His Majesty's Chief Inspector of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service

Job summary

Role Description

Shape the future of the Fire and Rescue Services in Scotland through independent scrutiny, strategic leadership and expert advice.

This is a unique opportunity to lead His Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate in Scotland (HMFSI), providing independent assurance, scrutiny and advice that supports the continued effectiveness and improvement of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. Offered on a Fixed Term Appointment basis for an initial period of 23 months, with potential of further extension.

The Inspectorate is independent of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) and Scottish Government and is responsible for the inspection of the SFRS in Scotland. The Chief Inspector is appointed by Order in Council and is granted a Royal Warrant.

The inspectorate exists to provide independent, risk-based and proportionate professional inspection of the SFRS. The role and purpose of the Inspectorate is defined by the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005, as amended by the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012. This empowers the Inspectorate to initiate inquiries on its own part or as directed by Scottish Ministers. The Inspectorate provides advice to Ministers and policy support to officials on issues relating to fire and rescue services, particularly where this requires specialist knowledge of the sector. The values of the HMFSI are Integrity, Objectivity and Fairness.

As the Chief Inspector of the SFRS you will have extensive knowledge of fire and rescue matters at a strategic level. A thorough knowledge of legislation and best practice relating to fire and rescue services along with a knowledge of the functioning and effective external scrutiny of public services is essential.

The Inspectorate, based in Edinburgh, comprises a Chief Inspector and four Assistant Inspectors, two Inspection Support Managers, with a two-person business support team.

The Chief Inspector is required to prepare and publish a plan setting out priority areas for Inquiry by the Inspectors and how such inquiries will be carried out. Inquiries can relate to the state and efficiency of the SFRS; whether the SFRS is complying with its duty to secure best value and the manner in which the SFRS is carrying out its functions.

Job description

Responsibilities

• Provide independent assurance to Scottish Ministers, the Scottish Parliament and the public regarding the effectiveness, efficiency and overall state of fire and rescue services in Scotland;
• provide advice, support and constructive challenge to the Service, Scottish Ministers and the SFRS Chief Officer on policy, operational and fire and rescue matters as required, including oversight of local scrutiny arrangements and engagement with Community Planning Partnerships;
• carry out specific inquiries at the direction of Scottish Ministers;
• make independent determinations in respect of non-domestic fire safety disputes;
• oversee the publication and laying in Parliament of inspection reports and the appropriate dissemination of recommendations/outcomes ensuring the identification of good practice and joint learning opportunities;
• give professional leadership and development to Fire and Rescue professionals within the HMFSI;
• act at all times in accord with the highest standards of integrity, transparency and public accountability;
• be accountable for ensuring the Inspectorate lives within the budget agreed with Scottish Ministers and meeting all necessary financial standards;
• raise the awareness of the independent role of HMI as necessary and ensure HMFSI is a credible organisation with a wide range of expertise;
• ensure that appropriate communications and engagement protocols are in place to provide support, direction and value to the relationships between HMFSI and stakeholders;
• maintain a strong working relationship with the Auditor General and other inspection and assurance bodies to ensure that the work of the Inspectorate and the work of Audit Scotland/other Inspectorates are complementary;
• maintain a strong understanding of domestic and international best practice in the delivery of fire and rescue services and professional inspection.

Person specification

Success Profile

Experience

• Extensive experience of working in fire and rescue services at a strategic level
• Detailed, up to date knowledge of operational fire and rescue service matters across the range of service functions
• Experience of leading improvement within a public service setting or an external assurance and improvement function

Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing The Big Picture
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Success Profiles - Success profiles: candidate guide - gov.scot

How to apply

Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 750 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 a psychometric assessment with potential media exercise and then a final interview with presentation.

Assessments are scheduled for w/c 19 October and Interviews scheduled for w/c 02 November, however this may be subject to change.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £93,667, Scottish Government contributes £27,135 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements 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, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

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 37 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, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.

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.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.This role has a minimum assignment duration of 2 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.

As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Donald McGillivray
• Email : Donald.McGillivray@gov.scot

Recruitment team

• Email : scsresourcing@gov.scot

Further information

https://fa-evxn-saasfaukgovprod1.fa.ocs.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1001/job/4281/?utm_medium=jobboard&utm_source=CivilServiceJobs