Quality Manager Children's Services

The Head of Quality and Governance provides strategic leadership for quality assurance, governance, safeguarding, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement across Calm Futures. The postholder is responsible for ensuring services are safe, effective, person-centred, and outcomes-focused, while maintaining compliance with relevant legislation, Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulations, and recognised best practice standards. As a member of the Senior Management Team, the role provides independent oversight and assurance across regulated and non-regulated services, leading the organisation’s approach to quality improvement, organisational risk, safeguarding governance, inspections, and regulatory engagement. Calm Futures is a values-led adult social care provider delivering high-quality, person-centred support across supported living, residential care, and specialist services for adults with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs. Member of the Senior Management Team  Organisational lead for safeguarding, quality, and governance  Provides independent oversight and challenge across operational services  Holds delegated authority for regulatory and compliance judgement  Maintains oversight and accountability for organisational quality, governance, and compliance risks  Strategic Quality and Governance Leadership Lead the development and implementation of the organisation’s quality and governance strategy  Embed a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and learning across all services  Ensure quality frameworks support outstanding person-centred care and positive outcomes  Oversee the development and review of organisational policies, procedures, and governance frameworks to ensure compliance with legislation, regulatory standards, and best practice  Provide strategic oversight of organisational governance, safeguarding, compliance, and risk management arrangements  Regulatory Compliance and Assurance CQC Regulations and Fundamental Standards  Positive Behaviour Support and restrictive practice governance  Ensure effective systems are in place to monitor compliance, identify risk, and support continuous improvement  Lead organisational readiness for inspections and regulatory reviews  Provide expert guidance and support to senior leaders and Registered Managers on quality and compliance matters  Maintain oversight of regulatory action plans, service improvements, and governance reporting  Safeguarding, Risk and Organisational Oversight Provide strategic leadership for safeguarding governance across the organisation  Oversee serious incidents, investigations, complaints, whistleblowing concerns, and regulatory notifications  Exercise professional judgement in complex safeguarding and organisational risk matters  Maintain oversight of organisational risk registers, incident trends, lessons learned, and improvement actions  Lead governance oversight of restrictive practices and behavioural support approaches where applicable  Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement Lead the organisation’s audit and quality assurance framework  Analyse audits, incidents, complaints, feedback, and performance data to identify themes, risks, and opportunities for improvement  Provide strategic oversight of digital care and quality management systems to support governance, reporting, compliance, and service improvement Ensure robust action planning and sustainable improvement following audits, inspections, incidents, and investigations  Monitor service quality across all locations and provide support and challenge where improvement is required  Promote co-production and ensure the voices of people supported, families, and staff inform service development and improvement Leadership and Management Provide leadership, direction, and professional oversight to quality, compliance, and governance functions  Support and challenge operational leaders to maintain safe, effective, and high-quality services Build organisational capability through coaching, mentoring, training, and leadership development  Lead organisational learning and the sharing of best practice across services  Care Quality Commission (CQC)  Local Authorities  Lead responses to inspections, safeguarding reviews, serious incidents, and regulatory concerns  Mobilisation and Service Development Provide governance and regulatory oversight for new services and service developments  Ensure services are established in line with regulatory, safeguarding, staffing, and quality requirements  Ensure governance frameworks, policies, and quality systems are embedded from service commencement  Support organisational growth through quality-led service development and innovation  Participate in senior management on-call arrangements  Provide strategic leadership and decision-making support during serious incidents, safeguarding matters, and regulatory escalations  Act as a senior escalation point for organisational risk and crisis management issues  Significant senior leadership experience within adult social care, health, or specialist care services  Extensive experience within CQC regulated environments  CQC Fundamental Standards  Governance and risk management  Proven experience leading inspections, audits, investigations, and quality improvement programmes  Experience supporting people with:  Learning disabilities  Autism  Experience managing organisational risk and regulatory relationships  Professional qualification in Health and Social Care, Leadership, or a related field  Level 7 Leadership or Management qualification  IOSH or NEBOSH qualification  Lead Auditor or Quality Improvement qualification  Experience supporting organisational growth, mobilisation, or transformation programmes  Knowledge of Positive Behaviour Support frameworks  Safe, high-quality, and compliant services across Calm Futures  Strong governance, safeguarding, and organisational oversight  Positive regulatory relationships and inspection outcomes  Effective identification and mitigation of organisational risk  Continuous improvement and measurable service quality outcomes  Competitive salary  ~23 days annual leave plus bank holidays  ~ Ongoing professional development and CPD support  ~ Opportunity to shape and influence quality across a growing organisation