Young inspection volunteers

Join us as a young inspection volunteer

Are you care-experienced and aged 18-21? Your voice matters and we want to hear it! Below we have given you some information that may help you decide if you want to become a young inspection volunteer.

Who this opportunity is for

This opportunity is for care experienced young people who want to:

 

  • try something new
  • build confidence
  • meet people
  • share their ideas
  • make a difference

What care experienced means

You might be care experienced if you have ever:

 

  • lived in foster care
  • lived with relatives (informally or formally)
  • lived in a children’s home
  • lived in supported accommodation
  • lived at home with parent(s) with social work support
  • been adopted

"To let other young people know what happens in your life right now isn't going to be the 'be all and end all.' It's going to change and it's going to get better."

Young person on why they are a young inspection volunteer

Everyone's story is different

You never have to share anything you don’t want to.

Your story belongs to you.

What you will do as a young inspection volunteer

As a young inspection volunteer, you will help shape better services for children and young people across Scotland. You can keep volunteering until you’re 26, so there’s plenty of time to make an impact and grow your skills.

You might:

 

  • speak to young people who are currently in care services
  • share your ideas about what young people need
  • help us develop and improve the way we speak to young people
  • support the design of activities and projects
  • use your skills and strengths
  • try new things
  • help at events or focus groups
  • support other young people in a friendly way

What you will gain

Volunteering isn’t just about giving back, it’s about growing too! You could build:

  • CV and job-ready skills
  • communication and teamwork skills
  • confidence in interviews and presentations
  • leadership and decision-making skills
  • insight into inspection processes
  • personal growth and development

You decide what feels useful and comfortable for you.

Join the young inspection volunteers

Hear from young people who have experience as young inspection volunteers.

"Sometimes it's hard to get them to talk but then we go like 'Oh I have experienced this.'"

Young inspection volunteer on why their lived care experience is important

Your training

Five days of training where we look at communication, how we keep people safe, confidentiality, team working, and many other topics. This training is delivered by Move On and Care Inspectorate staff.

Your commitment

 Up to six days a year (with the option to do more).

Staying away from home

Some inspections may involve travel and being away from home for up to three days.

If this happens:

  • we pay for the hotel and meals, transport
  • you will be supported throughout
  • you will always know what to expect

Expenses covered

Travel and reasonable costs – we’ve got you covered! Volunteering shouldn’t leave you out of pocket.

"Volunteering with the Care Inspectorate gives me a sense of belonging... We are all connected through one thing – our experience of care."

Young inspection volunteer on their experience

A supportive space

Life can be busy, and we understand that. We will work together to find what feels manageable for you. At the same time, inspections need reliability, so we will have open conversations about what works best for you. We want you to feel safe, respected, and valued, and we will make sure you have the support you need every step of the way.

How we will support you:

  • we don’t judge
  • we don’t make assumptions
  • we explain things clearly
  • we want you to feel safe, respected, and listened to
  • we want to empower you – your ideas, strengths, and voice matter here.

Support to do your role as an inspection volunteer comes from Move On, including:

 

  • clear instructions
  • breaks
  • a quiet space
  • a mentor or check in person

Recruitment

The Care Inspectorate work in partnership with Move On, who provide us with support for recruitment. Move On take the lead in managing the recruitment process on our behalf, helping us bring in amazing people who share our values and passion for making a difference.

Checks and references

To keep everyone safe, we will ask you to:

  • complete a PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) check
  • provide two references

If this feels new or overwhelming, don’t worry, we will guide you through every step and make sure you feel supported.

How to apply

Please complete both forms below to apply.

Click here to complete the application form

Click here to complete the equal opportunities monitoring form

If you need support to apply, please email andrea@moveon.org.uk and Andrea will be happy to help you through the process.

The closing date is Friday 8 May 2026.

We expect interviews to take place week beginning 25 May 2026.

We expect training to take place week beginning 13 July 2026.