Quality Assurance and Practice Development Manager

Derby City Council; East Midlands; Hybrid; GBP 52,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS

Team Derby Rewards

Tusker Car Benefit Scheme

Annual leave 27–32 days

Job summary

Derby City Council is seeking a Quality Assurance and Practice Development Manager to lead QA activity and drive practice development across Early Help and Children’s Social Care in Derby. The role focuses on the Families First Partnership Programme, delivering audits, analysing data, and providing clear assurance to senior leaders and partners.

You will develop a child-focused QA framework, lead audits, review safeguarding policies, and translate learning from inspections into practical

Qualifications

• Strong experience in children’s services with safeguarding knowledge.
• Proven skills in audit, analysis and quality assurance.
• Experience in practice development including guidance, standards and training.
• Ability to write concise reports and present to leaders and multi‑agency forums.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead a child-focused quality assurance and practice development framework.
• Plan and deliver single and multi-agency audits and analyse data.
• Translate audit learning into practical changes in day-to-day practice; support training and tools.

Skills

Audits

Quality assurance

Data analysis

Training support

Equality & inclusion

Job description

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Job details

Job title Quality Assurance and Practice Development Manager Job reference 000012635 Date posted 03/11/2026 Application closing date 20/11/2026 Working Pattern Full time Salary £51,928-£55,224 a year Contractual hours 37 Basis Full time Job category/type Social Care - Children Attachments Blank Job description

Salary: £51,928 - £55,224 a year
Location: The Gatehouse, Kedleston Road Training and Hybrid
Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract Type: Permanent
DBS Requirement: Yes
Closing Date: Friday 20th November 2026

The Opportunity
As Quality Assurance and Practice Development Manager, you will play a key role in improving outcomes for children and families across Derby. You will lead quality assurance activity which supports practice development across Early Help and Children’s Social Care, with a particular focus on driving the Families First Partnership Programme and providing clear assurance to senior leaders, colleagues and partners.

What you’ll be doing
You will develop and lead delivery of a child-focused quality assurance and practice development framework, plan and deliver single and multi-agency audits, and analyse qualitative and quantitative data to understand the impact of practice. You will turn this insight into clear reports and briefings, lead the development and review of safeguarding policies, procedures and practice guidance, and translate learning from audits, inspections and reviews into practical changes in day-to-day practice. Working closely with the workforce development team and the Principal Social Worker, you will ensure that learning from practice informs training, learning activities and practical tools that support good practice. Your role will be central in understanding the impact of the Families First programme locally and ensuring that national reforms are translated into best practice which makes a positive difference for children in Derby.

About you
You bring strong experience in children's services, a thorough understanding of safeguarding legislation and guidance, and proven skills in audit, analysis and quality assurance. You are confident in practice development activity - from shaping guidance and standards to supporting training, coaching and reflective learning. You are skilled at working with complex data, writing concise and impactful reports, and presenting to leaders, managers and multi-agency forums, and you are collaborative, highly organised and committed to equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of your work.

Who We Are

At Derby City Council, we're proud to deliver over 250 essential services that support our residents, communities and businesses. Guided by our vision to create an Inclusive, Green, Growing and Vibrant City, we put people at the heart of everything we do.

Our values shape how we work every day. We believe in Great People, One Team, we're Bold in embracing change, Strong in delivering for our communities, and We Care about making a positive difference.

Join us and you'll be part of an ambitious, collaborative organisation where you can develop your career while helping to shape Derby's future.

Why join Derby City Council?

At Derby City Council, you'll have the opportunity to make a real difference while building a rewarding career in an organisation that values, supports and invests in its people. Alongside the opportunity to help shape the future of Derby, you'll benefit from a comprehensive range of employee benefits, including:

Financial Benefits

• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) - a secure, defined benefit pension with life cover
• Team Derby Rewards - discounts across a wide range of retail, leisure and lifestyle brands
• Tusker Car Benefit Scheme - a salary sacrifice scheme for leasing a brand-new, fully maintained and insured vehicle

Work-Life Balance

• Generous annual leave, starting at 27 days and rising to 32 days after five years' service (plus bank holidays, depending on your contract)
• The option to purchase additional annual leave
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements for many roles
• Flexible retirement options, where eligible
• Support for colleagues with caring responsibilities

Learning and Development

• Learning and development opportunities, with regular career conversations to support your growth
• Leadership and management development programmes, mentoring and professional qualifications
• Modern workspaces designed to support collaboration, productivity and wellbeing

Health and Wellbeing

• Employee Assistance Programme, wellbeing support and a year-round wellbeing calendar
• Free annual flu vaccinations
• Cycle2Work Scheme and free cycle training

Community and Inclusion

• Up to 15 hours of volunteering leave each year
• Recognition through initiatives including the Here for Derby Awards and Long Service Awards
• The opportunity to join one of our Employee Networks, including LGBTQ+, Disabled Employees and Carers, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Employees, and Neurodiversity

At Derby City Council, we believe our people are our greatest strength. Whatever stage you're at in your career, you'll be joining an inclusive organisation where you'll be supported to develop, feel valued and make a meaningful difference to the communities we serve.

Some benefits are dependent on your role, contract or length of service.

All employees will normally be appointed to the minimum of the grade for the role.

Where a DBS requirement is indicated at the top of this advert, the successful candidate will be subject to the appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check as part of our safer recruitment process.

Where a Market Rate Supplement is indicated at the top of this advert, it is paid in addition to the basic salary and is subject to regular review. The supplement may be reduced or withdrawn and will reduce in line with incremental progression and pay awards.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Derby City Council, we're committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and can thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we serve.

As a Disability Confident Leader, disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role can choose to apply through our Guaranteed Interview Scheme.

We are also proud to hold the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award, recognising our commitment to supporting serving personnel, veterans and their families. Members of the Armed Forces community, veterans and their close family members who meet the essential criteria are also eligible for our Guaranteed Interview Scheme.

If you need any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, including