Social Security Chamber

A person is eligible for appointment as an ordinary member of the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland if the person is experienced in dealing with the needs of persons who have a disability within the meaning of section 6 of the Equality Act 2010 because the person works in a professional or voluntary capacity with a person with a disability, provides care to a person with a disability, or themselves has a disability. 

Definitions 

a) You have a disability 

Definition: you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and longterm adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. 

b)You work in a professional capacity (other than as a registered medical practitioner) with disabled people. 

Definition: you are actively involved in dealing with the disability and not simply advising on disability issues such as welfare benefits.  This includes, but is not limited to: 

• physiotherapists 
• occupational therapists 
• speech therapists 
• community psychiatric nurses 
• nurses and social workers working with disabled people 

c) You work in a voluntary capacity with disabled people.  

Definition: you actively and frequently work with people with a disability to assist them in respect of their disability. The time spent as a voluntary worker must be significant.  

d) You care for someone with a disability 

Definition: you would normally be a parent or a full time carer of a disabled person. If you do not live with the disabled person you must have actively and frequently cared for them over a significant period of time.  

A person is eligible for appointment as an ordinary member of the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland if the person is a fully registered person within the meaning of the Medical Act 1983, whether or not that person holds a licence to practise.

To be eligible for appointment as a legal member you must:  

• Have previous engagement in practice for a period of not less than 5 years as a solicitor or advocate in Scotland; and
• Subsequent engagement in any of the activities listed below: 
  (a) exercising judicial functions in any court or Tribunal; 
  (b) practice or employment as a lawyer of any kind; or
  (c) teaching or researching law at or for an educational institution. 

Working with others:  

• Able to take joint responsibility for processes and decisions, ensuring they are fair and ethical. 
• Self-aware and recognises personal prejudices. 
• Able to confront difficult issues openly and sensitively. 
• Able to work effectively as part of a team and be active in deliberations and decision making. 

Sound Judgement & Intellectual Capacity: 

• Able to focus on salient pieces of information and ask probing, focused questions in a way that is sensitive to those being questioned. 
• Able to absorb arguments, summarise issues, and apply knowledge to arrive at balanced judgements. 

Interpersonal skills

• Courteous and considerate to all those you interact with and sensitive to people from different backgrounds. 

Written and oral communication skills 

• Able to use straightforward language with all tribunal users. 

Knowledge 

• Current knowledge and experience of how peoples’ disability affects their functions and any other significant barriers they face in their daily life.

Personal Qualities

• Be objective and impartial
• Be independent with a personal commitment to probity and integrity. 

Working with others:

• Able to take joint responsibility for processes and decisions, ensuring they are fair and ethical.
• Self-aware and recognises personal prejudices.
• Able to confront difficult issues openly and sensitively.
• Able to work effectively as part of a team and be active in deliberations and decision making.
• You will explain medical terminology and technicalities and advise other panel members as required.

Sound Judgement & Intellectual Capacity:

• Able to focus on salient pieces of information and ask probing, focused questions in a way that is sensitive to those being questioned.
• Able to absorb arguments, summarise issues, and apply knowledge to arrive at balanced judgements.

Interpersonal skills:

• Courteous and considerate to all those you interact with and sensitive to people from different backgrounds.

Written and oral communication skills:

• Able to use straightforward language with all types of tribunal users.

Medical Knowledge:

• Substantial experience in understanding different medical conditions and how a person’s medical condition affects their day-to-day functionality.

Personal Qualities:

• Be objective and impartial
• Be independent with a personal commitment to probity and integrity. 

Working with others:

• Able to take joint responsibility for processes and decisions, ensuring they are fair and ethical.
• Self-aware and recognises personal prejudices.
• Able to confront difficult issues openly and sensitively.
• Able to work effectively as part of a team and be active in deliberations and decision making.
• You will explain medical terminology and technicalities and advise other panel members as required.

Sound Judgement & Intellectual Capacity:

• Able to focus on salient pieces of information and ask probing, focused questions in a way that is sensitive to those being questioned.
• Able to absorb arguments, summarise issues, and apply knowledge to arrive at balanced judgements.

Interpersonal skills:

• Courteous and considerate to all those you interact with and sensitive to people from different backgrounds.

Written and oral communication skills:

• Able to use straightforward language with all types of tribunal users.

Legal Knowledge:

• Able to demonstrate professional achievement in the law, knowledge of substantive and procedural law.

Personal Qualities:

• Be objective and impartial
• Be independent with a personal commitment to probity and integrity.