Improving Care Experiences Consultant
Type of employment: Fixed-term (the post is funded for 12 months, with expected indication of further funding), 35 hours/week.
Salary: £46,735 - £57,422
Closing Date: 30 October 2025
About you
Are you skilled in supporting change and improvement? Can you demonstrate how your work is informed by experience and knowledge of putting policy into practice? Have you done this by using best evidence, and building on the voices of those with lived experience? Are you experienced at facilitating and supporting the learning of others? If so, this could be the role for you.
We’re looking for an experienced, innovative, and values-driven Improving Care Experiences Consultant to help us to improve the lives of children and young people and adults. This is an exciting opportunity to assist the leadership of our work to support improvements in continuing care, aftercare, and young people moving into adulthood, as well as our work supporting improvements in kinship care and foster care.
About the role
This is an innovative role where you will support local authorities and their partners to improve services for children in need of care and protection with a focus on Transitions into Adulthood, which includes, Continuing Care and Aftercare practice, Kinship Care, and Foster Care.
The post holder will contribute to developing ways of working that enable workforces and carers to build strong relationships, care deeply and prioritise the needs of young people moving into adulthood, as well as those cared for in kinship care and in foster care. You will work closely with Scottish Government and colleagues in the sector to support improvement and realise the ambitions of The Promise. Supporting the development of partnership groups, and networks such as Communities of Practice, the Improving Care Experience Consultant will share evidence, best practice, and grapple with and find solutions to complex problems to support the changes we all want to see. This role is fundamental to our engagement with key partners in these policy areas, and the successful candidate will work alongside colleagues in local authorities, independent care providers, the Scottish Government and other partner organisations, as well as colleagues in CELCIS. If you're looking for a role that will be crucial to the development of system and practice change initiatives relating to improving the experiences of children, their families, and their carers, as well as in relation to the wellbeing of colleagues in the workforce, this is the role for you.
The role would suit candidates who have a strong knowledge of current social work/social care, the needs of young people moving into adulthood, kinship care, foster care, child development, and childcare practice. It would also befit candidates who understand and have experience of working with complexity, supporting and leading change projects and programmes, and genuine co-production.
You will be part of a team who embed effective care experiences. We would be open to considering applications from individuals who want to be considered on a secondment basis.
About CELCIS
At CELCIS we work to improve the lives of children and young people in need of care and protection, and their families and carers. We do this by supporting people and organisations responsible for their care to make changes in services and in the practices and skills they use, all based on the needs, experiences and rights of children and young people.
CELCIS is part of Strathclyde University and staff are university employees with access to rewards and benefits including annual salary increments and membership of the Universities Superannuation Scheme. We are also committed to promoting a healthy work-life balance and offer a number of benefits including flexible working, paid maternity and paternity leave, an on-campus nursery and access to the Strathclyde Sport leisure centre.
Qualifications and experience
The successful candidate will have a relevant degree and/or appropriate professional qualification and relevant experience in the appropriate field and significant knowledge and experience of the needs of looked after children and securing positive destinations/outcomes for children in need of care and protection. They will also have knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation, policy and research in relation to transitions into adulthood, which includes, Continuing Care, Kinship Care and Foster Care and associated areas.
Formal interviews for this post will be held during week commencing 24th November 2025.
Funding for the post
Like all the team, the post is funded for 12 months, with a further 2 years of funding indicated by Scottish Government. CELCIS has received funding in this way from Scottish Government since 2010 where we agree our funding level every year, as well as agreeing the indicative level for the next two years.
We are working across the country, at local and national level, to help realise The Promise. Change is happening. Be part of it. Together we can make things better for children, young people and their families and carers. Apply now.
Got a burning question?
Informal enquiries about the post can be directed to Kirsty Doull, Care and Transitions Lead: kirsty.doull@strath.ac.uk
Please note, a research paper is not required for this post as previously advertised.