Head of Barring Operations

Are you ready to lead the operational delivery of Scotland’s National Barring Service, driving performance across complex, multidisciplinary teams to help protect the most vulnerable? 

The National Barring Service (NBS), a team of around 60 people, receives referrals from a range of sources about people who may be unsuitable to work with vulnerable groups. We work with stakeholders to gather information and decide on behalf of Scottish Ministers whether someone should be barred from the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme. We operate within a legal framework, with a clear focus on safeguarding and ensuring fairness, transparency and proportionality in our work.

The Head of Barring Operations post sits within the Service and reports directly to the Director of Safeguarding. It is responsible for leading operational delivery, with a focus on resource planning, workflow management, and performance reporting to ensure cases are concluded as efficiently as possible. The role drives a priority programme of continuous improvement across performance, processes, and business support functions.

Please note that the team regularly works with sensitive information, which some individuals may find distressing. Appropriate support is available to help manage this.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the day-to-day management of casework, supporting teams to ensure cases are prioritised and progressed efficiently and completed at the earliest opportunity. 
• Develop and apply management and performance data to guide resource allocation and workflow strategies.
• Work closely with the Head of Barring to support service delivery and to identify and manage operational risks.
• Design and implement ongoing improvements to ensure casework strategies and processes focus on safeguarding outcomes.
• Collaborate with other department heads to ensure joined-up working practices that support safeguarding and meet service delivery targets.
• As part of the Safeguarding Operations Senior Management Team, contribute to service delivery reforms aligned with Disclosure Scotland’s Target Operating Model.
• Maintain strong working relationships with key partners in Scotland’s public protection network—such as Police Scotland, the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, and professional regulatory bodies—to support effective collaboration and delivery of the PVG Scheme’s aims.

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

• Connections and communication with stakeholders - Practitioner.
• Operational leadership and management - Practitioner.
• Adaptability to Change  - Practitioner.
• Delivery and decision making at pace - Practitioner.

You can find out more about skills, here Behaviours:

• Seeing the big picture - Level 4.
• Managing a quality service- Level 4. 

You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here. 

Behaviours are assessed at interview. Full details will be shared in advance with all candidates invited to this stage. 

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  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 w/c 24 November 2025, however this may be subject to change.

About Us

Disclosure Scotland (DS) is an Executive Agency of the Scottish Government, operating on behalf of the Scottish Ministers, to perform an important safeguarding role for the people of Scotland.  The work of DS directly supports the Scottish Government’s National Outcomes for Children and Young People, Economy, Fair Work and Business, Communities and Human Rights.  To contribute to these, DS is responsible for two primary services, managing and delivering the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme and processing applications for disclosure certificates which enable safer recruitment decisions to be made by employers.  These are exciting times for DS.  We are transforming our business by continually improving our service offering to our customers and stakeholders. 

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.  We offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options depending on the needs of the role with a minimum of 2 days per week in our office. 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. In addition, the successful candidate will be expected to have or be in a position to obtain Security Check (SC), National Security vetting, clearance as a minimum (levels may be subject to review). 

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.

Apply before: 19 October 2025 (23:59)

This role is open to internal candidates, OGD and Common Citizenship organisations only.