Audit Manager

Here in Essex, we continue to raise the bar about practice and our investment in our workforce is second to none. It's an exciting time to join us. Not only have we been named Outstanding by Ofsted, we are delighted and at the same time humbled to have beencrowned **Social Work Employer of the Year for the second time in the last three years**

**Job Purpose**

Children and Families is recognised as a service in which social work can develop and prosper, with a culture of collaboration, integrity and compassion; promoting the development and wellbeing of children, young people and their families; protecting themfrom neglect and abuse. Working together with partners delivering a range of early help, family support and effective social work interventions which build resilience, remove barriers and enable children and young people to look forward to a brighter future.

The Professional Standards and Audit Services (PSAS) Audit Team Manager is responsible for driving practice evaluation and audit activity across Children and Families as a central component to the Quality Assurance Framework. The role leads, influencingstrong audit ethos and activity, implementing key quality assurance processes and practices across the Function to inform management insight and broader organisational development and training needs that emerge.

Leading on the continuous evaluation of social work practice and improvement work at all levels of the organisation within the context of local and national practice standards, the role is required to provide high quality management insight into practicestandards and direction using professional and specialist knowledge to provide consultation for staff in order to achieve best practice. Working proactively and collaboratively with other professionals and with partner agencies the role will ensure the bestpossible outcomes for children and young people are achieved via Quality and Assurance Framework.

**Service/Functional Accountabilities**
- Responsible for the management of the day to day functions of the Children & Families Audit portfolio including driving monthly case file audit, thematic audit and multi-agency case audit activities, and using the learning from audit findings to develop,promote and support high quality practice and effective performance across the County
- Responsible for building and developing systems and approaches to audit, collating, analysing and reporting on qualitative and quantitative information accumulated through PSAS audit activity - identifying areas of practice and performance requiring furtherscrutiny.
- Responsible for writing business and management information reports on audit activity proactively and efficiently and presenting these at all levels of the service.
- Responsible for ensuring that the PSAS service meets its objectives and has effective means in place to assess its own performance against requirements in Working Together to Safeguard Children and other relevant guidance, for example Ofsted measures andSET Procedures.
- Responsible for using expert professional knowledge to give management direction to colleague Team Managers using the latest research and policy initiatives to drive performance improvement, ensuring any practice and performance issues are bought to theattention of the Service Manager.
- Responsible for taking a strategic view of the quadrant needs and services to identify areas of improvement; using professional expertise and knowledge to lead service development projects, and ensuring that audit activity is delivered to the expected standardsand timescales when responding to practice curiosities that arise from local learning, Serious Case Reviews and Ofsted recommendations/issues.
- Lead in the development and delivery of Practice Workshops, both Multi
- Act as a source of expert advice and consultation for staff within Schools, Children and
- Families on quality assurance and audit related issues including being responsible for critically appraising practice and challenging this within identified forums to create a culture of continuous improvement.
- Responsible for maintaining a current and active interest and knowledge of key policy/legislation changes, research, and best practice initiatives. And for the development and implementation of relevant policies and procedures including quality standardsand governance.

**Skills, Knowledge and Experience**
- A recognised social work qualification i.e. Diploma, degree or Masters in social work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent, with current registration with Social Work England as a registered social worker
- Evidence of continuing professional development, aligned to any relevant Professional Competency/Capability frameworks or Knowledge & Skills Statements
- Sound working knowledge and experience of planning and service delivery within local or central government with demonstrable and proven record of achievement in same.
- Demonstrable understanding and awareness of leading and managing change within a large complex organisation.
- Proven experience of working with performance targets within a results lead environment.
- Proven experience of developing and implementing planning and performance frameworks in a multi-disciplinary and partnership environment.