External Assessor

About the role

SSSC assesses applications to the social work register from people with non-UK social work qualifications. Our external assessors provide an independent assessment on an application and have an important role in ensuring we reach a robust decision.

Individuals willing to carry out this role would be part of a wider bank of external assessors.

We are looking for people who have a deep understanding of social work education, excellent written and oral communication skills, and the ability to critically analyse complex information. See the attached person specification for more information.

What you need to succeed

For each application, you will assess the content of the qualification and the supervised and assessed practice learning against the Standards in Social Work Education (SiSWE). Consideration will also be given to post-qualifying learning experience where applicable.

You will provide a report for each application and discuss your recommendation with the SSSC assessor and quality assurer at a professional discussion meeting. Meetings normally take place online, although may occasionally be held in our Dundee offices, and may cover more than one application at a time.

Occasionally we conduct aptitude tests for applicants who require a compensatory measure to gain recognition for registration. We may ask you to provide services related to the preparation and carrying out of these tests.

From time to time, we may ask you to carry out assessment of other awards by mutual agreement as part of the SSSC’s wider work in recognising qualifications for registration.

You will need to be available for around at least 10-15 days a year, sometimes more depending on the number of applications received and if asked to support the wider mutual recognition of qualification work.

Fees and expenses

• £230 for each application considered in advance of a meeting
• £90 for attending a meeting or development session
• Fees for aptitude tests will be decided on individual basis
• Reasonable travel expenses will be paid (although we currently aim to hold assessment meetings online).

Contract

• A yearly contract will be reviewed annually and re-issued based on business needs
• You will be self-employed and not become an employee of the SSSC.

About the SSSC

We are the regulator for the social work, social care and children and young people workforce in Scotland.

Read more about us.(Opens new window)

Why work for us? 

We are an ambitious, enthusiastic and supportive organisation. With around 300 employees, you can really make an impact here. We offer a generous salary, flexible working arrangements, a full range of benefits, local government pension scheme and up to 43 days holiday (dependent on service). 

Read more about our benefits(Opens new window).

Our office is based in Dundee, and we offer a flexible, agile working approach that combines remote working with time in the office. We value the benefits of in-person collaboration and working together, so while most roles allow flexibility, we ask colleagues to attend the office occasionally for key activities such as meetings, training and team events and other occasions. We’re happy to discuss how this works in practice for each role.

We’re an equal opportunity employer

We are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace where everyone can thrive. We value diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds. 

We are proud to be a Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and offer a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for candidates who identify as having a disability and for individuals who are Care Experienced, where they meet the essential criteria for the role.

We’re happy to discuss reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. Email us at [email protected](Opens new window) and we’ll be in touch.

Find more information about our Guaranteed Interview Schemes(Opens new window). 

Ready to apply?

You’ll find more information in the job profile and person specification.

For an informal chat about the role, please contact Audrey or Rachael at [email protected] to arrange a time.

To apply, please complete the online application by 8am on Monday 10 August 2026. We expect to hold interviews on 27 and 31 August via Microsoft Teams.

Using AI tools in applications

Please note that you are welcome to use AI tools to support the preparation of your application; however, your submission must accurately reflect your own skills and experience. If you have used AI at any stage, please disclose this in your application. Where you reach the interview stage, your skills, knowledge, and experience will be assessed during the process. For further details, please refer to our Guidance on Using AI(Opens new window).

Please note, we will retain your application for 12 months so that we may consider you for similar posts. If you’re interested in other roles at the SSSC, or if a similar post is re-advertised and you wish to submit an updated application, please continue to apply as normal.