My client a leading IT solutions provider are seeking to recruit a Head of Quality Assurance and Practice Improvement to Lead and direct the Quality Assurance function ensuring the service is reviewed and monitored in line with statutory obligations. To embed our newley created QA framework across all services.

-Provide leadership of the professional discipline of Social Work, leading our practice to inspire, train and energise our workforce.
-Lead on Ofsted preparation, ensuring that the business has a suite of resources, and is able and well placed to meet the demands of forthcoming inspections.
-Develop and maintain a framework for quality across all of Children and Family Services, so that a culture of improvement is embedded, lessons are learned and practice is improved.


Required Experience & Skills (These will be used as the shortlisting criteria)

*A recognised professional Social Work Qualification e.g. degree in Social Work, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent as recognised by the Health and Care Professions Council is desirable,
*An experienced Social Work Practitioner with technical skills and expertise in statutory requirements, and with sufficient expertise to operate at the highest level of proficiency.
*Experience of working with County Members and in a political environment.
*Significant experience of working in the partnership arena and can evidence improving outcomes for children by embodying a systems leadership approach.
*Experience of effectively managing a budget and contributing to decision making on high level spending

*Skilled use of authority, can challenge constructively, use influence to bring about required changes and manage differences in a way which achieves the best outcomes for children.
*Significant experience of working with data, insight, intelligence and performance information to improve outcomes and impact.


Key Responsibilities

*Identify strengths and improvement areas across the whole service from early help to social care to create an integrated QA and PI model.
*Develop methodologies to evaluate the approaches used within Family Operations, e.g. 'Signs of Safety' and 'Developmental Trauma' to ensure that they are embedded and sustained within the organisation, and achieving good outcomes. Needs to be 2nd or 3rd priority.
*Develop the optimum QA/PI structure and team, policies and working practices to support the operating model.
*Lead for preparation and co-ordination for OFSTED inspections, focusing on self-assessment and executing the delivery of the inspection when inspectors are on site.
*Design, develop and deliver innovative ways to improve the children's and families journey, ensuring that their voices are heard and needs are met.
*Develop and drive a continuous improvement ethos across the organisation, influencing the entire organisation so that it underpins and supports the improvement journey.
*Manage the entire audit process across the organisation including Ofsted inspections. This will include ensuring that participation and feedback from staff, children, families and partners influence the improvement of practice and service provision.
*Responsible for a budget of approximately £3.5 million and contributing to decision making on projects or externalised expenditure (typically around £30 million).
*A member of the Children's and Families Leadership Team, reporting to the DCS and the Quality and Development Board (Chaired by the Chief Executive)
*Line management of a service of approximately fifty people comprising six teams that include: Managers, Quality Assurance Officers, IROs, Child Protection Advisers; Professional Practice Specialists; the Principal Social Worker; and Practice systems staff leading on the implementation of the Mosaic social care system.
*Responsible for the implementation of the Children and Families Quality Assurance Framework. Co-ordination of the auditing programme across the county, including collating findings and recommendations, writing overview reports and dissemination of learning.
*Lead manager for the commissioning of advocacy, complaints and the independent visitors service. Including overall responsibility for individual case reviews as required
*Chair of key county strategic groups including: the Improving Outcomes Group; Staff Conferences,Participation Steering Group and Local Safeguarding Children's Board.
*Lead manager for the implementation of department's practice model, 'Signs of Safety' and oversight of the England Innovation Programme 2 in this area.
*Overall responsiblity for policy and procedures including the contract with TriX.


People Source Consulting Ltd is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.

People Source specialise in technology recruitment across niche markets including Information Technology, Digital TV, Digital Marketing, Project and Programme Management, SAP, Digital and Consumer Electronics, Air Traffic Management, Management Consultancy, Business Intelligence, Manufacturing, Telecoms, Public Sector, Healthcare, Finance and Oil & Gas.

This job was originally posted as www.totaljobs.com/job/85618407