Planning Officer x4

Job Vacancy

Midlothian HSCP are looking to recruit 4 Planning Officers to help drive forward our transformation agenda within Health and Social Care. These exciting posts will cover a range of project areas and will work alongside Senior Managers to deliver on transformational change within Midlothian. We are currently looking at how our Social Work services can be best equipped to meet the challenges we face, what we need from our Hospital and care home sector and what our services for older people and people with learning disabilities need to look like.

This is a challenging but exciting time to be joining Midlothian Health and Social Care Partnership. We are focused on redesign, ethical commissioning, alignment with third sector and co-production/codesign with service users, carers and families. The posts will be well supported, interesting and diverse. You will join a small but growing Planning Officer Team that will have clear links to operational services and managers.

We would welcome an informal discussion – please contact Fiona Kennedy on Fiona.kennedy2@midlothian.gov.uk

KNOWLEDGE

The jobholder must hold a degree level qualification in social work or an acceptable equivalent discipline or a post-graduate qualification from a recognised professional institute.

In order to exercise the wider remit of the post, in particular the awareness of professional and legislative changes and the development of good practice following the publication of reports, a jobholder requires post-qualifying experience to include the following:

• direct practice experience of service planning or development
• substantial experience in the delivery or management of services within a social care environment
• practical experience of partnership working and joint commissioning
• proven report writing and presentation skills.

This experience is gained through having held a variety of roles in the service provision field.

The jobholder calls on a knowledge of social work and related legislation, a wide knowledge of Council policies, and an understanding of the needs and expectations of external partners and providers and must have an understanding of the interrelationship between individual and aggregated need in order to assess, prioritise and choose between options.

This Post requires education to degree level with postholders frequently having undertaken additional post qualifying training or having considerable post qualifying experience. Professional qualification in Social Work, Health, or related discipline.

 

CLOSING DATE - 26th February 2026

INTERVIEW DATE - 9th & 10th March 2026

Job Advert

Position Title: Planning Officer x4

Directorate: Health and Social Care

Location: Fairfield House

Contract Status: Permanent

Hours of Work: 36 hours per week

Working Pattern: Monday to Friday - 7.12 hours daily

Weeks per year: 52

Please note that it is Midlothian Councils policy that successful applicants will be appointed to the first point on the salary scale.

Based on 36 hours over 52 weeks per year, the minimum actual salary for this position is £48,370.86 per annum.

Requirements

This post is considered Regulated Work with Children and Protected Adults under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act, 2007. Therefore, it is an offence to apply if you are barred from working with children or protected adults.

Successful candidates will require PVG Scheme membership for Regulated Work with Children and Protected Adults, You will be required to join the Scheme or undergo a PVG Scheme Update check prior to commencing employment with Midlothian Council, the cost of which will be met by you. For further information on the PVG Scheme please visit www.disclosurescotland.gov.uk

Please note that Disclosure Scotland has changed the way PVG certificates are issued. You will be notified by email from Disclosure Scotland that your certificate is available to view. Once you have viewed your certificate you will be allowed to share this with your employer and it is only available for 14 days from the first day you have viewed the certificate. If you do not grant access to Midlothian Council to view before access is removed, a further application will need to be generated, and this will incur an additional cost.

Additional Information

If you have difficulty applying for this post or accessing attached documents, or if you have a disability and reasonable adjustment is required, please email recruitment@midlothian.gov.uk to discuss with member of the Recruitment Team stating the post reference number.

Midlothian Council is currently undergoing a period of transformation, changing and improving the way it delivers services in Midlothian. As a consequence, there are a number of existing employees for whom we are committed to seeking suitable alternative employment within the Council in accordance with our legal obligations. Candidates are advised that, for some vacancies, internal candidates in this situation will be interviewed before the wider selection pool and a slightly longer delay may be experienced before application outcomes can be advised to you. Thank you for your patience in this matter.

If you are a trainee of a Midlothian Council Training Programme, have a disability or you are a care experienced young person who has previously been a looked after child, you are eligible for a guaranteed interview if you meet the essential criteria for the post.