The Social Care Institute for Excellence is a national charity and improvement agency which improves the lived experience of people using social care.
We do this by working in partnership with people with lived experience, commissioners, organisations which provide care and policy makers but we are independent of any specific sector interest. We influence improved outcomes through a range of activities including consultancy, policy development, research and evaluation, audits and reviews, training and the production of evidence-based tools and resources.
To help us implement our ambitious new strategy we are looking for a number of experienced, adaptable, highly motivated and outcome-focused individuals to join our fantastic team that makes evidence-based improvements for people with lived experience of social care by achieving the following:
- Driving improvements in social care locally, through our consultancy and improvement support offer to local authorities and other local organisations, to help local partners to develop and execute sustainable plans which improve outcomes.
- Influencing better policy and practice nationally through our policy and influencing work
- Supporting better safeguarding everywhere through our safeguarding audits, reviews and training so organisations are confident we have made their organisations and their services safer.
First and foremost, we are looking for the right type of individual, someone who is interested in the vision and values of the organisation and who wants to make a difference.
SCIE Chair
After eight successful years of leadership, our current Chair, Paul Burstow, will be stepping down in 2026. We are now seeking a confident Chair Elect passionate about social care to join us in advance of this transition to help shape our future.
This is a pivotal time in social care and an exciting time for the Social Care Institute for Excellence. At a national level our voice is growing ever stronger, and we’re looking forward to working with Baroness Casey and partners across the sector to create sustainable solutions to transform social care.
If you have a strong strategic mindset, deep understanding of the wider social care and health environment, and are driven to help achieve change so that all those receiving social care can live fulfilling lives, then this is the role for you.
Join us to create a fairer society where care and support enable everyone to thrive.
Application deadline is Monday 17 November.
Applications for Chair must be made through leadership recruitment site Starfish Search.
SCIE Trustees
Who we’re looking for:
We’re now seeking two new Trustees to join our Board and help guide SCIE into its next chapter. This is a critical time for
social care, and we welcome people who bring strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and a collaborative approach to
governance.
We are particularly interested in candidates with expertise in one or more of the following areas:
• Cyber Security and Data Protection
• Social Finance and Impact Investing
• Income Generation and Business Development
• Digital Transformation and Marketing
• Health, Social and Political Context of Social Care
• Social Care Policy and Advocacy
You don’t need to have been a trustee before, and we encourage applications from people of all backgrounds—especially
those who are underrepresented in leadership and board roles, and those with lived experience of using or providing care
and support.
If you share our commitment to a fairer, more inclusive society, and believe your voice and experience can help us get there,
we’d be delighted to hear from you.
Application deadline is Monday 5 January.
Applications for Chair must be made through leadership recruitment site Starfish Search.
Practice Development Consultant – Maternity Cover
A great opportunity for you to join our small friendly team and make a real difference to people’s lives by:
- using your consultancy skills to improve social care for people who draw on care and support
- enabling health and social care agencies achieve their ambitions by co-producing change and creating more sustainable systems leading to better outcomes
- working with a wide range of stakeholders across social care, practice development consultants build strong relationships, analyse information, plan for change and support the delivery of better services.
What we are looking for:
- professionals with a passion for delivering complex improvement and consultancy projects for adults in social care
- enjoyment for working collaboratively and flexibly to design and undertake consultancy and improvement projects such as including diagnostics, change management projects, organisational and practice reviews
- understanding of the strengths-based and person-centred approach
- experience of delivering face to face and online training
- experience of stakeholder engagement and management
- project and budget management skills
- commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
What we offer in return:
We offer excellent staff benefits including a competitive salary and homeworking allowance. We provide an employer pension contribution above the statutory minimum, an award-winning employee assistance programme, and an attractive holiday package which rises with length of service. Benefits of working for SCIE can be found here Work for the Social Care Institute for Excellence – SCIE
If you would like to access the application form in a different format or if would like any assistance that might help improve your experience while completing the application, please contact us.
Contract and salary
- Contract type: (Fixed term contract – Maternity Cover from January to November 2026)
- Full time.
- Salary: £43,387 (pro rata Jan to Nov 2026)
- Home based but applicants must have the ability to travel to London every four weeks for staff meetings and other occasions as requested. Travel expenses are paid.
- Closing date: 14 November 2025 at 12 noon but we may close early in response to applications received.
You must have the right to work within the UK. This is a UK based role and cannot be done outside of the UK.
How to apply for this role
Please send a full curriculum vitae (CV) and a personal statement explaining (in no more than two pages) how you meet the person specification and your motivations for applying for the role. Send your application to: recruitment@scie.org.uk as soon as possible but at the latest by 12pm 14 November 2025. Depending on applications received, SCIE reserves the right to bring forward the deadline.
