Quality Assurance and Audit Manager

London Borough of Havering; Greater London; On-site; GBP 61,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

The London Borough of Havering is seeking a qualified Quality Assurance and Audit Manager to lead Havering's Quality Assurance Framework and annual audit programme, driving high-quality audits, moderation, learning and improvement across Starting Well.

You will work with managers and senior leaders to identify strengths, challenge practice concerns and ensure learning translates into sustained improvements for children and families, while developing a culture of reflective practice.

Qualifications

• Qualified and registered social worker with 5+ years experience in statutory social work.
• Experience leading and managing staff and evaluating social work practice through audit, quality assurance, improvement or practice leadership activity.
• Able to analyse information, identify themes, write analytically and use evidence to support improvement.
• Confident in providing constructive challenge and professional support.
• Able to build positive working relationships with practitioners, managers and senior leaders.
• Passionate about learning, improvement and achieving the best outcomes for children.

Responsibilities

• Oversee audits, re-audits, moderation and quality assurance activity.
• Analyse monthly audits and prepare reports to a high standard for diverse audiences.
• Support managers to understand and respond to audit findings.
• Identify themes, learning and emerging risks.
• Deliver and support training, learning events and improvement activity.
• Contribute to strategic discussions about quality, performance and improvement.
• Influence service improvement through evidence, challenge and professional curiosity.
• Help shape how quality assurance supports Havering's continued improvement journey.

Skills

Social work leadership

Audit & QA analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Analytical writing

Professional challenge

Education

Qualified social worker

Job description

Job Description

Grade 10 £61476- £66078pa

Help shape the future of quality assurance and practice improvement in Havering. Join an ambitious Quality Assurance Team at a pivotal point in Havering's improvement journey.

About The Team

Our Quality Assurance Team plays a significant role in helping leaders understand the experiences of children and families, identifying strengths and areas for improvement, and ensuring learning within our Starting Well workforce is translated into meaningful change.

We lead and deliver a broad and influential programme of quality assurance activity across Starting Well. Through auditing, performance analysis, learning reviews, practice development activity and governance, we work collaboratively alongside operational services to support continuous improvement and better outcomes for children and families.

We are hugely ambitious, curious and improvement-focused. We are committed to using quality assurance as a meaningful tool to understand children's lived experiences, identify what is working well and drive sustainable change where improvement is needed.

About The Role

As Quality Assurance and Audit Manager, you will provide leadership, support and oversight to staff within the team. You will lead the operational delivery of Havering's Quality Assurance Framework and annual audit programme, driving high-quality audits, moderation, learning and improvement activity across Starting Well.

You will work collaboratively alongside managers and senior leaders to identify strengths, challenge areas of practice concern and ensure learning from quality assurance translates into meaningful and sustained improvement for children and families.

Leading an influential team, you will play a key role in strengthening audit quality, embedding reflective practice and supporting leaders to understand the impact of their services and improvement actions.

This is an opportunity to greatly influence practice beyond a single service area, helping to embed a culture where quality assurance is valued as a tool for learning, accountability and continuous improvement across Children's Social Care.

You will:

• Oversee audits, re-audits, moderation and quality assurance activity.
• Analyse monthly audits and prepare a range of reports to a high standard suitable for a range of audiences.
• Support managers to understand and respond to audit findings.
• Identify themes, learning and emerging risks.
• Deliver and support training, learning events and improvement activity.
• Contribute to strategic discussions about quality, performance and improvement.
• Influence service improvement through evidence, challenge and professional curiosity.
• Help shape how quality assurance supports Havering's continued improvement journey.

This role provides exposure to a wide range of practice across the child’s journey and offers a unique opportunity to influence improvement on a broader scale than many frontline management roles.

Why join us?

This is a unique opportunity to be part of a service that is evolving and growing. You will have the opportunity to contribute to high-profile improvement work, work closely with senior leaders and directly influence how quality assurance supports children, families and practitioners across Havering.

If you are looking for a role where you can combine your practice knowledge, leadership skills and passion for improvement to make a genuine difference for children and families, we would love to hear from you.

About You

We are looking for someone who:

• Is a qualified and registered social worker with 5 years plus experience in statutory social work.
• Has experience of leading and managing staff, evaluating social work practice through audit, quality assurance, improvement or practice leadership activity.
• Understands what good practice looks like and can articulate this confidently.
• Can analyse information, identify themes, write analytically and use evidence to support improvement.
• Is confident in providing constructive challenge and professional support.
• Can build positive working relationships with practitioners, managers and senior leaders.
• Is passionate about learning, improvement and achieving the best outcomes for children.
• Brings energy, curiosity and ambition to quality assurance work.

Additional Information

We want everyone to choose Havering. When you apply for a job with us, your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age, disability, ethnicity, faith, gender identity or sexual orientation. Our residents and service users come from all walks of life, and so do our employees. Find out what it means to Choose Havering.

The London Borough of Havering has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups, you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

The closing date for the receipt of applications is 16/10/26, however interest in this job may be high and we therefore reserve the right to close the vacancy early.

With its excellent transport links into central London, extensive town centre regeneration and the highest concentration of green space anywhere in London, Havering has a unique offer as a place to live, work and visit. By making the most of its position and opportunities, Havering is becoming a hub for start-ups and expanding businesses, as well as construction, logistics, engineering and manufacturing industries.

Find out why you should work for Havering Council.