Lead For Inspection Co-ordinator, Professional Standards & Audit

Children and Families is recognised as a service where social work can thrive, underpinned by a culture of collaboration, integrity, and compassion. We are committed to promoting the development and wellbeing of children, young people, and their families, and to protecting them from neglect and abuse. Working in partnership with others, we deliver early help, family support, and effective social work interventions that build resilience, remove barriers, and enable children and young people to look forward to a brighter future.

The postholder will represent the function with a sound understanding of Children’s Services, building credible and influential relationships with senior leaders both internally and externally. As the Lead for Inspection for Children’s Social Care, you will coordinate inspection activity and act as the organisation’s subject matter expert on the inspection framework and its requirements.

Key responsibilities include:

• Coordinating the completion of Annexe A documentation.
• Preparing and organising all aspects of Children and Families inspections.
• Acting as the primary liaison with Ofsted during inspections.
• Providing confident and effective coordination of large volumes of data and documentation as part of inspection preparation.
• Delivering timely, up-to-date knowledge, expertise, and guidance on statutory inspection frameworks for Children’s Social Care, aligned with Ofsted updates.
• Leading inspection planning meetings, setting agendas, and tracking actions to ensure senior management are fully informed of progress.
• Engaging confidently with senior managers to ensure they are prepared and responsive to inspection requirements and proactively highlighting areas of strength and risk.
• Supporting in the preparation of frontline staff for inspection.
• Overseeing the progress of actions identified through inspection activity, ensuring timely follow-up and resolution.
• Building strong relationships and providing support to partners preparing for Inspections.
• Maintaining a key relationship and acting as a conduit with the Ofsted Lead Inspector.
• Coordinating and managing the ongoing delivery of the Inspection portfolio for Essex Children and Families.
• Leading the triangulation, analysis, and reporting of learning from inspection activity at local, regional, and national levels, including the development of bulletins, presentations, and workshop content.
• Supporting audit-related activities within the Professional Standards & Audit Service and contributing to wider quality assurance projects.

The Experience You Will Bring:

• Educated to RQF Level 3 or equivalent through experience.
• Proven experience in project delivery or programme support.
• Skilled in coordinating large volumes of data; numerically literate with strong report-writing and organisational skills.
• Experience working within a large organisation, in a business-critical role.
• Experience of regulatory or inspection activity would be an advantage.
• Strong communicator with the ability to build effective relationships at all levels, including senior leadership; assertive and persuasive when needed.
• A proactive self-starter with sound judgement and decision-making skills, committed to delivering high-quality outcomes.
• Able to work flexibly and independently, adapting to changing priorities.
• Resilient under pressure, with the ability to respond calmly, quickly and effectively in a fast-paced environment.

The Successful Candidate Will Be:

• A confident, proactive self-starter who works well independently.
• A resourceful problem solver, skilled at anticipating issues and developing innovative solutions seeking the support of key stakeholders where needed.
• Highly organised, with the ability to design and implement systems and processes to ensure inspection activity is well organised and tracked.
• Proficient in developing and working with spreadsheets and data tools.
• Experienced in leading on complex projects from start to finish.
• Comfortable engaging with senior managers, Members, inspectors, and external stakeholders, with strong influencing and negotiation skills.
• An excellent written communicator, capable of producing clear and engaging guidance, communications, and presentations.
• Able to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines in a high-pressure environment.
• Interested in national social work policy and its interface with inspection frameworks.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.