Quality Care Systems Manager - Far North Coast

Southern Cross Care (NSW & ACT); North Arm Cove; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Southern Cross Care (NSW & ACT) is seeking a Quality Care Systems Manager to lead quality improvement across designated aged care facilities. The role covers audits, data analysis, and governance to ensure high standards of care and regulatory compliance.

Based in the Far North Coast, you will guide facility managers, collaborate with the head office quality and governance team, and drive initiatives that enhance resident and family satisfaction through consistent, evidence-based care practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Nursing or equivalent qualification.
• Current registration as a Registered Nurse (Division 1) with AHPRA.
• High-level written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organisational abilities and leadership capabilities.
• Experience with quality improvement and accreditation processes.
• Ability to mentor, coach and build teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide quality management and continuous improvement advice to facility and home care managers.
• Complete audits and monitor adherence to policies, procedures and quality indicators.
• Analyse data to drive continuous improvement in care practices.
• Lead quality improvement initiatives and develop action plans with measurable outcomes.
• Support regulatory compliance, accreditation visits and policy development.
• Provide oversight and education on incident management and open disclosure.

Skills

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Mentoring/teambuilding

Quality improvement

Incident review

Open disclosure

Clinical governance

Education

Bachelor of Nursing or equivalent

AHPRA RN registration

Job description

We are seeking a maternity leave cover for quality care systems manager to join the quality team located at our residential age care homes in the Far North Coast on a full-time contractual basis Monday to Friday 76 hrs per fortnight from 9 November 2026 until 4th June 2027.

The Quality Care Systems Manager (QCSM) plays a pivotal role in ensuring exceptional quality of care across designated aged care facilities or home care services. This position provides leadership and oversight to foster a culture of excellence and innovation, collaborating closely with operational managers and the head office quality and clinical governance team. Key responsibilities include the development, implementation, and monitoring of quality improvement initiatives, as well as ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. The QCSM is dedicated to driving continuous enhancement of care practices, ultimately delivering the highest standards of service to residents ,clients and their families.

Quality Management Systems - Oversight and Compliance

• Provide clinical, quality management and continuous improvement advice to Residential Aged Care Managers (Regional Managers, Facility Managers and/or Deputy Facility Managers) and Home Care Managers (Service Advisors and Area Managers).
• Complete identified audits as per SCC audit schedule and/or as requested by the head office quality and clinical governance team to confirm adherence with policies and procedures.
• Monitor completion of Residential Aged Care Facility or Home Care Services audits as per audit schedule.
• Monitor quality indicators across regional facilities, taking corrective and preventative actions as required.
• Monitor, analyse, escalate and report on regional quality and clinical audit and indicator results and provide recommendations to Residential Aged Care Managers (Regional Managers, Facility Managers and/or Deputy Facility Managers) and Home Care Managers (Service Advisors and Area Managers).
• Monitor completion of PCQIs and ensure strategies are being actioned and measured, particularly in areas of identified non-compliance.
• Identify and investigate critical incidents using a systems-based approach to identify contributing factors and develop effective recommendations.
• Provide oversight, support and education on effective incident management as required, promoting thorough analysis of all serious incidents.
• Actively participate in quality, clinical governance, policy and education meetings and forums.
• Actively contribute to the development and review of policies, procedures, audits and quality indicators.
• Complete activities as per QCSM Quality and Compliance Schedule.
• Identify and mitigate clinical risks through systematic monitoring and intervention strategies
• Engage actively in governance committees to support Southern Cross Care's Clinical Governance Framework.

Regulatory Compliance and Accreditation

• Support Facilities/Services with accreditation visits as required.
• Review self-assessments and associated documentation, provide expert advice to address any issues of concern.
• Provide focused and structured leadership to address areas of non-compliance.
• Play an active role in the development of Policy, Procedure and clinical process to implement new regulatory requirements.
• Use the quality management system to assess on-going adherence to standards, escalating concerns accurately and promptly.
• Engage and educate the workforce on regulatory requirements.

Continuous Quality Improvement

• Interpret variation in data - inclusive of incident, consumer feedback, audit and clinical indicator data.
• Utilise data to drive continuous improvement in care practices.
• Prepare reports on quality metrics and improvement initiatives for senior management and governance committees.
• Apply quality improvement methods and tools to address issues of concern.
• Develop and lead quality improvement initiatives as required.
• Provide expert advice to stakeholders to develop achievable, measurable and effective action plans.
• Encourage active involvement in quality improvement initiatives through workshops and training.
• Develop training resources in collaboration with the Regional Education Managers, that align with quality standards to enhance staff competency.

Clinical Leadership

• Actively recognise and reward staff who speak up about safety concerns and encourage their peers to do the same, fostering a culture of accountability and vigilance.
• Utilise a systems approach to analyse data and make improvements.
• When responding to an incident, feedback or adverse findings, respond in a way that supports openness, transparency, and learning so that others feel psychologically safe to contribute.
• Contribute to a culture of excellence through motivating staff to pursue continuous improvement in clinical practices, enhancing both individual and team performance.
• Monitor the open disclosure process, ensuring staff understand and participate effectively in the Open Disclosure process.
• Contribute to workforce training and development as required to implement new process, procedures or improvements.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement

• Actively seek resident and representative partnerships to drive improvement.
• Foster a unified, multidisciplinary approach among facility staff to deliver high-quality care
• Encourage and use feedback from residents or clients and their legal representatives to inform service improvements.
• Cultivate relationships with internal and external stakeholders to enhance education and training opportunities.
• Engage with regulatory and statutory bodies, supporting the operations and clinical governance team as required.

Requirements

Previous experience and Qualifications

• High-level written and verbal communication skills
• Exceptional organisational skills
• Mentoring, coaching and teambuilding
• Adept in implementation of quality Improvement activities.
• Ability to contribute to high reliability systems, through understanding and application of elements such as Safety I and Safety II approach, Human Factors, and Systems Thinking.
• Incident review and clinical risk management methodologies.
• Implementation ofaccreditation standards and requirements, and participation in the accreditation process.
• Skill and experience partnering with consumers, managing feedback, participating in open disclosure.

Essential Criteria

• Bachelor of Nursing or equivalent
• Current registration as a Registered Nurse (Division 1) with AHPRA.

Desirable Criteria

• Postgraduate qualification in health management, quality management, adult education, aged care, palliative care, or mental health.
• Certificate IV in Workplace Training & Assessment (TAE40110) or willingness to complete this qualification.

Summary

At SCC (NSW & ACT), people are at the heart of everything we do! We are a purpose-led, not-for-profit organisation empowering older people to ‘live life to the full’. We have a passion for providing the best care with clinical excellence and offer person-centred care services to meet individual needs and preferences in residential aged care, retirement living and in-home care.

Join us at SCC (NSW & ACT), where your work is not just a job, but a journey filled with meaningful moments to make a tangible difference in the lives of those we support. Our commitment to your development is unwavering, and we work hard to ensure you are given ample opportunities to continually learn and grow.

SCC is an equal opportunity employer. Creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, where employees feel valued and heard in a safe and respectful workplace, is a priority. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business need. We welcome people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island identity, as well as people of culturally diverse backgrounds, to apply.