We value diversity in our workforce and are committed to equal opportunities. If you would like to apply, please complete and return the attached equality, diversity, and inclusion monitoring form Candidate Diversity Survey 2025-26. SCIE is a Disability Confident Employer and offers a guaranteed interview to candidates with disabilities who meet all essential criteria. Please advise if you wish to use the Guaranteed Interview Scheme within your covering email when you send the application.
You must have the right to work within the UK. This is a UK based role and cannot be done outside of the UK.
Please note, that as a homeworking organisation we require the successful candidate to have a reliable Wi-Fi connection and a minimum 10Mb/s broadband.
To stay connected to your colleagues and the work of the wider organisation you will be required to travel to London on a monthly basis to attend meetings. You may also be required to travel to UK-based clients for meetings and events necessary for the role.
Practice Development Consultant Trainer
This is a fantastic opportunity to join our small, friendly team and play a pivotal role in improving social care practice across the country.
- working with frontline health and social care providers across the country to transform care and support.
- creating an inspiring and engaging learning environment (in person / virtual)
- working alongside other projects within SCIE.
What we are looking for:
- knowledge and experience of adult social care practice
- experience of developing and delivering training courses on a range of topics
- commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion
- confidence in delivering virtually.
What we offer in return:
We offer excellent staff benefits including a competitive salary and homeworking allowance. We provide an employer pension contribution above the statutory minimum, an award-winning employee assistance programme, and an attractive holiday package which rises with length of service. Benefits of working for SCIE can be found here Work for the Social Care Institute for Excellence – SCIE
If you would like to access the application form in a different format or if would like any assistance that might help improve your experience while completing the application, please contact us.
Contract and salary
- Contract type: Permanent.
- Full time.
- Salary: £43,387.
- Home based but applicants must reside within approximately one hour’s commute of Leeds or Manchester) have the ability to travel to London every four weeks for staff meetings and other occasions as requested. Travel expenses are paid.
- Closing date: 30 October 2025 at 12 noon but we may close early in response to applications received.
You must have the right to work within the UK. This is a UK based role and cannot be done outside of the UK.
How to apply for this role
Please send a full curriculum vitae (CV) and a personal statement explaining (in no more than two pages) how you meet the person specification and your motivations for applying for the role. Send your application to: recruitment@scie.org.uk as soon as possible but at the latest by 12pm 30 October 2025. Depending on applications received, SCIE reserves the right to bring forward the deadline.
We value diversity in our workforce and are committed to equal opportunities. If you would like to apply, please complete and return the attached equality, diversity, and inclusion monitoring form Candidate Diversity Survey 2025-26. SCIE is a Disability Confident Employer and offers a guaranteed interview to candidates with disabilities who meet all essential criteria. Please advise if you wish to use the Guaranteed Interview Scheme within your covering email when you send the application.
You must have the right to work within the UK. This is a UK based role and cannot be done outside of the UK.
Please note, that as a homeworking organisation we require the successful candidate to have a reliable Wi-Fi connection and a minimum 10Mb/s broadband.
To stay connected to your colleagues and the work of the wider organisation you will be required to travel to London on a monthly basis to attend meetings. You may also be required to travel to UK-based clients for meetings and events necessary for the role.
Guideline only. Please check the ‘How to Apply’ instructions for the specific role you are interested in, as you may be required to complete additional tasks unique to that application or use a recruitment portal.
If you want to be part of a great team that is passionate about improving social care, then please apply when there is a vacancy. For your application to be considered, you are likely to need to include the following:
- A cover letter of no more than two pages outlining your interest in the opportunity and how you meet the essential criteria
- Your CV
- As part of the application process we require that you complete our diversity monitoring form.
- If you do not have a cover letter or CV, please submit a Completed application form
Please send all applications and supporting information to recruitment@scie.org.uk
If you have any questions please contact recruitment@scie.org.uk
No agencies or consultancies – we are looking for experienced individuals.
UK resident applicants ONLY. You must already have the right to work within the UK
You may be asked to take a test as well as attend an interview, which would take place online.
Please make sure that you have enclosed all the relevant documents with your application.
We value diversity in our workforce and are committed to equal opportunities. SCIE is a Disability Confident Employer and offers a guaranteed interview to candidates with disabilities who meet all essential criteria.
Please note, that as a homeworking organisation we require the successful candidate to have a reliable Wi-Fi connection and a minimum 10Mb/s broadband.
In order to stay connected to your colleagues and the work of the wider organisation you will be required to travel to London on a monthly basis to attend meetings. You may also be required to travel to UK-based clients for meetings and events necessary for the role.
Again, please ensure you check the instructions for the role you are applying for as they may vary or require additional tasks.