Job
Title: Head of Care, Quality and Governance (Adults
and Children)
Location:
Essex and Ipswich (Hybrid)
Reports to:
Managing Director
Salary: £70,00-75,000
per annum (depending on experience) with bonus scheme
Contract Type:
Full-time, Permanent
Hours:
37.5 hours per week (flexibility required)
Job Purpose
This job description lists the main areas in which you will
be expected to provide support. We may need to add more specific tasks to this
based on the needs and wishes of the people we support, our workforce and the
needs of the organisation.
The Head of Care, Quality and Governance will provide
strategic leadership and operational oversight across care quality, compliance,
and governance functions within a specialist supported living organisation for
individuals with complex needs. The post holder will ensure the delivery of
safe, effective, person-centred support, maintain regulatory compliance, and
embed a culture of continuous improvement across all services.
This role will also be integral in the development of our
future Children’s Services.
To provide direct line management to the Operations Manager
and Project/Relationship Lead.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Care and
Support Quality
* Provide strategic oversight of care and support delivery to ensure
best practice and adherence to individualised, person-centred approaches.
* Monitor and improve outcomes for people with physical, learning,
and behavioural needs through evidence-based practices.
* Ensure care and support reflects best practice and ensures positive
outcomes for the people we support.
* Lead on behavioural risk oversight, working closely with the wider
community Multi-Disciplinary team and specialists.
Quality
Assurance and Governance
* Lead on ViClarity, our internal Quality and Compliance system
ensuring services maintain robust quality assurance frameworks and audit
processes.
* Chair and coordinate bi-monthly Quality and Governance meetings,
analysing trends, themes and risks.
* Drive continuous improvement through analysis of incidents,
complaints, audits, and regulatory feedback.
* Ensure the coordination of bi-annual external mock inspections.
* Ensure services are maintaining and delivering on their Continuous
Improvement plans (CIP)
Policies,
Procedures and Compliance
·
Oversee the development, review, and
implementation of policies and procedures in line with current legislation, CQC
regulations, and sector best practice via our internal policy system, QCS
updating as necessary or creating bespoke polices according to need.
·
Ensure organisational practices are fully
compliant with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities
Regulations 2014).
Learning and Development
·
Lead
the strategic direction of the organisation's learning and development
programme.
·
Ensure
staff at all levels receive appropriate, timely, and role-specific
training—including mandatory, specialist, and values-based learning according
to the needs of people we support
·
Monitor
training compliance, quality, and impact across the organisation.
·
Promote
a culture of reflective practice, staff development, and continuous
professional growth.
Regulatory
Leadership
* Act as the Nominated Individual for the organisation with CQC.
* Lead on all matters relating to CQC compliance and inspections.
* Support services to prepare for inspections, coordination external
mock inspections, and follow up with action planning and monitoring.
* Ensure that services are raising relevant regulatory notifications.
Safeguarding
and Incident Oversight
* Serve as the organisation’s Safeguarding Lead, ensuring robust
reporting and investigation processes.
* Oversee the response to serious incidents and untoward events;
ensure timely notifications, root cause analysis, and learning
implementation.
Complaints
and Feedback
* Lead the complaints process, including investigation, resolution,
and organisational learning.
* Analyse trends and themes to inform service improvements and
strategic planning.
* Lead on the annual surveys and ensure that feedback is coordinated,
disseminated and actions delivered.
Organisational
Culture and Leadership
* Promote a culture of dignity, respect, inclusion, and
accountability throughout the organisation.
* Provide leadership, coaching, and support to all managers in the
organisation.
* Provide a monthly risk report to the Managing Director
* Represent the organisation at relevant external forums and maintain
strong stakeholder relationships.
* In partnership with Project and relationship lead, lead on the
development of new services
Other:
·
Promote a company culture conducive to high-standard care and
support delivery.
·
Ensure
all information is kept up to date in accordance with GDPR legislation.
·
Develop
key relationships with the Care Quality Commission, Local Authority, Health
professionals and other key stakeholders.
·
Create
an open and transparent culture enabling staff to confidently raise concerns
and ensure there is clear evidence of lessons learnt when there have been
incidents and near miss events.
·
Carry
out any additional tasks or duties according to your role and responsibilities
and within your scope of competence.
·
Act
as an ambassador for Harley house supported living ensuring you always maintain
professionalism and integrity.
·
Ensure
you refrain from befriending staff or services users on social network sites
·
Always
act in the best interest of any person who may lack capacity.
·
Ensure
that the safeguarding of the people we support is always a priority.
·
Be
aware of, and follow the procedure for, reporting any safeguarding concerns or
incidents
·
Attend
training and ensure all mandatory training is up to date.
·
Co-operate
and attend a yearly appraisal with the Managing Director.
·
Ensure
the health, safety, and welfare of the people we support and the workforce.
·
Embrace
team working by ensuring effective and open communication for the benefit of
the people we support
This
job description may be subject to review and change in consultation with the
post holder. This is not an exhaustive list of duties, and you may be required
to undertake any tasks relevant to your role and level of skills and competency.
Person
Specification
Criteria
Essential
Desirable
Education/Qualifications
·
Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience in
health, social care, or related field
·
Relevant qualification in Children’s services
·
RNLD, RMN or Social worker
·
Health and Social Care Qualification (Level 5 or above)
·
Safeguarding lead level 3
·
PBS Level 3
·
Postgraduate qualification in Quality or Governance or
Education
Experience
·
Senior leadership experience in health or social care
environment
·
Leadership experience in Children’s services
·
Proven experience with CQC inspections and regulatory
frameworks
·
Oversight of complex behavioural and physical care
- Leading safeguarding processes and investigations
·
Experience working with individuals with complex needs
(LD, autism, MH, behaviours that challenge)
·
Experience managing referrals and assessment processes
·
Experience working with ICBs/Local Authorities
·
Senior leadership experience in specialist supported
living services
·
Previous registered manager or leader of a regulated
activity
·
Experience managing referrals and assessment processes
·
Experience mobilising new supported living services or
specialist placements
·
Experience as a Nominated Individual
·
Experience as Safeguarding lead
Knowledge
·
Strong knowledge of Care Act, MCA, DoLS, Health &
Social Care Regulations
·
Strong knowledge of CQC key lines of enquiry enquiry,
fundamental standards of care and regulations.
·
Expertise in quality improvement and audit
·
Ability to interpret data and report on trends
·
Exceptional written and verbal communication
·
Strong leadership, mentoring, and influencing skills
·
Familiarity with complex behavioural needs and trauma-informed
approaches
·
Knowledge of Positive Behaviour Support (PBS),
person-centred planning
·
Clinical knowledge associated with physical disabilities
·
Knowledge of commissioning pathways and funding
mechanisms (e.g. CHC, Section 117)
Skills and Attributes
·
Excellent interpersonal, negotiation and communication
skills
·
Time management and organisational skills
·
Strong report writing and presentation abilities
·
Commercial awareness
·
Confident working independently and in multidisciplinary
teams
·
Person-centred, compassionate, and resilient
·
Committed to continuous improvement and accountability
·
Strong ethical standards and professionalism
·
Other
·
Ability to travel as require
·
Ability to respond quickly to referrals and emergency
placements
·
Commitment to inclusion, dignity, and safeguarding
·
Resilient, flexible and solution-focused attitude
·
Full UK driving licence with access to vehicle