Deputy Chair of the Review Oversight Committee, Domestic Homicide and Suicide Reviews

Role Summary

Domestic Homicide and Suicide Reviews (DHSRs) are a new type of review in Scotland, established by the Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews Act 2025. Domestic homicide and suicide reviews aim to identify what lessons can be learned and potentially applied following a death where domestic abuse is known or suspected, in order to help prevent future abuse and deaths. They are not investigations into how someone died and are not about apportioning blame; instead, DHSRs are fundamentally about identifying where changes and improvements can be made for the future as well as giving a voice to those who have died.

The Review Oversight Committee will make the initial determination on whether a domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide review is to be undertaken. The Review Oversight Committee will then work with the DHRS Secretariat, provided by the Scottish Government, to establish a Case Review Panel for each review. The Case Review Panel will consist of a Case Review Panel Chair drawn from an appointed pool of Chairs, a multi-agency review panel, and experts in specific subject matter as required.

If you are looking for a rewarding role that provides an opportunity to bring change and improvement across Scotland, we would like to hear from you. Applications are invited from a wide range of people who have an interest in public service. Training and development will be provided to support you to successfully serve as the Deputy Chair of the Review Oversight Committee.

More information about the post is available in the candidate information pack. Please request the pack from the DHSR team at dhsrmodel@gov.scot

Responsibilities

The responsibilities of the Review Oversight Committee Deputy Chair include but are not limited to:

• Support the Review Oversight Committee Chair in providing leadership to the Review Oversight Committee and the learning review mechanism as a whole, engaging in relationship building across sectors;
• Deputise for the Review Oversight Committee Chair when required, as part of regular meetings of the Review Oversight Committee or otherwise;
• Work closely with the Domestic Homicide and Suicide Reviews (DHSR) Secretariat to establish the Case Review Panels and oversee the carrying out of reviews;
• Ensure that domestic homicide and suicide reviews are undertaken in line with the agreed terms of reference;
• Provide quality assurance for a short summary report for any cases where a domestic homicide or suicide review is not completed;
• Provide quality assurance for all reports and associated learning and recommendations that are presented by the Chairs of the Case Review Panels to the Review Oversight Committee;
• Provide an integral function to monitoring the implementation of learning and recommendations resulting from each domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide review; and

Ensure the reporting requirements under legislation are met by contributing to biennial thematic reports relating to a series of reviews to highlight pertinent points, patterns and themes, as well as changes that have been implemented as a result.

ROLE CRITERIA

There are three areas where the Deputy Chair of the Review Oversight Committee will be expected to demonstrate their competency:

• Knowledge, including all of:
• Knowledge of domestic abuse and intersectionality;
• Knowledge of domestic homicide and suicide;
• Knowledge of the wider landscape and operating context;
• Knowledge of subject-specific disciplines
• Skills, including all of:
• Leadership
• Analytical
• Organisational
• Communication
• Interpersonal
• Personal Attributes, including some but not all of:
• Calm
• Challenger
• Curious
• Empathetic
• Flexible
• Honest
• Impartial
• Listener
• Open-minded
• Passionate
• Personal ethics/duty of candour
• Reflective
• Resilient
• Respectful
• Self-caring

Trustworthy

More information about each of the knowledge areas, skills and personal attributes for this role, alongside the level of competency candidates are expected to display against each of these criteria and the required wordcount for each element of the application, is included in the candidate information pack.

Candidate Background And Experience

You do not need to have previous experience of serving in a public appointment role, and we do not expect candidates to be able to demonstrate each of these skills and areas of knowledge to the most comprehensive level. You may have gained your experience through work, by being active in your community, in a voluntary capacity or through your own lived experience.

We value the benefits of diverse experience and perspectives and encourage applications from people from all walks of life. Scottish Ministers particularly welcome applications from people who are disadvantaged because of their protected characteristics and from groups currently under-represented in public appointments, such as disabled people, LGBTI+ people, and people aged under 50.

REMUNERATION AND TIME COMMITMENT

Remuneration will be provided in line with the mean daily fee applicable to Tier 2

Public Appointments For Chairs. This Is Currently Set At

• £331.50 per day
• £165.75 per half day; and
• £47.36 per hour.
  
  

Reasonable expenses associated with carrying out the role of Deputy Chair will be reimbursed.

We expect the time commitment required of the Deputy Chair to be a maximum of 52 working days per year. Successful candidates will be appointed for a term of 5 years and the appointment term can be extended one or more times for a period not exceeding 1 year per extension. The Deputy Chair can be reappointed provided the total appointment period does not exceed 8 years.

APPOINTMENT ARRANGEMENTS

Public appointments are made by Scottish Ministers. The appointing Minister will make a decision about whom to appoint based on evidence from the selection panel. Ministers may request to meet with candidates before making a final decision.

Appointees will be asked to complete pre-appointment checks which will include a Disclosure Check and a successful security clearance to Security Check level. This post is subject to Civil Service Nationality Requirements.

The cost of pre-appointment checks will be covered by the Scottish Government. More information about the process of obtaining security clearance is available on the GOV.UK website.

Appointees will also be required to complete training prior to undertaking the role and on-going training throughout the duration of the role. Appointment is conditional on satisfactory completion of both disclosure and security checks and training.

LOCATION OF COMMITTEE MEETINGS

The role of the Review Oversight Committee is to make the initial determination on whether a domestic homicide or domestic abuse related suicide review is to be undertaken. The Review Oversight Committee will be supported in its functions through a Secretariat of Scottish Government officials.

The Review Oversight Committee, alongside the Secretariat, will work to establish a Case Review Panel for each review comprised of a Case Review Panel Chair, a multi-agency review panel, and experts in specific subject matter as required. Meetings will be held in person and online/hybrid as required.

It is not essential that candidates holds a full current UK driving licence, although you should have the ability to travel across Scotland if required. Reasonable travel expenses incurred in relation to the requirements of the role will be covered.

INTERVIEWS AND ASSESSMENTS

Interviews and assessments are expected to be held week commencing 23rd February. The interviews will be hybrid. For the in-person interviews they will be held in St Andrew’s House, 2 Regent Road, Edinburgh. Please indicate your preference for an online or in-person interview location when you return your application form and please note that we are unlikely to be able to offer alternative interview dates.

If you require a reasonable adjustment at interview please contact the DHSR team at dhsrmodel@gov.scot

FURTHER INFORMATION

If you are interested in the role and would like to find out more or have any questions, please contact the domestic homicide and suicide review team at dhsrmodel@gov.scot

TO APPLY FOR THIS ROLE PLEASE FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS

Download the candidate information pack. This will explain more about the role, the DHRS model and the application process. We recommend you follow the ‘How to Apply’ section of the candidate information pack as you complete your application.

Completed applications must be received on or before Thursday the 29th January at 23:55 (11:55pm).

If you require further support with your application, please contact the DHSR team at dhsrmodel@gov.scot

EQUALITY STATEMENT

Scottish Ministers value highly the benefits of diverse public appointments and people from all walks of life are encouraged to apply for these roles.

If you would like to discuss this opportunity in more detail, you are welcome to contact the Secretariat via email: dhsrmodel@gov.scot