At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead quality assurance and contract management for adult social care services.
- Company: Join the vibrant London Borough of Waltham Forest, a diverse and inclusive workplace.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and commitment to employee well-being.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for professional growth and development.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in your community by ensuring high-quality care for residents.
- Qualifications: Experience in contract management and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 59511 - 62766 £ per year.
Organisation: London Borough of Waltham Forest
Salary: PO8 £59,511 - £62,766
Contract Type: Permanent/Full Time
Number of openings: One
Working hours per week: 36 hours
Application Deadline: 11/06/2026
Proposed Interview Date(s): Week beginning 22nd June.
Reference: 2156
About Us: Bursting with culture, energy, and opportunity, the London Borough of Waltham Forest is a fantastic and exciting place to work. We are a highly ambitious borough. Driven by culture and the innate creativity of our residents, we have developed new and innovative ways to build our communities. Our Council is relentlessly resident-focused, insight-led, digitally driven and commercially minded; a Council focused on meeting the needs of our existing and future residents.
London Borough of Waltham Forest is one of the Mayor of London’s Good Work Standard employers. This accreditation is proof of our commitment to creating a healthy, fair and inclusive workplace. This includes fair pay and conditions, workplace well-being, skills and progression and diversity and recruitment.
About the role: This is an exciting opportunity to join our Strategic Commissioning function as a Quality & Contracts Manager (1fte Live Well and 1fte Age Well portfolios), playing a key role in ensuring high quality, safe and effective adult social care services are in place for our residents. In this pivotal role, you will lead on the management, monitoring and continuous improvement of quality and contractual performance across commissioned services, ensuring providers deliver person centred care that promotes independence, wellbeing and positive outcomes. Central to this is our Mission Waltham Forest ambition, embedding strengths based approaches, prevention and enabling residents to live independently for as long as possible.
You will take strategic responsibility for market oversight, contract management and quality assurance, working closely with providers, operational teams, partners and regulators to drive high standards and address risk proactively. You will lead a team of quality, contracts and supplier relationship staff, ensuring robust frameworks are in place to monitor performance, support improvement and secure value for money across commissioned spend. Working in a fast paced and complex environment, you will use data, insight and strong professional judgement to identify trends, manage risk and deliver targeted interventions that improve outcomes and strengthen the local care market. You will also play a key role in building strong relationships with providers, supporting innovation, managing performance and ensuring services remain sustainable, compliant and responsive to local need.
We are looking for a knowledgeable and driven professional with strong experience in contract management, quality assurance and adult social care commissioning. You will bring excellent analytical, communication and influencing skills, alongside the ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships and deliver improvement at pace.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead quality assurance and contract management across adult social care services
- Monitor provider performance to ensure safe, high-quality and compliant services
- Manage provider relationships, driving improvement and addressing risks
- Use data and insight to identify trends and improve service delivery
- Lead and develop a team of quality and contracts staff
- Support commissioning activity and market development
Qualifications and Requirements:
- Significant experience in commissioning, contract management or quality assurance in adult social care
- Strong knowledge of legislation, safeguarding and regulatory standards (e.g. CQC, Care Act)
- Experience of managing provider performance and working with partners
- Ability to analyse data, manage risk and drive improvement
- Strong leadership, communication and stakeholder engagement skills
- Degree level (or equivalent) with relevant professional qualification
Terms and conditions:
- Satisfactory employment references and CIFAS identity checks;
- Satisfactory declaration of interest;
- This role is subject to safer recruitment practices as it involves work with children and/or vulnerable adults;
- Satisfactory DBS check;
- As a public authority, we must ensure that members of staff in public-facing roles are able to speak fluent English.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications online by pressing the ‘Apply’ button below. This includes a supporting statement that outlines to us how your skills and experience make you a good candidate for this vacancy. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
Equal Opportunity Employer:
Waltham Forest is a diverse borough where diversity is valued and is integral to both service delivery and employment of its staff. The Council is proud of its rich mix of communities and as the largest employer in the area, it works hard to respond to the changing needs of its population.
To support the above and reduce the risk of bias in its recruitment activities, the council is operating an anonymous shortlisting process, which hides personal information that can identify individuals until their application has been considered for shortlisting.
If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below or feel free to discuss this during your interview.
Contact Information:
If you have any questions about this vacancy or the application process, please contact Vincent Edwards, Interim Head of Commissioning and Market Quality – Live Well Vincent.Edwards@walthamforest.gov.uk
If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post, please contact our Recruitment Team via email at recruitment@walthamforest.gov.uk.
Quality & Contracts Manager - Live Well in Walthamstow employer: Borough of Waltham Forest
The London Borough of Waltham Forest is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work environment that champions diversity, innovation, and community engagement. With a strong commitment to employee well-being and professional development, the Council provides numerous opportunities for growth while ensuring a fair and inclusive workplace. As a Good Work Standard employer, Waltham Forest prioritises a supportive culture that empowers staff to make a meaningful impact in the lives of residents.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Quality & Contracts Manager - Live Well in Walthamstow
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the organisation! Research the London Borough of Waltham Forest and its values. Understanding their mission and culture will help you tailor your approach during interviews and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend local events. Building relationships can give you insider info about the role and might even lead to a referral, which can boost your chances of landing that Quality & Contracts Manager position.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those interviews! Think about how your experience aligns with the key responsibilities listed in the job description. Practise answering questions about contract management and quality assurance, and be ready to share examples of how you've driven improvement in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After your interview, send a thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity. This not only shows good manners but also reinforces your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you fresh in their minds as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Quality & Contracts Manager - Live Well in Walthamstow
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Supporting Statement:Make sure to customise your supporting statement to highlight how your skills and experience align with the role of Quality & Contracts Manager. We want to see how you can contribute to our mission of delivering high-quality adult social care services.
Showcase Your Experience:Don’t hold back on sharing your relevant experience in contract management and quality assurance. We’re looking for someone who can hit the ground running, so let us know about your past successes and how they relate to this role.
Be Clear and Concise:When filling out your application, clarity is key! Use straightforward language and get straight to the point. We appreciate well-structured applications that are easy to read and understand.
Apply Early!:We might close the vacancy early if we receive enough applications, so don’t wait until the last minute. Head over to our website and submit your application as soon as you can to ensure you don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Borough of Waltham Forest
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of adult social care commissioning, contract management, and quality assurance. Familiarise yourself with relevant legislation and standards like the Care Act and CQC regulations. This will not only help you answer questions confidently but also show that you're genuinely interested in the role.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past work that demonstrate your skills in managing provider performance and driving improvement. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses. This will help you articulate your experience clearly and effectively.
✨Engage with the Interviewers
Don’t just wait for questions; engage with your interviewers by asking insightful questions about their current challenges or initiatives. This shows that you’re proactive and genuinely interested in contributing to their goals, especially around improving service delivery and resident outcomes.
✨Be Yourself
While it’s important to be professional, don’t forget to let your personality shine through. The London Borough of Waltham Forest values diversity and inclusion, so being authentic can help you connect better with the interviewers and demonstrate that you’d fit well within their culture.
