experience:

The following priority criterion:

• Leadership

This is in addition to either one or both of the following priority criteria:

• The ability to use your lived experience of the impact of disability arising from a physical or mental impairment, to help bring about positive change
• Experience of policy development and/or delivery; implementation and/or evaluation of policy in a public service context.

Applicants must also provide evidence of the following essential criteria:

• Analysing information and making recommendations
• Working collaboratively, constructively and effectively with others
• Personal Commitment to progressing the Social Security Principles.

Full details can be found in the person specification in the application pack.

TO APPLY FOR THIS ROLE PLEASE FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS

1. Download the applicants pack
   
   Scottish Commission on Social Security - Chair - Applicant Information Pack
   
   
2. Click on the blue button at the top right hand of this advert that says ‘apply for this job online’.
   
   
3. Complete the information required on the website, this includes: contact details, monitoring information and a declaration of interests.  
   
   
4. Download and complete this application form (word document)
   
   Scottish Commission on Social Security - Chair - Application Form
   
   
5. Return the completed application form to: PA_Applications_Mailbox@gov.scot by 17:00 on Wednesday 1 May 2024.

If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the appointments process or if require further support with your application, please contact the Public Appointments Team on 0300 244 1898 or email at PA_Applications_Mailbox@gov.scot.

We are also seeking applications for a Member of the SCoSS board – details can be found here - Scottish Commission on Social Security - Member Appointment in Edinburgh | Careers at Edinburgh (icims.com)

FURTHER INFORMATION

• FAQ’s about the application process is here: Public Appointments - Frequently Asked Questions. 
• Guidance to support applicants is here: Public appointments - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

 This appointment is regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner