Head of Service - Quality Assurance and Improvement, Adult Social Care

Head of Service - Quality Assurance and Improvement, Adult Social Care

Full-Time 60000 - 80000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Tile Hill Executive Recruitment

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead quality assurance and improvement in Adult Social Care across Lancashire.
  • Company: Join a collaborative leadership team focused on delivering better outcomes.
  • Benefits: Shape the future of services with a strong focus on professional development.
  • Other info: Opportunity to influence senior stakeholders and drive meaningful service improvement.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in a major county-wide Adult Social Care system.
  • Qualifications: Significant experience in Adult Social Care and strong leadership skills.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.

A leadership role at the heart of quality, assurance and improvement across Adult Social Care. Lancashire is one of the largest and most complex Adult Social Care systems in the country. We are looking for an experienced and credible senior leader who can provide strategic leadership across quality assurance, safeguarding assurance, professional practice, market quality and continuous improvement helping ensure that services are safe, person-centred, strengths-based and focused on delivering better outcomes for people.

This is a broad, influential and high-profile role, working across Adult Social Care, commissioning, operational services and the wider care market. You will lead the development and embedding of quality, safeguarding and professional assurance frameworks, ensuring clear standards, effective governance, robust risk management and a strong culture of continuous improvement.

As Head of Service – Quality Assurance and Improvement, you will play a central role in Lancashire’s preparation for, and response to, Care Quality Commission assessment and assurance activity. You will ensure evidence, self-assessment, improvement plans and governance arrangements are current, robust and clearly owned across the directorate. Working closely with senior leaders, elected members, operational colleagues, commissioning teams and partners, you will bring together performance intelligence, audit, feedback, lived experience and learning to strengthen practice, evidence impact and drive measurable improvement.

You will also provide strategic oversight of the Principal Social Worker and Principal Occupational Therapist functions, ensuring professional standards, practice development, statutory responsibilities and workforce learning are aligned to Lancashire’s priorities and national requirements. Alongside this, you will work with commissioning colleagues and providers to support quality assurance and improvement across the care market, helping to manage risk, strengthen sustainability and improve outcomes for people who draw on care and support.

We’re looking for an accomplished Adult Social Care leader with significant experience operating at scale in a statutory and regulated environment. You will bring strong professional credibility, sound judgement, political awareness and the ability to influence senior stakeholders across complex systems. Whether your background is in social work, commissioning, occupational therapy, nursing or another relevant health and social care discipline, you will be someone who can build confidence, lead through complexity and translate evidence, insight and assurance into meaningful service improvement.

This is a rare opportunity to shape quality, assurance and improvement across a major county-wide Adult Social Care system. You will join an ambitious and collaborative leadership team committed to Lancashire’s vision for Living Better Lives, with a strong focus on strengths-based practice, safe and effective services, professional leadership, partnership working and continuous improvement.

If you’re a values-led Adult Social Care leader with a strong track record in quality, assurance, safeguarding, professional practice and improvement and you want to help shape the future of services across Lancashire we’d love to hear from you.

Closing Date for Applications: Midnight Sunday 23rd August

At Tile Hill, we are committed to inclusion and accessibility. We champion and support all individuals to ensure everyone feels valued, listened to and motivated to get the very best out of each recruitment process and that processes are designed to meet the needs of individuals. If you have any specific requests and would like a confidential discussion with the Tile Hill team, then please email inclusion@tile-hill.co.uk.

If the organisation we’re representing is a member of the Disability Confident Scheme and you’d like to apply under the scheme, please mention this clearly in bold at the top of your supporting statement. If there are any adjustments that would support you during the application or interview process, please let us know.

Head of Service - Quality Assurance and Improvement, Adult Social Care employer: Tile Hill Executive Recruitment

Tile Hill Recruitment is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where collaboration and innovation thrive. With a focus on meaningful projects that impact the community across South London, employees benefit from professional growth opportunities and a supportive culture that values leadership and partnership. Join us to make a tangible difference while enjoying the unique advantages of working in a vibrant and diverse region.

Tile Hill Executive Recruitment

Contact Details:

Tile Hill Executive Recruitment Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Service - Quality Assurance and Improvement, Adult Social Care

Dive into Local Community Groups

Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Tile Hill Executive Recruitment.

Attend Social Work Events and Workshops

Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Tile Hill Executive Recruitment!

Showcase Your Passion and Expertise

Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Tile Hill Executive Recruitment, will notice your enthusiasm!

Leverage Your Network

Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Tile Hill Executive Recruitment or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.

We think you need these skills to ace Head of Service - Quality Assurance and Improvement, Adult Social Care

Strategic Leadership
Quality Assurance
Safeguarding Assurance
Professional Practice Development
Continuous Improvement
Risk Management
Governance

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.

Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!

Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!

Tailor Your Application to Tile Hill Executive Recruitment:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Tile Hill Executive Recruitment! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!

How to prepare for a job interview at Tile Hill Executive Recruitment

Understanding the Role of Empathy

In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.

Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks

Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.

Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills

In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.

Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions

Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.