Are you a strategic leader with a passion for driving excellence in children’s services? Achieving for Children is seeking an influential Associate Director of Quality Assurance to champion high standards and continuous improvement. We are an Ofsted Judged ‘Good’ authority with high ambitions for our children and young people. In this role, you will be the guardian of good quality practice, ensuring that every child and young person in Windsor and Maidenhead receives the best possible start in life through evidence-based, high-impact social care and early help services.
We are looking for a kind and compassionate leader who embodies our AfC values: Trust, Empower and Respect.
Key Responsibilities
* Leading an integrated Quality Assurance Framework that triangulates evidence from audits, complaints, and direct feedback to achieve ‘outstanding’ outcomes.
* Spearheading the preparation and response for all external inspections, including ILACS, JTAIs, SEND, and CQC.
* Taking an active lead on Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews and Serious Incident Notifications, while collaborating closely with multi‑agency Safeguarding Partnerships.
* Providing oversight to the Principal Social Worker to ensure the successful embedding of Signs of Safety (SoS) and Systemic practice frameworks.
* Strengthening the role of the Participation Team to ensure that children, young people, and families actively influence decision‑making at every level of the council.
If you wish to have an informal discussion about the role please contact Sarah Moran, Deputy Director Children's Social Care & Early Help at sarah.moran@achievingforchildren.org.uk.
Qualifications
* A degree in Social Work (or equivalent) with current Social Work England registration and a proven track record of continuous professional development in leadership.
* Significant experience leading and improving practice within a complex children’s services environment. You should have an excellent understanding of current legislation, statutory guidance and inspection regimes.
* The ability to utilise data and intelligence to evaluate the impact of interventions, identifying exactly where and how we can improve.
* Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to negotiate, influence and build strong partnerships across a diverse range of stakeholders.
* A strength‑based approach to leadership, with the personal energy to thrive in an independent role and the determination to solve complex problems creatively.
* A demonstrated commitment to addressing equality and diversity issues within practice and the workplace.
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