3 months contract with a Local Authority
Job Summary:
• Luton Borough Council is seeking an experienced Quality Assurance & Practice Improvement Officer to join the Children, Families & Education – Corporate Parenting (Fostering) Service on an interim basis.
• This senior specialist role will lead on fostering quality assurance activity, practice improvement and audit across the service, ensuring regulatory compliance and driving continuous improvement in outcomes for children and young people.
• The postholder will be responsible for analysing performance data, quality assuring fostering assessments and reviews, identifying themes and risks, and disseminating learning through reports, training and practice workshops.
• The role supports a culture of reflective practice, professional challenge and high standards within a statutory safeguarding environment and is suitable for hybrid working.
Key Duties/Accountabilities (Sample):
• Lead the development and implementation of fostering quality assurance and practice review processes.
• Collate, analyse and evaluate complex performance and audit data to identify themes, trends and areas for improvement.
• Quality assure Form F assessments, Regulation 24 processes and annual foster carer reviews.
• Monitor Special Guardianship applications and improvement plans, maintaining effective tracking systems.
• Produce high-quality audit reports and management information for senior leaders.
• Provide professional challenge and support to Team Managers and Heads of Service to ensure statutory and regulatory compliance.
• Develop and deliver practice workshops, learning events and training to raise practice standards.
• Maintain audit service plans and oversee quality assurance documentation and master records.
• Act as custodian of service products, reports and practice improvement materials.
• Liaise with managers, practitioners and partner agencies to support service improvement.
• Promote equality, safeguarding and anti-discriminatory practice in all aspects of service delivery.
Skills/Experience:
• In-depth experience of fostering regulations, national minimum standards and quality assurance.
• Significant experience within corporate parenting / fostering services.
• Proven ability to analyse complex data and make sound professional judgements in a safeguarding context.
• Experience quality assuring social work practice and monitoring regulatory compliance.
• Strong report writing skills with experience presenting findings to senior management.
• Experience advising, coaching, supervising and supporting staff.
• Ability to challenge practice constructively and drive improvement.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities under pressure.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Additional Information:
• Recognised professional social work qualification (DipSW, CQSW or equivalent).
• Registered with Social Work England / HCPC.
• Client: Luton Borough Council.
• Department: Children, Families & Education – Corporate Parenting (Fostering).
• Working Pattern: Hybrid (agile working).
• Compliance: Enhanced DBS required.