Our people

Recruitment

This year we started giving candidates interview questions in advance of their interview. This was to help relax the candidate and allow them to be prepared. We have found this has been well received and has helped candidates give great answers, giving our recruitment panels greater insight to help select the best people to join our team.

We ran one round of recruitment for Case Investigators and appointed three in year.

Staff training and development

We identified training needs based on staff consultation and key and emerging issues in our work. We delivered a training and development programme to staff including legal updates, training on reasonable adjustments, unconscious bias, equality, agile change management, trauma informed practice, coaching and career development. We welcomed speakers from a range of partner organisations including the Scottish Solicitors’ Discipline Tribunal, Scottish Legal Aid Board, Scottish Women’s Aid, Abused Men in Scotland, Clan Childlaw and Lockton as well as individual practitioners, staff and board members.

Staff wellbeing and inclusion

It was another busy year for our staff-led wellbeing and inclusion group, who ran a number of events for staff including Ageing, International Women’s Day, Pass it on Week, World Environment Day, World Autism Awareness Day and World Accessibility Day.

For Mental Health Awareness Week we focused on how movement can impact mental health. This included holding a yoga session in the office and a training session on mental health and movement.

Staff charity

Charity is always close to our team’s hearts and this year the chosen charity was Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. As well as raising an amazing £2,946 plus £586 in Gift Aid, some staff also made use of the volunteering days we give the team and went to the SSPCA centre in Balerno and helped clean parts of the centre and got to visit some of the animals.

For 2024-25 the staff charity will be the Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS).

Industrial relations

We continue to value our relationship with PCS as our recognised trade union. This year discussions have focused on pay and terms and conditions.