Head of Quality Assurance

• Suffolk County Council - Endeavour House, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2BX / Hybrid
• £70,086 - £79,174 per annum (pro rata for part time)
• 37 hours per week, Flexible working options available
• Permanent

We're focused on making a meaningful difference to communities across Suffolk. How? By listening to our people, learning from what they say, and creating a culture of mutual respect, where everyone works together to achieve great things.

As a Head of Quality Assurance with Children and Young People Services (CYP), you'll be as keen to collaborate and build a bright future as we are. So, to make a positive impact, connect with us and connect with a fantastic career.

Your role and responsibilities

We are looking for a Head of Quality Assurance to join our Children and Young People Services leadership team, working in close collaboration with all areas of the service and with partners to ensure effective working.

You will be responsible for designing and implementing our Quality Assurance (QA) system. This includes building on our current quality assessment framework to ensure it reaches across the entire system.

What you will do

• Collaborate with various departments across the service including SEND, social care, youth justice, fostering, and adoption.
• Analyse both qualitative and quantitative data to understand service performance.
• Communicate data insights effectively to inform decision-making and service improvements.
• Ensure compliance with legislation and statutory guidance across services.
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships regionally and nationally.
• Lead and support multi-agency audit programmes and joint targeted area inspections.
• Provide strategic leadership and vision to ensure high-quality service delivery.
• Horizon scan to identify and integrate best practices from other regions and sectors.

What you will need

• A degree or equivalent.
• Proven experience in designing and implementing QA systems.
• Specialist and detailed theoretical knowledge of social work and childcare practice, legislation, policy and research. Including detailed knowledge of related specialist areas e.g., Health, Probation, SEND.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret qualitative and quantitative data.
• Excellent communication skills to convey data insights and inform decision-making.
• Ability to collaborate with various departments and build strategic relationships.
• Knowledge of legislation and statutory guidance relevant to the role.
• Leadership skills to provide strategic vision and ensure high-quality service delivery.
• Good interpersonal, organisational and information management.
• To be in the office at least 3 days per week.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (docx). If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The team

The Quality Assurance and Practice Development Team supports and influences practice across Children and Young People's Services (CYP). The team promotes best practice within CYP and partner agencies across early help and specialist services. This is achieved through:

• Delivering high-quality services to children, young people, and their families within a practice framework that meets required standards.
• Conducting regular and robust audit programmes to test and support CYP priorities and plans for improvement.
• Identifying areas of strength and challenges through regular performance management.
• Ensuring that the QA activities are integrated into practice and policies across all service areas.
• Working closely with senior management to model, challenge, and support good practice.
• Developing new systems and strategies to continuously improve service delivery.

The team is dynamic and collaborative, working across various services to ensure a cohesive approach to quality assurance. You will be part of a supportive environment that values innovation, strategic thinking, and effective communication.

Empowering Everyone:

We're big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We're always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation.

For more information

Please contact Allison Hassey (she/her) for a casual conversation. You can reach her by either calling 01473 23112 or emailing allison.hassey@suffolk.gov.uk.

How to apply:

Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (docx).

Step 2 - Click 'Apply Now' to start your online application.

Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template (docx).

1. Tell us about your experience in designing and implementing a Quality Assurance (QA) system. How did you ensure it was effective across the entire organisation?
2. Provide an example of how you have collaborated with various departments such as education, social care, youth justice, fostering, and adoption. What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
3. Describe a situation where you had to analyse both qualitative and quantitative data to understand service performance. How did you use this data to inform decision-making and service improvements?
4. Can you share your experience in leading or supporting multi-agency audit programmes and joint targeted area inspections? What was your role, and what were the results?

We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We ask you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.

Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format. If you would like an adjustment to this process due to a disability, please contact us at 03456 014412 or recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk.

Closing date: 11.30 pm, 24 April 2025.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.