Head of Quality

Job Introduction

Agincare is continuing to strengthen our regional and national Quality function, making this an exciting time to join our senior leadership team in the South West of England. As one of the UK’s leading care providers, delivering safe, effective and high-quality services is central to our strategy and growth. We’re now looking for an experienced and values-driven Head of Quality to provide operational leadership across our portfolio of services in the South West and support quality excellence across the wider organisation.

About the Role

As Head of Quality, you will provide operational leadership for quality assurance and improvement across Agincare’s services in the South West of England.

Acting as deputy to the Group Quality Director, you will ensure that the quality strategy, governance frameworks and regulatory requirements are translated into consistent, effective practice at service level. You will provide system grip, coordination and pace, ensuring that quality activity is risk based, proportionate and aligned to organisational priorities.

This is a senior leadership role requiring regular travel across the services.

What’s on Offer

Agincare are a proud family run organisation that is proud of its values and the delivery of the highest levels of care to our service users. Working at Agincare brings many benefits including:

• A salary of up to £70,000 per annum dependant on experience
• Funded training and career development 
• Blue Light discount package (superb discounts on travel, leisure, entertainment and more)
• EAP - Employee Assistance Program (offering support for employees and their families)
• Company pension scheme

Key Responsibilities

Quality Leadership and Delivery

• Lead the day to day delivery of the quality assurance and improvement programme

• Ensure consistent implementation of the audit framework across all service types

• Coordinate inspection readiness activity including preparation, support and recovery

• Provide senior quality input into high risk, large or complex services

• Support quality managers to deliver effective, evidence based quality improvement plans

Governance and Compliance

• Ensure quality governance processes operate effectively and consistently

• Oversee the policy review cycle and quality related procedures

• Ensure compliance with regulatory, contractual and internal governance requirements

• Escalate quality and clinical risks appropriately to the Group Director of Quality

Regulatory

• Support regulatory engagement including Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspections and follow up activity

• Coordinate organisational responses to inspections and improvement plans

• Monitor inspection outcomes and emerging regulatory themes

• Support services to embed inspection readiness as routine practice

Quality Intelligence and Improvement

• Lead collation and analysis of quality intelligence including audits, incidents, complaints and safeguarding

• Identify themes, trends and early warning indicators

• Ensure learning is translated into improvement actions at service and organisational level

• Support the Director in shaping quality and clinical improvement priorities

Engagement and Visibility

• Maintain visible presence in services particularly where risk or complexity is higher

• Build effective working relationships with operational leaders and Registered Managers

• Promote a supportive improvement focused approach to quality assurance

What We’re Looking For

We’re seeking a confident and experienced senior quality leader with strong regulatory knowledge and a proven track record in governance and quality improvement within health or social care.

You will bring:

• Strong working knowledge of CQC regulation across multiple service types
• Significant experience in a senior quality, governance or regulatory role within health or social care 
• Experience working across multiple service types but with particular experience in LD services and supported living
• Strong understanding of quality governance and assurance systems
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including report writing for senior audiences
• Calm and resilient under regulatory or operational pressure
• Values driven with a supportive and improvement focused approach
• Able to balance challenge with constructive support

Desirable:

• Professional Registration (e.g. Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) / Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC))

• Degree level qualification or equivalent experience

About Agincare

We’re a family run business that's been caring and supporting people since 1986.

With over 4,500 team members, we’re one of the UK’s largest care providers and are continuing to grow. We have over 100 locations across England including our care & nursing homes, home care branches, extra care schemes, supported living properties and live-in offices.

Agincare are signatories of the Care Leaver Covenant and are committed to supporting care leavers to live independently. We are proud to be able to offer a guaranteed interview to care leavers, or an informal conversation about our career opportunities.

All of our care services are regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Equal opportunities are important to us at Agincare and we welcome applications from all.