Quality Assurance Audit & Practice Improvement Officer

Service Care Solutions; Caddington; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A local council is seeking a Practice & Performance Quality Assurance Lead in Luton. This role focuses on enhancing quality assurance processes within the fostering service, ensuring regulatory compliance and continuous improvement for children's welfare. Candidates should have extensive experience in performance management and auditing within children's services. The position offers a temporary contract with a competitive hourly rate.

Qualifications

• Experience in quality assurance, auditing, or performance monitoring within children's social care.
• Knowledge of fostering regulations and Special Guardianship processes.
• Strong report-writing skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of practice review and performance processes.
• Quality assure Form F assessments and regulatory compliance.
• Prepare and deliver findings from quality assurance activity.

Skills

Quality assurance experience

Auditing

Performance monitoring

Organisational skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Project

Job description

Overview

Job Opportunity: Practice & Performance Quality Assurance Lead (Fostering Service)
Location: Luton
Contract Type: Temporary - initially 3 months
Salary: £42.41 per hour
Working Hours: Full-Time
Team: Fostering Service, Corporate Parenting

Make a Lasting Impact on the Lives of Children and Families Are you passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people? Are you experienced in performance management, auditing, and quality assurance within fostering or children's services? If so, we invite you to join Luton Borough Council's Fostering Service as a Practice & Performance Quality Assurance Lead. This is a key role in driving continuous improvement, upholding professional standards, and supporting staff to raise the quality of practice across the service. Your work will directly contribute to ensuring the wellbeing and safety of vulnerable children and their families.

Responsibilities

• Practice Review & Data Analysis (30%): Lead the development and implementation of the practice review and performance process. Collate and analyse key data to inform audit findings and management reporting.
• Quality Assurance & Monitoring (30%): Review and quality assure all Form F assessments, Reg 24 processes, and annual reviews. Monitor Special Guardianship applications, identify outstanding actions, and maintain a robust tracking system. Support and challenge managers to ensure regulatory and statutory compliance is maintained.
• Dissemination & Training (20%): Assist in preparing and delivering findings from quality assurance activity through workshops and learning sets.
• Reporting & Planning (10%): Maintain an overview of audit findings and key themes. Create and maintain service audit plans using Microsoft Project or other appropriate tools. Act as custodian of all master copies of service documents and reports.
• Information Management & Collaboration (10%): Organise information to ensure accessibility for senior managers. Liaise with managers, practitioners, and partner agencies as needed.

About the Service

The Fostering Service sits within the wider Corporate Parenting Directorate and plays a central role in supporting children and families across Luton. Quality assurance in this context is vital - encompassing auditing, data analysis, and professional development activities that ensure children receive safe, high-quality, and effective care. This post supports the service's commitment to raising practice standards, evidencing progress, and driving improvement in line with Ofsted expectations and the council's strategic goals.

Key Requirements & Skills

• Proven experience in quality assurance, auditing, or performance monitoring within children's social care.
• Strong knowledge of fostering regulations, Form F assessments, Reg 24, and Special Guardianship processes.
• Excellent organisational, analytical, and report-writing skills.
• Confident using Microsoft Office and planning software such as Microsoft Project.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to challenge and support effectively.
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a wider team.
• Commitment to safeguarding, equality, and inclusive practices.

If you are interested in this role and have the experience required, please contact Nicola Mansfield at (url removed) or on (phone number removed).