Young people with experience of care are needed as Young Inspection Volunteers to improve care services for children and young people across Scotland.
Young Inspection Volunteers are 18-27 years old and have a personal experience of using services themselves. Applicants don’t have to have qualifications, personal experience is what counts.
This volunteering opportunity is with The Care Inspectorate. Young Inspection Volunteers join the Care Inspectorate on inspections to talk to children and young people using services. You can make sure their views are an important part of the inspection and are included in the inspection report.
Who are the Care Inspectorate?
The Care Inspectorate inspect care and social work services to make sure they are high quality and meet the needs of people who use them. They believe they can make care better by working with young people who have a personal experience of those services.
Is this the right opportunity for you?
If you are 18-27 years old and have used a care service, you could be just who the Care Inspectorate are looking for.
Applicants don’t have to have qualifications, personal experience is what counts.
If you would like to improve care services for children and young people across Scotland then this could be a rewarding volunteering opportunity for you.
Training and expenses will be provided.
How you will work together
Your personal experience gives you a unique insight into care. You will join the Care Inspectorate on inspections to talk to children and young people using services. They know that young people are more likely to share their honest views with you, because of your similar experience. You can make sure their views are an important part of the inspection and are included in the inspection report.
The Care Inspectorate will support you to be a young inspection volunteer and try to match you with services best suited to your experience. They will offer you training and work closely with you to support you in your work with them. They will pay your expenses and if you have additional needs, they will do their best to support you with these too.
What will you do as a young inspection volunteer?
- Take part in inspections of individual services and also of local authority areas.
- Talk to children and young people using services and record their views and opinions on the service they are getting.
- You may run focus groups to find out what children and young people think of their service.
- Meet with managers to find out how well children and young people are involved in developing and improving services.
- Help the Care Inspectorate to find out about corporate parenting.
- You may write a summary of what you found, for the inspection report.
You will get training and support to do all of this.
Hear from other young people with experience of care
The Care Inspectorate have a playlist of videos on their YouTube channel where you can hear what some of the current Young Inspection Volunteers have said about their experiences.
Interested?
You can complete the application form here.
Further information can be found on the volunteering page of the Care Inspectorate website and in their information leaflet.
If you have any questions, need help to complete the application form, or would like an application form posted out to you, please email Julie Brown at get.involved@careinspectorate.gov.scot.
What happens when you apply?
The Care Inspectorate interview you, check references, and carry out criminal records checks.
If you are successful, you will get training and shadow inspections.
How are Move On involved?
Move On are proud to partner with the Care Inspectorate and our staff support Young Inspection Volunteers during inspections.