Quality Assurance Lead

Position Overview

The NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board is seeking a dedicated Quality Assurance Lead to collaborate with residential care facilities and home care service providers.

Are you a caring, motivated, and dedicated professional who is committed to enhancing the quality of life for individuals residing in care facilities or receiving home care services?

We are in search of a candidate with a background in working with care facilities and a solid understanding of quality standards and regulations pertinent to the adult social care sector.

The successful candidate will contribute to the oversight and management of quality and safety within the sector.

Key Responsibilities

We are looking for an enthusiastic and committed individual to spearhead the operational quality oversight and management of residential care facilities and home care services.

You will collaborate with various stakeholders across the health and social care landscape, as well as multi-agency partners, to ensure quality assurance and contribute to surveillance processes as part of a cohesive system. Your role will also involve active participation in the support initiatives of the system.

Candidates should possess experience and knowledge of the quality standards relevant to the sector and demonstrate the ability to implement these standards in all aspects of their work.

You will play a crucial role within the system, both internally and externally. Building positive and trustworthy relationships with service providers will be essential to contribute to the integrated management and oversight of quality, as well as addressing concerns across health and care organizations.

Additionally, you will collaborate with peers in other Integrated Care Boards to explore opportunities for shared learning, resource consolidation, and strategic approaches within the portfolio.

About Us

The NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board is dedicated to enhancing population health and reducing disparities to meet the diverse health needs of the community. We are part of the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership, which encompasses various organizations, local councils, health and care providers, and voluntary, community, and social enterprise organizations.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that values diversity, recognizing it as a strength and integral to our mission, values, and behaviors. We understand that diverse ideas, perspectives, and backgrounds contribute to a more innovative work environment that ultimately improves patient outcomes.

Our goal is to create an optimal work environment where your contributions are valued, your well-being is prioritized, and all colleagues can achieve their full potential. We welcome applications from all segments of the community who meet the role's criteria, regardless of their protected characteristics.

We promote a supportive and inclusive working environment for caregivers and actively encourage them to identify themselves, offering a working caregiver passport.

As a Mindful Employer, we are supportive and accommodating towards all employees and job applicants with mental health conditions.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and are committed to shortlisting suitable candidates who meet the essential criteria, ensuring any necessary adjustments are made.

Job Duties

- Lead the execution of contractual obligations related to quality and experience for residential care facilities and home care providers.

- Engage, inspire, and provide expert guidance to care facility providers to ensure high-quality services by influencing care standards, enhancing clinical practices, and identifying improvements in clinical quality aligned with local priorities and national standards.

- Develop systems and processes to assure the quality of care and treatment provided by care facilities, including leading assurance visits and safety assessments.

- Create and maintain a quality dashboard for care facilities, ensuring it reflects the most current information. Conduct an annual review of metrics and implement necessary changes following appropriate consultations.

- Establish robust quality assurance systems and processes for care facilities concerning quality and experience. Review submissions from care facilities and provide recommendations for improvement based on these evaluations.

- Analyze care facility data, conduct trend analysis, and disseminate insights across the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board and care facility providers.

- Define quality standards for care facilities and oversee the monitoring of these providers.

- Cultivate effective relationships with care facility providers, delivering targeted service and quality improvement support, particularly following inspections or significant incidents, and organizing training events for care facility staff.

- Offer guidance to care facility staff based on best practices and evidence of effectiveness as needed.

- Collaborate with the contracting team to provide specialized quality improvement expertise in monitoring and managing care facility contracts through mechanisms such as local quality requirements and indicators.

- Work alongside the Quality and Safeguarding Consolidated Team to ensure that placements in care facilities meet patient needs.

- When quality concerns arise with care facility providers, coordinate the collection and analysis of intelligence and assurance, including serious incidents, complaints, and patient experiences. Utilize appropriate national tools, present findings, and monitor corrective actions.

- Organize and deliver training events relevant to the role, including root cause analysis, clinical audits, and incident reporting.

- Represent the organization at meetings related to the role as required.

- Undertake any additional duties as requested by the line manager, which are commensurate with the role, including project work, internal job rotation, and absence cover.

Qualifications

Essential

• Significant relevant experience within a healthcare or regulatory organization.
• Professional qualification, first degree, or equivalent.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development.

Desirable

• Registered Nurse.

Experience

Essential

• Experience engaging with partners and providers, including care facilities.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development.
• Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively to a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Experience managing multiple unrelated projects simultaneously.
• Ability to interpret available guidance and standards to ensure compliance with national and local policies.

Desirable

• Experience working with or in care facilities.
• Relevant experience at a senior clinical management level.
• Relevant experience in developing quality indicators.

Additional Requirements

Essential

• Ability to travel independently to visit provider settings and work across multiple sites.

Skills & Behaviors

Essential

• Specialized knowledge of quality improvement components, clinical governance, and related quality issues, including clinical audits and effectiveness.
• Knowledge of current healthcare regulatory requirements, such as those from the Care Quality Commission.
• Understanding of healthcare contract management and monitoring, particularly concerning quality and patient safety.
• Clear comprehension of relevant NHS policies on commissioning, quality, and care provision.
• Proficient in standard office software and systems.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong negotiation and influencing abilities.
• Exceptional organizational skills with the capacity to prioritize work effectively.
• Leadership and team development skills.
• Ability to analyze and interpret complex data related to quality and contract performance.

Desirable

• Specialized knowledge of service/process redesign and capacity and demand mapping.