Caseworker
Scottish Government RecruitmentAre you interested in working with Parole Scotland and gaining insight into a vital part of Scotland's justice system?
This is an exciting opportunity to join a fast-paced casework team that supports the Parole Board for Scotland in making informed decisions on the release and management of offenders.
The Parole Board for Scotland (PBS) is an independent Non-Departmental Public Body responsible for directing Scottish Ministers on the release and recall of certain categories of prisoners and restricted patients. PBS also considers the recall of offenders, including Short-Term Sex Offenders, where licence conditions have been breached.
The Board is made up of a Chair and a range of public appointees and is supported by Parole Scotland, which provides the administrative and operational support required to manage parole and recall processes for individuals in custody and in the community.
As a Casework Officer, you will play a key role within Parole Scotland's Casework Team by providing administrative support to Parole Board Members and ensuring they receive the information required to make informed decisions at parole hearings.
This is a varied, fast-paced and high-profile area of work, requiring excellent organisational skills, attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities. Please note that this role involves reviewing case documentation that may contain distressing, sensitive or graphic details relating to criminal offences.
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including Parole Board Members, Police Scotland, Scottish Prison Service (SPS), solicitors, prisoners, prisoners’ families, victims, Community-Based Social Workers (CBSW), Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), clinical teams, senior colleagues and the Risk Management Authority.
- Respond professionally and appropriately to a variety of enquiries and requests, both verbally and in writing.
- Manage prisoner dossiers received through the Prisoner Parole Dossier Service (PPDS), ensuring records are accurate, complete and up to date.
- Review and incorporate late or supplementary information received from prisons, social work services and other stakeholders, ensuring key targets and statutory deadlines are met with minimal supervision.
- Ensure all relevant case documentation is referred to Parole Board Members in a timely manner to support parole consideration and decision-making.
- Prepare, quality assure and issue oral hearing notifications, along with witness citations, to all relevant parties, in line with agreed timescales.
- Issue decision minutes relating to all types of prisoners to relevant stakeholders.
Success Profiles outline the combination of experience and behaviours that will be assessed during the recruitment process
Experience
- Experience of casework or administrative case management within an operational delivery environment.
- Demonstrable ability to prioritise workloads effectively, manage competing demands and meet deadlines.
- Making Effective Decisions - Level 1
- Working Together - Level 1
- Delivering at Pace - Level 1
- Communicating and Influencing - Level 1
Skilled Worker Sponsorship not being offered
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.
Assessments are scheduled for w/c 19th October 2026 however this may be subject to change.
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.
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.