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- Tasks: Lead quality assurance in children's services, ensuring high standards and continuous improvement.
- Company: Achieving for Children, a passionate authority focused on children's rights.
- Benefits: 29 days annual leave, hybrid working, competitive salary, and tailored induction.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while leading innovative quality assurance initiatives.
- Qualifications: Degree in Social Work, leadership experience, and strong interpersonal skills.
- Other info: Join a supportive environment with excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Are you a strategic leader with a passion for driving excellence in children's services? Achieving for Children is seeking an influential Associate Director of Quality Assurance to champion high standards and continuous improvement. We are an Ofsted Judged 'Good' authority with high ambitions for our children and young people. In this role, you will be the guardian of good quality practice, ensuring that every child and young person in Windsor and Maidenhead receives the best possible start in life through evidence-based, high-impact social care and early help services. We are looking for a kind and compassionate leader who embodies our AfC values: Trust, Empower and Respect.
This is a Full-Time (37 hrs per week), Permanent role.
About the role:
- You will oversee a comprehensive programme of audits and reviews, transforming raw data into sophisticated intelligence that shapes our strategic priorities. Your work ensures that we don't just meet statutory requirements but we exceed them.
- As the lead for our independent safeguarding functions, you will hold a broad and vital portfolio. You will oversee Quality Assurance, Independent Reviewing and Child Protection Service, alongside Children, Young People and Family Participation, ensuring the 'voice of the child' is not just heard, but is the primary driver of service design and delivery.
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Leading an integrated Quality Assurance Framework that triangulates evidence from audits, complaints, and direct feedback to achieve 'outstanding' outcomes.
- Spearheading the preparation and response for all external inspections, including ILACS, JTAIs, SEND, and CQC.
- Taking an active lead on Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews and Serious Incident Notifications, while collaborating closely with multi-agency Safeguarding Partnerships.
- Providing oversight to the Principal Social Worker to ensure the successful embedding of Signs of Safety (SoS) and Systemic practice frameworks.
- Strengthening the role of the Participation Team to ensure that children, young people, and families actively influence decision-making at every level of the council.
If you wish to have an informal discussion about the role please contact Sarah Moran, Deputy Director Children's Social Care & Early Help on sarah.moran@achievingforchildren.org.uk
About you:
We are looking for a visionary leader who combines strategic thinking with commitment to children's rights. To excel in this role, you will bring:
- A degree in Social Work (or equivalent) with current Social Work England registration and a proven track record of continuous professional development in leadership.
- Significant experience leading and improving practice within a complex children's services environment. You should have an excellent understanding of current legislation, statutory guidance and inspection regimes.
- The ability to utilise data and intelligence to evaluate the impact of interventions, identifying exactly where and how we can improve.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to negotiate, influence and build strong partnerships across a diverse range of stakeholders.
- A strength-based approach to leadership, with the personal energy to thrive in an independent role and the determination to solve complex problems creatively.
About our benefits:
We are focused on creating a positive supportive environment, where you will have access to a really wide range of resources, as well as a competitive salary and all the perks to enable hybrid working. In AfC you will also have access to:
- 29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after 2 years and 35 days after 4 years with an additional day off in your birthday month (Or for term-time workers, your leave entitlement consists of the non-working periods in your contract).
- Tailored induction sessions commencing on the date you start working for AfC.
- Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension).
- Flexible working options - helping to keep a good work life balance.
- A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme.
Associate Director of Quality Assurance in Maidenhead employer: Achieving For Children
Contact Detail:
Achieving For Children Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Associate Director of Quality Assurance in Maidenhead
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the children's services sector, especially those who work at Achieving for Children. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info about the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by diving deep into the latest trends in quality assurance and children's services. Show us that you're not just passionate but also knowledgeable about what’s happening in the field.
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to share your success stories! Think of specific examples where you've driven excellence or improved practices in your previous roles. We love hearing about real impact!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Associate Director of Quality Assurance in Maidenhead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for children's services shine through. We want to see how much you care about making a difference in the lives of young people and how that aligns with our values of Trust, Empower, and Respect.
Be Specific About Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in quality assurance and leadership within children's services. Use specific examples to demonstrate how you've driven improvements and achieved outstanding outcomes in previous roles.
Tailor Your Application: Don’t just send a generic application! Tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect the key responsibilities and requirements mentioned in the job description. This shows us that you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in the role.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about our organisation and what we stand for!
How to prepare for a job interview at Achieving For Children
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest legislation and statutory guidance related to children's services. Brush up on Ofsted frameworks and be ready to discuss how you’ve applied this knowledge in your previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples that highlight your strength-based approach to leadership. Think about times when you've influenced change or improved practice within a complex environment, and be ready to share these stories during the interview.
✨Data is Your Friend
Be prepared to talk about how you’ve used data to drive improvements in service delivery. Have specific examples ready that demonstrate your ability to transform raw data into actionable insights that benefit children and families.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
Since this role involves working with various stakeholders, think of instances where you’ve successfully built partnerships. Highlight your exceptional interpersonal skills and how they’ve helped you negotiate and influence outcomes in previous positions.