About the Organisation
Our client is a values-led adult social care provider delivering high-quality, person-centred support across supported living, residential care, and specialist services for adults with learning disabilities, autism and complex needs. Committed to safe, effective, and outstanding care, the organisation is growing and this role has been created to provide dedicated strategic leadership across quality, governance, and compliance.
We are recruiting on a confidential basis. Full details of the organisation will be shared with shortlisted candidates.
The Role
As Head of Quality and Governance, you will provide strategic leadership across all aspects of quality assurance, regulatory compliance, safeguarding, and continuous improvement. Reporting directly to the Group Managing Director and sitting on the Senior Management Team, you will hold organisational accountability for ensuring services are safe, effective, and always improving.
You will be the expert voice on CQC regulation, safeguarding governance, and organisational risk — providing independent oversight, leading inspections, and driving a culture of accountability and learning across the organisation.
What You Will Be Doing
Strategic Leadership
- Lead the development and delivery of the organisation's quality and governance strategy
- Embed a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and learning across all services
- Oversee organisational policies, governance frameworks, and compliance arrangements
Regulatory Compliance
- Maintain expert knowledge of CQC Fundamental Standards, the Care Act 2014, MCA/DoLS, and safeguarding legislation
- Lead organisational readiness for CQC inspections and regulatory reviews
- Provide guidance and support to Registered Managers and senior leaders on compliance matters
Safeguarding and Risk
- Provide strategic leadership for safeguarding governance across the organisation
- Oversee serious incidents, investigations, complaints, and regulatory notifications
- Maintain oversight of organisational risk registers, incident trends, and lessons learned
Quality Assurance
- Lead the organisation's audit and quality assurance framework
- Analyse performance data, audits, complaints, and feedback to drive improvement
- Monitor service quality across all locations, providing support and challenge where needed
Stakeholder Engagement
- Act as the senior representative with CQC, Local Authorities, Safeguarding Partnerships, and commissioners
- Lead responses to inspections, safeguarding reviews, and regulatory concerns
- Participate in senior on-call arrangements and lead during escalations or serious incidents
What We Are Looking For
You will be an experienced senior leader from within adult social care, health, or specialist care — someone who combines strategic thinking with practical operational knowledge and a passion for high-quality, person-centred services.
Essential
- Significant senior leadership experience in adult social care, health, or specialist services
- Extensive experience within CQC regulated environments
- Strong working knowledge of CQC Fundamental Standards, safeguarding, MCA/DoLS, and governance
- Proven experience leading inspections, audits, investigations, and quality improvement
- Experience supporting people with learning disabilities, autism, complex needs, or behaviours of distress
- Strong leadership, analytical, and decision-making skills with the ability to influence at senior level
- Level 5 qualification in Leadership for Health and Social Care (or equivalent experience)
Desirable
- Experience as a Nominated Individual and/or Registered Manager
- Level 7 Leadership or Management qualification
- IOSH, NEBOSH, Lead Auditor, or Quality Improvement qualification
- Knowledge of Positive Behaviour Support frameworks
- Experience supporting organisational growth, mobilisation, or transformation programmes
What Is on Offer
- Competitive salary
- 23 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Blue Light Card and employee cashback scheme
- Ongoing professional development and CPD support
- A supportive, values-led working environment
- A genuine opportunity to shape quality and governance across a growing organisation
How to Apply
This vacancy is being managed exclusively by Pioneer Talent, specialists in health and social care recruitment. If you are a quality and governance leader ready to make a real difference across a growing adult social care organisation, we would love to hear from you.
To apply, please submit your CV via this advert. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by a Pioneer Talent consultant who will provide a full brief on the organisation and the role before any details are shared with the client.
For a confidential conversation, please apply in the first instance and a member of the team will be in touch.
Pioneer Talent is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. All appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references. This role involves regulated activity with vulnerable adults.
Pay: £60,000.00-£70,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
