About ILF Scotland
What is ILF Scotland?
ILF Scotland runs the Independent Living Fund for disabled people in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is a Non-Departmental Public Body constituted as a company limited by guarantee, funded by and accountable to the Scottish Government and the Department of Health in Northern Ireland, and governed by a board of eight non-executive directors appointed by Scottish Ministers. It took over the functions of the former UK Independent Living Fund and has been operating since 1 July 2015. Its stated mission is "to enable disabled people to achieve their independent living outcomes by the dignified assessment of needs and the distribution of discretionary awards", in service of a vision "for independent living to be a reality for all disabled people living in Scotland and Northern Ireland". It also delivers the Transition Fund, which offers up to £4,000 to help young disabled people move into adulthood, a Technology Grant, and the Coming Home Fund.
Where will I work?
ILF Scotland is based at Denholm House on Almondvale Business Park in Livingston, West Lothian, and works hybrid. Its careers pages list "flexible hours, home / hybrid working" among the policies that support flexible working, and its 2024-25 annual report records that "Hybrid principles have now been in place for three years and they continue to offer our staff choice and control".
What is the ILF Scotland team like?
A team of around 80 people provides award management for roughly 8,000 fund recipients, working in partnership with 37 Health and Social Care Partnerships and Trusts across Scotland and Northern Ireland. Roles cover assessment and casework, policy, finance, HR, communications, IT and information governance. It describes itself as a values-based organisation offering "a friendly and supportive place to work, where our values of dignity, trust, and respect underpin the work we do and how we work together". The workforce is 80% female to 20% male, and 30.5% of staff self-identify as disabled or as having underlying health conditions. ILF Scotland is a Living Wage Employer and a Carer Positive employer, and holds Disability Confident Level 2 status.
Work-Life Balance
ILF Scotland shortened its standard working week. Its annual report for the year ended 31 March 2025 states: "We successfully implemented our 35 hour week at the beginning of the reporting period and this has supported the overall wellbeing of colleagues in our busiest year, whilst having no detrimental impact on delivery." Around that, it says: "We have a number of policies in place that support flexible working and time off when you need it, such as flexible hours, home / hybrid working, carers leave and special leave. The vast majority of our people work flexibly." Its staff-policy summary lists "working flexibly, compressed hours" and remote working among arrangements "tailored to meet individual circumstances", and its recruitment pages say simply: "We're happy to talk flexible working." In the 2024-25 staff survey, 86% said they were very satisfied with the life balance opportunities of working there. Wellbeing support runs to webinars, podcasts, counselling, a listening service and the BHSF Connect app, plus published support for menopause, endometriosis and menstrual health.
Perks and Benefits
- Civil Service alpha pension, with employer contributions of up to 30.30%
- Death-in-service and ill-health retirement cover funded by the employer
- Counselling, a listening service and access to the BHSF Connect app
- CPD and re-validation support for staff registered with a professional body
- Maternity, paternity, parental leave, carers leave and special leave
- The right technology provided to do the job from home or the office