Job Title
Director of Quality Improvement
Division / Function
Corporate (Quality)
Reports To
Chief Quality Officer
Responsible For
Quality Improvement Manager, Investigations and Compliance Manager
Job Purpose
Alternative Futures Group has an ambition to be a sector leader in quality, value and personal outcomes over the next 3 years. The Director of Quality Improvement will lead on the realisation of this ambition by developing the necessary strategies, policies, processes and procedures to deliver a person‑centred, strengths‑based, outcome‑focused support model that supports active citizenship, health and well‑being; achieve CQC ratings of Good or Outstanding in all services and domains; and foster a philosophy of continuous improvement, co‑production & innovation.
As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the post holder will participate fully in the corporate management, decision‑making, planning and strategy development of AFG’s quality and safety agenda and provide specialist advice, direction and inspiration to the Executive Team and Board.
The Director of Quality Improvement will drive the quality improvement agenda across the entire organisation to develop the "quality matters" culture in every person, including the people we support, thereby improving personal outcomes, user experience and organisational effectiveness.
Dimensions
* Overall responsibility for a corporate quality team consisting of 5 individuals and 2 direct reports.
* Overall responsibility for a corporate budget for quality team salaries and non‑pay items.
Principal Accountabilities
* Quality Assurance
o Lead an integrated and cohesive approach to the design and implementation of quality assurance activities across the organisation to maintain and improve regulatory compliance and evidence‑based practice.
o Prepare the organisation for the introduction of CQC’s new single assessment framework to ensure AFG maintains and improves our current CQC ratings.
o Lead and direct effective and appropriate audit and inspection activity across the organisation to provide ongoing and robust scrutiny of the provision of health and social care in all settings and thereby ensure a high standard of service delivery for all people using AFG services.
o Lead and direct the effective and efficient operation of the Quality Team, developing strategies, resources and capability and oversight of corporate and operational activities in order to deliver the objectives of AFG.
o Continuously improve the organisation’s approach to assurance activity and provide oversight of systems to ensure the best outcomes for people using AFG health and social care services.
o Work closely with the Directors of Operations to build a joined‑up approach to assurance which identifies opportunities for improvement along the journey of support, including formal accreditation processes and systems to evidence the quality of our service design and delivery.
o Build a continuous quality assurance approach to the design of quality and safety activities to ensure that performance is optimised, good practice is identified, and appropriate change is sensitively implemented.
o Ensure effective and efficient use of resources to deliver a well‑motivated workforce and the delivery of financial targets.
* Quality Improvement
o Lead on the identification and introduction of a formal Quality Improvement methodology across the organisation and a framework for identifying, planning, implementing and evaluating specific improvement projects.
o Provide strong and effective leadership in undertaking major reviews and investigations, ensuring a robust and independent approach to the inspection and scrutiny of the quality of care, to transparently identify good practice and areas for improvement. Share this learning across the organisation for the benefit of all.
o Provide organisational leadership in the development of intelligence and learning systems to develop a systematic approach to the early identification of concerns and the sharing of learning, promoting improvement and better outcomes.
o Lead the establishment and fostering of strategic alliances with other bodies across the health and social care sector, focused on sharing good practice, skills and expertise and benchmarking AFG with our peers.
o Promote dialogue and proactive relationship management with a wide range of external stakeholders (such as families, CQC, commissioners and the media) so that the objectives and priorities of the organisation and findings from reviews are understood and disseminated, and used to inform the development of AFG policy and practice.
o Create a learning culture which encourages and supports transparency, accountability and an ethos of improvement.
o Embed a willingness to trial and/or introduce new ways of working and be proactive in learning from others including peer review.
* Co‑production
o Unlock the potential within this organisation to enable the people we support, our staff and other stakeholders to co‑produce new ways of thinking and working for the organisation.
o Develop and implement a co‑production strategy so that AFG services and support models work better for the people that use them.
o Provide inspirational leadership to promote a culture of involvement, transparency and respect for the views of people with lived experience across the organisation.
o Develop the structures and processes required to sustain co‑production, such as training and support.
o Adopt a strengths‑based approach that recognises and values the talents, ideas and abilities of the people supported.
