Policy and Quality Assurance Officer

Kent County Council; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Agile working arrangements

Generous annual leave

Local Government Pension Scheme

Learning and development opportunities

Kent Rewards benefits

Supportive team environment

Flexible working

Job summary

Kent County Council is seeking a Policy and Quality Assurance Officer to drive policy, guidance and assurance across Adult Social Care and Health. You will work with the Financial Assessment and Income Service to develop robust, legally literate solutions and provide expert advice to improve practice and service delivery.

The role emphasizes translating legislation into practical resources, analysing data for improvement, and delivering learning events.

Qualifications

• Be a registered Social Worker, Occupational Therapist or Nurse.
• Have experience developing, reviewing or implementing policy, guidance, procedures, quality assurance activity or service improvement initiatives.
• Be able to translate complex legislation, policy and guidance into practical resources.
• Have experience analysing information, identifying themes and developing recommendations for improvement.
• Be confident presenting information to diverse audiences and respond to challenge.
• Build positive working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels.
• Demonstrate sound professional judgement and ability to work independently.

Responsibilities

• Support development and implementation of policy, procedures and practice guidance across Adult Social Care and Health.
• Analyse learning, data and information to identify themes, risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Support quality assurance, audit and service improvement activity.
• Develop resources that help practitioners apply legislation and policy consistently.
• Provide advice and support on complex practice and policy issues.
• Work collaboratively with operational teams, senior leaders and partner organisations.
• Deliver presentations, workshops and learning opportunities.
• Support organisational learning from complaints, audits, reviews and feedback.
• Help ensure high-quality services that improve outcomes for people and carers.

Skills

Policy development

Policy implementation

Communication skills

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Independent work

Professional judgement

Policy translation

Education

Registered professional qualification (Social Work / Nursing / OT)

Job description

The Policy and Quality Assurance Team sits at the heart of Adult Social Care and Health. We work across policy, practice, quality assurance, organisational learning and service improvement to support lawful, consistent and person-centred practice across the Directorate. Our work includes:

• Developing, reviewing and maintaining policies, procedures and practice guidance.
• Providing advice on complex practice, policy and legal issues.
• Supporting organisational learning from complaints, Ombudsman investigations, audits and reviews.
• Leading quality assurance and improvement activity.
• Delivering learning events, workshops and legal literacy initiatives.
• Working with partners across health, social care and other agencies to improve outcomes for the people of Kent.
• This is an opportunity to join a small, supportive team that has a significant impact on practice, policy and service improvement across Adult Social Care and Health., As a Policy and Quality Assurance Officer, you will support the development and implementation of policy, procedures and practice guidance and help drive continuous improvement across Adult Social Care and Health.
• A key focus of this vacancy will be supporting Adult Social Care finance and charging policy, guidance and assurance. You will contribute to the development and review of policies, practice guidance, templates, letters and communications, helping to ensure information is legally compliant, technically accurate, accessible and person-centred.
• You will work closely with colleagues in the Financial Assessment and Income Service, combining their operational expertise with your professional practice, policy and quality assurance knowledge to develop robust, practical and legally literate solutions.
• This partnership working will help ensure that policy and guidance are informed by operational realities and support consistent decision-making across the Directorate.

You will also:

• Develop and review policies, procedures and practice guidance.
• Analyse learning, data and information to identify themes, risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Support quality assurance, audit and service improvement activity.
• Develop resources that help practitioners apply legislation and policy consistently.
• Provide advice and support on complex practice and policy issues.
• Work collaboratively with operational teams, senior leaders and partner organisations.
• Deliver presentations, workshops and learning opportunities.
• Support organisational learning from complaints, audits, reviews and feedback.
• Help ensure Adult Social Care and Health continues to provide high-quality services that improve outcomes for people and carers.

Are you passionate about improving Adult Social Care practice through high-quality policy, guidance and quality assurance?

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Policy and Quality Assurance Team within Adult Social Care and Health. We are looking for an experienced registered practitioner (Social Worker / Nurse / Occupational Therapist) who can help shape policy, support continuous improvement and provide expert advice in a complex and evolving area of practice. This particular role will have a significant focus on Adult Social Care finance and charging. We are therefore keen to hear from registered practitioners who have experience, knowledge or a strong interest in this area and who can work collaboratively with colleagues in the Financial Assessment and Income Service to develop high-quality policy, guidance and assurance activity. We are looking for a motivated and analytical professional who combines excellent written communication skills with a strong understanding of Adult Social Care practice.

• Be a registered Social Worker, Occupational Therapist or Nurse.
• Have experience working within Adult Social Care.
• Have experience of developing, reviewing or implementing policy, guidance, procedures, quality assurance activity or service improvement initiatives.
• Be able to translate complex legislation, policy and guidance into practical and accessible resources.
• Have experience of analysing information, identifying themes and developing recommendations for improvement.
• Be confident presenting information to a range of audiences and responding constructively to challenge.
• Be able to build positive working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels.
• Demonstrate sound professional judgement and the ability to work independently.

A key focus of this role is Adult Social Care finance and charging. Applicants must be able to demonstrate experience, knowledge or expertise in this area, including the development, application or interpretation of charging policy, guidance, procedures, communications, assurance activity or related service improvement work. Whilst specialist finance qualifications are not required, applicants should be able to demonstrate an interest in, aptitude for or experience of Adult Social Care finance and charging and be comfortable working closely with subject matter experts in the Financial Assessment and Income Service.

This post is subject to a Basic Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service. You must also hold a relevant professional qualification (Social Work, Nursing or Occupational Therapy) as well as up to date registration with the appropriate professional body. This post is considered by KCC to be a customer-facing position. The Council therefore has a statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) to ensure that post holders have a command of spoken English/Welsh sufficient for the effective performance of the job requirements. The appropriate standards are set out in the Job Description/Person Specification. If you are passionate about improving Adult Social Care practice, have a strong policy and quality assurance mindset, and can bring valuable expertise or interest in Adult Social Care finance and charging, we would love to hear from you.

At Kent County Council, we are brave, compassionate, curious and strong together. We are committed to empowering people, upholding rights, promoting inclusion and continuously improving the services we provide. Work that works for you and us - let's talk flexibility! KCC is committed to building a workforce which reflects the diversity of the county's working residents, encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities, genders, sexual orientations, ethnic backgrounds, faiths and those with caring responsibilities, and aspires to create an inclusive workplace where everyone can be themselves at work. Please note - if you are interested, please apply soon as the closing date for this advert may be earlier than stated should a number of suitably qualified candidates apply.

• Salary of £47,990 - £53,446 pro rata.
• A varied and rewarding role with the opportunity to influence policy, practice and service improvement across Adult Social Care and Health.
• Agile working arrangements and flexibility around how, when and where work is undertaken.
• Generous annual leave entitlement plus bank holidays and concessionary days, pro rata for part-time employees.
• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Excellent learning and development opportunities.
• Access to Kent Rewards, including discounts and wellbeing benefits.
• A supportive and collaborative team environment.
• The opportunity to make a meaningful difference to the lives of people who draw on care and support and their carers.