Job Summary
We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Quality, Compliance and Service Development Manager to support the safe, effective and well-led running of our specialist residential care service in Wolverhampton.
This is a senior leadership role suitable for someone with strong adult social care experience, excellent CQC knowledge, confidence with audits and governance, and the ability to build professional relationships that support safe referrals and business growth.
The successful candidate will work closely with the Registered Manager and Directors. Although CQC registration will remain with the Registered Manager/Provider, it is important that you should be willing to take the registration if/where required and also post holder will be expected to provide strong delegated leadership across quality assurance, compliance, operations, staff practice, referrals and service development.
About the service
Our service supports adults with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs within a person-centred residential care environment. We are committed to providing safe, dignified, responsive and high-quality care that promotes independence, emotional wellbeing, positive behaviour support and meaningful outcomes.
Purpose of the role
The Quality, Compliance & Service Development Manager will be responsible for strengthening the home’s compliance systems, ensuring the service remains inspection-ready, supporting operational leadership, improving documentation and staff practice, and developing referral pathways with commissioners, social workers, local authorities, ICB/NHS contacts and other professionals.
This role requires someone who can combine strong regulatory knowledge with practical care leadership and a proactive approach to service growth.
Key responsibilities
Quality, compliance and governance
· Lead internal quality assurance systems in line with CQC expectations, company policies and adult social care regulations.
· Complete regular audits, including care plan audits, medication audits, incident audits, infection prevention audits, health and safety audits, staff file audits and environmental checks.
· Maintain and review the service improvement plan, ensuring actions are completed within agreed timescales.
· Prepare the service for CQC inspection and support the Registered Manager with evidence folders, governance records, compliance reports and quality assurance documentation.
· Review daily notes, ABC charts, incident reports, body maps, safeguarding records, behaviour support documentation and risk assessments to ensure accuracy and professional standards.
· Identify themes, risks and gaps in practice, and provide clear action plans to improve quality.
· Ensure policies, procedures and systems are embedded in daily practice.
· Support the Registered Manager with notifications, safeguarding follow-up, complaints, compliments and lessons learned.
· Produce monthly quality and compliance reports for the Registered Manager and Directors.
Operational leadership
· Support the Registered Manager and Directors with the day-to-day operational running of the home.
· Provide guidance and leadership to staff while maintaining clear reporting lines to the Registered Manager.
· Support rota oversight, staffing compliance, induction quality, supervision schedules and competency checks.
· Assist with recruitment, onboarding, probation reviews and staff development.
· Monitor training compliance and ensure staff are competent in key areas such as safeguarding, MCA, medication, PBS, infection control, incident reporting and record keeping.
· Promote a positive, accountable and professional staff culture.
· Support effective communication between staff, families, professionals and external agencies.
· Ensure service-user dignity, choice, safety and wellbeing remain central to all operational decisions.
Care planning, risk and safeguarding
· Review and improve care plans, risk assessments, PBS plans, communication plans, health action plans and transition plans.
· Ensure documentation reflects the person’s needs, preferences, risks, behaviours, capacity and best-interest considerations.
· Support staff to record information accurately, respectfully and in line with professional standards.
· Monitor incidents, safeguarding concerns, behaviour patterns and emerging risks.
· Ensure learning from incidents is translated into staff guidance and service improvement.
· Work with the Registered Manager to ensure safe, proportionate and least restrictive practice.
Referrals and business development
· Build and maintain strong professional relationships with local authorities, commissioners, brokerage teams, social workers, ICB/NHS contacts, schools, colleges, hospitals and community professionals.
· Identify suitable referral opportunities that match the service model and the home’s ability to meet needs safely.
· Attend provider forums, networking meetings and commissioner engagement events where appropriate.
· Support referral assessments, pre-admission assessments, compatibility checks, transition planning and placement matching.
· Prepare professional service information, referral responses and placement proposals.
· Maintain a referral tracker and provide regular updates on enquiries, assessments, outcomes and conversion progress.
· Support the Directors with fee discussions, occupancy planning and service expansion.
· Ensure business development is ethical, person-centred and based on safe matching rather than occupancy pressure.
Essential criteria
· Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management for Adult Care, or willingness to work towards it.
· Strong experience in adult social care, preferably in learning disabilities, autism, complex needs, residential care or supported living.
· Previous experience as a Deputy Manager, Registered Manager, Operations Manager, Quality Lead, Compliance Manager, Service Manager or similar.
· Excellent understanding of CQC regulations, quality assurance, safeguarding, MCA, DoLS, risk management and person-centred care.
· Experience completing audits, action plans, care documentation reviews and compliance monitoring.
· Ability to support staff practice and improve documentation standards.
· Strong written communication skills, including report writing and professional correspondence.
· Confident working with families, social workers, commissioners and multidisciplinary professionals.
· Ability to work independently, prioritise workload and escalate risks appropriately.
· Strong leadership skills with a calm, professional and solution-focused approach.
· Full UK driving licence and ability to travel for meetings, assessments and business development activity.
Desirable criteria
· Existing links with local authorities, commissioners, social workers or adult social care referral pathways.
· Experience supporting CQC inspections or mock inspections.
· Experience with PBS, autism, learning disability services or complex behaviour support.
· Experience opening or developing a new care service.
· Knowledge of fee negotiation, placement matching and transition planning.
Expected outcomes
The successful candidate will be expected to help ensure that:
· the home remains inspection-ready at all times;
· audits are completed consistently and actions are followed through;
· care plans, risk assessments and records are accurate and person-centred;
· staff practice improves through coaching, supervision and clear expectations;
· risks are identified early and escalated appropriately;
· communication with families and professionals remains professional and timely;
· referral pathways are developed with commissioners and social workers;
· suitable placements are identified, assessed and transitioned safely;
· the service grows without compromising safety, quality or regulatory compliance.
Performance bonus
A performance bonus may be available based on agreed quality, compliance and service development outcomes. Any referral-related bonus will only apply where a placement is suitable, safely assessed, funded, admitted appropriately and stable after an agreed review period. The service will not accept unsuitable referrals for the purpose of occupancy growth.
Benefits
· Competitive salary package
· Performance bonus opportunity
· Paid DBS
· Pension scheme
· Mileage/business travel expenses
· Laptop and phone for work use
· Paid training and CPD
· Supportive directors and registered leadership
· Opportunity to help shape and grow a specialist care service
· Meaningful role with real influence over quality, compliance and service development
Safeguarding statement
The organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of adults at risk. The successful applicant will be subject to safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS check, employment references and verification of qualifications and right to work.
Equal opportunities
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from candidates who share our values of dignity, respect, accountability, compassion and person-centred care.
How to apply
Please submit your CV and a short covering statement outlining your experience in adult social care quality, compliance, operations and service development
Pay: £38,000.00-£43,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