* General
o Support the design and implementation of the organisation’s new digital care management system.
o Support the Chief Quality Officer on the design and implementation of an annual quality and safety strategy.
o Support the Chief Quality Officer in the provision of advice and guidance to the Executive and Board on all quality and safety matters within AFG and the wider health and social care sector.
o Support the Chief Quality Officer and the wider Executive team in the development and delivery of the annual business plan.
o Contribute to the wider strategic activities of the organisation.
o Ensure the integrity and accuracy of quality and safety data provided to the organisation for compliance and decision making.
o Responsible for the day‑to‑day effective management of the Quality Team personnel and activity to maximise resource effectiveness and prioritisation.
o Ensure the Quality Team operates within its budget at all times.
o Support the Chief Quality Officer in the Nominated Individual role to maintain regulatory compliance, oversight and assurance at all times.
o Ensure that AFG produces an Annual Safeguarding Report for Board scrutiny.
o Ensure that AFG produces an Annual Health & Safety Report for Board scrutiny.
o Analyse areas of risk across the organisation and allocate resources accordingly.
o Ensure Quality Team staff are led, managed and supported by just and compassionate leadership.
o Provide quarterly supervision and appraisal with direct line reports so job roles and responsibilities are clearly understood and personal objectives are being met.
o Responsible for dealing with any disciplinary and capability concerns, including acting in a professional advisory capacity for organisation‑wide disciplinary/capability hearings/investigations.
o Chair the monthly Quality & Compliance Committee.
o Make a monthly quality and safety report to ERAM.
o Make a quarterly Quality & Safety report to Trustees at Quality & Safety Committee.
Person Specification
* Skills and Knowledge
o Excellent problem solver.
o Highly resilient and able to work at a pace and manage competing priorities.
o Agile thinker able to take decisions.
o Highly numerate and excellent analytical skills.
o Excellent communication skills (both verbal and written) to both financial and non‑financial individuals.
o High degree of IT literacy.
o Ability to influence senior stakeholders.
o Ability to adapt existing and develop new quality, operational and financial models.
o An understanding of all relevant health and social care legislation and regulatory frameworks.
o Fluent on the policy context of the care sector.
* Experience
o At least 5 years senior leadership experience working in an adult health or social care field.
o Demonstrable experience of developing or implementing a quality assurance framework including service and compliance audit strategy and tools.
o Demonstrable experience of using and promoting the skills, knowledge and experience of the people we support and their families to improve user experience, outcomes, service delivery and design.
o Experience of working within a creative and innovative environment, using a range of reporting tools and evidence to inform and improve practice.
o Experience of strategic risk management and reporting.
o Experience of preparing both statutory and non‑statutory returns (e.g., MHSDS returns, annual Quality Account submissions).
o Demonstrable experience of leading, managing and developing multi‑disciplinary teams.
o Experience of managing in organisations undertaking significant change, whether as a consequence of market disruption or organisational re‑engineering.
o Experience of working with Senior Executives and Board Members including preparation and presentation of papers/reports and analysis of data.
o Experience of project managing complex strategic projects within scope, budget and timescale.
* Qualifications and Training
o A professional qualification in a relevant field (e.g., health, social care, regulations, operations).
o Demonstrable continuous professional development with relevant managerial or professional body.
* Values and Attitudes
o Commitment to Public Service values (the Nolan Principles) and principles and the values of Alternative Futures Group.
o Commitment to developing self and others.
o Passion for making a positive difference in the lives of others.
o Commitment to the vision for social care as set out by Social Care Future and the Making It Real Framework from Think Local Act Personal.
o Understanding of how co‑production can change the way the organisation thinks and works by involving people with lived experience, staff and other stakeholders in decision making in a meaningful way.
Working Arrangements
With our extended flexible working options, you can also choose to work a 9‑day fortnight or a 4½‑day week to support your work‑life balance.
We offer a car allowance of £7,840‑£9,800 per annum.
This role is Band IV as per our structure.
This role is home based and requires a regular presence in the North West. We’re happy to consider candidates based elsewhere in the UK and will provide travel and accommodation support for required visits.
Interview Dates
1st stage – 4th December – Liverpool in person
2nd stage – 10th December
Previous applicants need not apply.
About Us
We’re Alternative Futures Group, a health and social care charity providing specialist support for people with a learning disability or mental health condition.
We’ve been positively changing lives and enabling people to achieve amazing outcomes for over 30 years.
Our vision is to create a world where amazing people do amazing things every day. Our skilled and experienced teams work with every person we support to create personalised, outcome‑focused plans to achieve their aspirations.
As a values‑based employer, the people that work for us genuinely care about the people they support, and we are seeking likeminded people to join our team. If you are passionate about working in Health and Social Care and have a real desire to make a positive difference to the lives of the people we support, we would love to hear from you.
In return for your contribution we will support you throughout your career and provide a wide range of employee benefits, career development and lifestyle support services to ensure you feel supported, fulfilled and valued from day one of your employment with us.
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