Scottish Government
Head of Barring Casework
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Are you ready to use your analytical skills and professional judgement to help protect vulnerable people and support safer recruitment across Scotland?
The Caseworker role sits within the National Barring Service at Disclosure Scotland, an executive agency of the Scottish Government. The team delivers a critical public protection function, supporting fair, evidence-based safeguarding decisions that help ensure vulnerable groups are protected while maintaining public confidence in Scotland's safeguarding system.
In this challenging and rewarding role, you will manage complex casework, assess information from a range of sources, and apply legislation, policy and structured decision-making frameworks to reach balanced recommendations. The main objective of the role is to support robust, timely and defensible decisions on behalf of Scottish Ministers, contributing directly to Scotland's wider public protection agenda.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Work collaboratively with other caseworkers, Senior Caseworkers, and the National Barring Service Management Team to ensure cases are concluded at the earliest opportunity, minimizing the impact on individuals of being under consideration for listing and ensuring unsuitable people are removed from the workforce without delay.
- Sift and screen PVG Scheme applicants with convictions or other criminal history information and apply a structured assessment process to identify cases which require further consideration.
- Proactively progress cases, identify relevant lines of enquiry and engage with internal and external stakeholders to gather information timeously.
- Interpret and analyse information gathered, ensuring all relevant enquiries have been made.
- Handle and share very sensitive information securely and responsibly in line with the legislation and the government and agency policies and procedures.
- Write succinct and balanced recommendations in cases, enabling defensible decisions to be made timeously.
- For the more complex cases, present evidence to managers at case conferences, during which you will demonstrate how you have weighted the evidence for and against leading to your recommendation, in line with the structured decision-making guidance.
- Play a role in continuous improvement within the National Barring Service, including contributing to training of new and existing staff when required, and collaborating with subject matter experts in the development of new guidance and processes.
QUALIFICATIONS
Success profile:
Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of behaviours and experience criteria that candidates will be assessed on.
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Experience:
- Experience of interpreting and applying legislation, policies, and procedures to make accurate, evidence-based enquiries and recommendations, particularly in situations involving complex or sensitive case circumstances.
- Experience of working as part of a team, managing a varied caseload, and delivering high-quality outcomes within prescribed timescales while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
Behaviours:
- Making Effective Decisions – Level 2
- Communicating and Influencing – Level 2
- Managing a Quality Service – Level 2
- Working together – Level 2
You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours here Behaviour levels - Success Profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot [https://www.gov.scot/publications/success-profiles-candidate-guide/pages/behaviour-levels/]
How to apply:
Apply online, providing a CV and supporting statement (of no more than 1000 words) providing evidence of how you meet the behaviours, experience and technical skills listed in the Success Profile above. Both the CV and the supporting statement provided will be assessed against the criteria for the role.
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 [https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/artificial-intelligence-and-recruitment/] for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.
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.
If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and Written Analysis.
Assessments are scheduled for w/c 2 November 2026 however this may be subject to change.
Apply before 23:59 on 18 October 2026. This post is open to internal candidates and Common Citizenship Organisations only (external candidates and staff from UK Other Government Departments are not eligible to apply for this vacancy).
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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.
About us
Disclosure Scotland is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government working on behalf of Scottish Ministers. You will be part of a trusted team delivering essential public protection services. Our mission is to safeguard people and support national priorities, including Children and Young People, Fair Work, Communities, Human Rights and the wider economy.
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. From October 2025, the Scottish Government will require staff in hybrid-compatible roles to work in-person 2 days per week, 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.
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