Taking notes

 

 

Message from Claire Burns, Director at CELCIS

I am so pleased that you are thinking of applying for a role on our Strategic Advisory Board. I hope that the information here gives you a flavour of who we are and what we do. Here at CELCIS we really value people’s lived experience and appreciate what that can bring to this work. We’re keen to make sure that people with experience of care, either directly or as a parent or carer are part of the range of insight, experience, and advice we can turn to when we’re making strategic decisions.

Our friendly, supportive Board works hard as a team to ensure that the work at CELCIS can deliver positive impact locally and nationally across Scotland. Now in our tenth year, our commitment to make a difference to the lives of people who experience care remains as strong as ever and we need your help to keep this going forward.

If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Nairn, Operations Lead at CELCIS by email michelle.nairn@strath.ac.uk

Join our Strategic Advisory Board

 

At CELCIS, we are passionate about improving the lives of children and young people in Scotland. We are a government sponsored organisation which is dedicated to making positive and lasting changes in the wellbeing of infants, children and young people living in and on the edges of care, and their families, across the whole country.

 

We need you

 

We work with young people, carers, social workers, teachers, nurses, the third sector, the police, local authorities and the Scottish Government to understand the issues, introduce the best possible practice and develop solutions. But, for us, the most important views are from those with experience of care. We need to know how care looks from your perspective, what it is like to live in 'the system', or to get the best from it if you are a parent or carer, what are its good points and bad - so that we can make it better, and make those improvements last.

Members of the Strategic Advisory Board have a key role in devising the direction and strategy for CELCIS. We are looking for two new members, to add to the ten already in place, to support and advocate for the work of CELCIS, and be passionate about seeing improvement in the services and outcomes for children and young people in need of care and protection and their families and carers.

If you have knowledge of care experience and want to change things for the better, we need you.

 

 

 


Who is CELCIS and what do we do?

We are committed to helping realise The Promise of the Independent Care Review, so that children and young people “grow up loved, safe, respected and support them to reach their full potential.”

We are a leading improvement and innovation centre in Scotland, working to improve the lives of children and young people in need of care and protection, their families and their carers, by supporting people and organisations responsible for their care to make changes in services and in the practices and skills they use.

We are governed by a Strategic Advisory Board (SAB), supported by the University of Strathclyde, and monitored by the Scottish Government, our principal funder. Members of our Strategic Advisory Board do not have trustee (legal) responsibilities like those of a Board for a charity or business, and our Members do not need to have Board experience.

We are looking for two new members who will join our existing ten members. Members of the Strategic Advisory Board have a key role in supporting the work of CELCIS, and will be passionate about seeing improvement in the experiences for infants, children and young people in need of care and protection and their families and carers.

Happy smiling children

What does the Advisory Board do?

Members of the Strategic Advisory Board have a key role in supporting and advocating for the work of CELCIS, and have a driving ambition to help improve the experiences for infants, children, and young people in need of care and protection and their families. While Members of the Strategic Advisory Board do not have trustee responsibilities like those of a Board for a charity or another organisation (as the University of Strathclyde and Scottish Government hold our governance role), nevertheless Members are expected to be a supportive, ‘critical friend’. This position is voluntary and unpaid, but expenses are reimbursed, so you'll never be out of pocket. There are also opportunities for personal and professional development.

 

What would my role be?

We want to be able to increase the diversity, knowledge, and experience we are able to draw on, so applications for these vacancies are encouraged from people with lived experience of the care system, whether this is their own direct personal experience, or as a parent or carer. You do not need to have previous Board experience. We will be asking you to:

  • Use your knowledge and experience to enhance and enrich our decision-making and improve future service provision
  • Collaborate, working as part of a Board to provide a ‘critical friend’ role around strategic decisions and developments to ensure ‘voice’ is valued and represented at a strategic level
  • Act in ways that listen to and respect the experience of others
  • Operate in line with our values
  • Be open to new ideas, ways of thinking and working
  • Communicate effectively and be confident in using online technology, for example, online meeting platforms
  • Have knowledge and understanding of the children’s care sector
  • Have a broad understanding and a passion to get involved to make a difference to improving the care, protection and support of Scotland’s children

 

 

 

The benefits of becoming a member of the Strategic Advisory Board

Whilst these positions are voluntary and unpaid, there are lots of benefits to becoming a member of the Strategic Advisory Board, including:

  • Belonging to a network of people who share your values
  • Enhancing your leadership and influencing skills, seeing the difference you can offer by changing the perspectives of others
  • Having the value of your contribution recognised and your voice heard
  • Contributing to a national body that can support and influence change at the national and local government level
  • Being part of influencing the strategic direction of CELCIS and learn more about CELCIS' work to improve children's lives
  • Other opportunities to learn and grow

Ways to get involved in CELCIS's participation work

There are lots of ways you can get involved in participation work at CELCIS. Check out our participation webpage for up-to-date resources and information, including how to sign up to the Partyicipation Network, and future events. For more information, contact Rosie Moore, Rosanna.moore@Strath.ac.uk.

 

Don't worry if this sounds daunting, we will make sure that successful candidates are fully supported.

A toddler playing in a group


How can I apply?

A man on his mobile phone, in front of a computer.

 

There are lots of ways that you can submit an application - you can:

 

  • Send a CV with a short supporting statement (300 - 500 words) highlighting why this opportunity would be beneficial for you and for CELCIS. You can use the information in the `about the role` section to support this. Your short supporting statement should say why you are interested in the role and what you would bring to it.

OR

  • Send in a note of interest highlighting why this opportunity would be beneficial for you and for CELCIS. You can use the information in the ‘about the role’ section to support this. Your note of interest should say why you are interested in the role and what you would bring to it.

OR

  • Complete the attached form (below) and send this in.

OR

  • Send in a video that outlines why this opportunity would be beneficial to you and for CELCIS using the information in the ‘about the role’ section to support this (maximum length 3 minutes).

Burning question?

If you have any questions, or want to chat to someone before applying, please contact Michelle Nairn – Operations Lead at CELCIS by email michelle.nairn@strath.ac.uk.

How to submit your application

You can use any of the ways listed above to apply. If you want to send a note of interest use the form below.

To apply, send your supporting information to michelle.nairn@strath.ac.uk.

Closing Date

Closing date for applications is midnight on Sunday 1 August 2021.

Interview date

Interviews will be held on Tuesday 24 and Wednesday 25 August 2021.