Policy Manager - Survivor Relations

Job description

Are you looking for a role where you can make a real difference to the lives of vulnerable people?

You will join the Survivor Relations Unit which provides direct support to survivors of abuse by helping them to access financial and non-financial redress including individual apologies and emotional support through Scotland’s Redress Scheme. You will manage our Survivor Forum, which is a mechanism through which survivors can provide the Scottish Government and Redress Scotland with feedback on their experience of applying for Redress, including suggestions for improvement. Respect, dignity and compassion are the values of the Division. We work in a trauma informed way and there is a culture of continuous improvement

The work is personally and professionally rewarding, however, the subject nature and complexity of the work means that this role is not for everyone. It will particularly suit someone with experience of working directly with vulnerable people and a proven ability to communicate in a sensitive and compassionate manner with an appropriate level of understanding of how to implement trauma-informed approaches. You will have a responsibility to ensure survivor voice and survivor views are at the heart of Scotland’s Redress Scheme. 

Responsibilities

• Leading and co-ordinating all Survivor Forum engagement activities, ensuring a trauma-informed approach with appropriate safeguards are in place at all times. This will include online and in-person events, online and postal surveys, regular Survivor Forum newsletters, a Survivor Forum Annual Report as well as responding to ad-hoc enquiries/complaints on a daily basis.
• Project management of the Survivor Forum database and accurate recording of all communication activity. 
• Working with colleagues across the Division and other stakeholders to develop and maintain a mechanism for ensuring that survivor feedback is regularly and accurately collated, summarised and disseminated across the Division as part of continuous improvement planning for the Scheme. 
• Ensuring that Survivors are kept updated on any improvements that are planned as a result of feedback provided and/or reasons why this may not be possible. 
• Support with the facilitation of requests for Non-Financial Redress including written or in-person apologies, as well as referrals for emotional support through the Redress Support Service. 
• Engaging directly with survivors to understand their needs and expectations, reading and redacting personal statements detailing historical child abuse, as well as liaising directly with organisations responsible for the care setting in which the child abuse took place, including local authorities, third sector organisations and religious institutions.
• Working flexibly with the Unit Head and Team Leader to respond to the wider demands of the Redress Scheme, such as preparing briefings and advice for senior officials and Ministers, including related Ministerial correspondence.

Success profileSuccess profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on. Technical / Professional Skills:

1. Participation and Engagement - Level 2

You can find out more about the skills required here. Experience Experience of working directly with vulnerable groups of people, using a trauma-informed approach. Behaviours:

• Working Together (Level 3)
• Changing and Improving (Level 3)

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here: Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours (publishing.service.gov.uk)

How to apply Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1000 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above. Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.   Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment. If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation. Assessments are scheduled for 16th September 2025 onwards however this may be subject to change. About usThe 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.Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service, working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland. We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer. As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules. Working pattern Our standard hours are 35 hours per week and we offer a range of flexible working options depending on the needs of the role. From October 2025, the Scottish Government will require staff in hybrid-compatible roles to work in-person 40% of the time, either in an office or other agreed work location. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us. Security checks Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions). You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.  This position is a regulated role which requires the successful candidate to hold an active membership with the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme.  You can find out more about the PVG scheme and checks associated with membership in our Candidate Guide.  If you have any questions about this please contact our recruitment team.  Equality statement We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.  Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them. Further information Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website. Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes. 

Further information about this role is available from sharon.glen@gov.scot (Team Leader – Survivor Relations Unit). The team is based in Victoria Quay, Edinburgh and you will be expected to attend the office in person a minimum of 2 days per week from October 2025.

Apply before midnight on Friday 26th August 2025. This role is open to internal candidates and Common Citizenship organisations only.