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Quality Assurance Officer

Salary £30,000 - £35,000 + £2400 car allowance

Full time office based in Alderley Park, Macclesfield with regular travel to site throughout the UK

Free parking

37.5 hours per week

Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm

Closing date for applications: 24th July 2026

Role Overview

The Quality Assurance Officer is responsible for driving measurable and sustained improvements in quality, safety and outcomes across the organisation, ensuring services consistently meet and exceed regulatory standards and support Gray Healthcare’s ambition to achieve and sustain CQC Outstanding ratings.

The post holder will:

• Provide robust governance assurance in line with Regulation 17 (Good Governance)
• Deliver independent scrutiny and professional challenge to operational and clinical teams
• Ensure quality assurance activity translates into measurable improvements in outcomes for people we support
• Embed a culture of continuous learning, accountability and reduced variation
• Ensure all quality assurance activity produces a clear, auditable evidence trail demonstrating compliance, improvement and impact

This role is not limited to audit and compliance — it is a key driver of organisational improvement and evidence of impact

Key Responsibilities

1. Governance, Assurance and Regulatory Compliance

• Embed and deliver a robust quality assurance framework aligned with CQC standards (Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive, Well-led)
• Conduct independent audits, including “check the checker” audits, to validate first-line assurance
• Provide clear, evidence-based assurance to senior leadership on quality, risk and compliance
• Apply a risk-based approach, prioritising high-risk services, individuals and practice areas
• Ensure feedback from the people we support, and families is used to shape improvement and evidence impact

2. Driving Measurable Improvement

Ensure all QA activity results in:

• Demonstrable improvements in care quality and safety
• Reduction in risk, incidents and restrictive practice
• Improved outcomes and quality of life for people supported

Additional responsibilities:

• Track before-and-after impact of interventions and improvement actions
• Escalate where improvement is not achieved and implement further action

3. Audit, Analysis and Insight

Conduct detailed audits of:

• Care plans
• Risk assessments
• PRN usage
• Incident and safeguarding records
• Clinical decision-making and documentation quality

Analyse trends across:

• Incidents and risks
• Medication use (including PRN)
• Safeguarding and restrictive practice
• Translate data into clear insight that drives decision-making and improvement

4. Risk Identification, Escalation and Mitigation

• Identify early signs of risk, deterioration and poor practice

Ensure risks are:

• Clearly documented
• Appropriately escalated
• Actively mitigated and monitored
• Support accurate and dynamic risk registers and governance reporting

5. Embedding Person-Centred and Least Restrictive Practice

• Ensure care and support is:
• Person-centred, evidence-based and outcome-focused
• Challenge practice where:
• PRN or restrictive interventions are overused
• Promote:
• Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)
• De-escalation and preventative strategies
• Evidence that:
• Alternatives to restrictive practices are consistently applied

6. Strengthening Practice and Accountability

• Provide constructive challenge and professional scrutiny to:
• Service Managers
• Clinical Teams
• Hold teams accountable for:
• Quality standards
• Timely completion of actions
• Sustained improvement
• Support improvement through:
• Coaching
• Feedback
• Targeted follow-up audits

7. Learning Culture and Continuous Improvement

• Identify, share and embed learning from incidents, audits and reviews

Promote a culture of:

• Open and transparent practice
• Reflective learning
• Continuous improvement

Ensure learning is:

• Translated into practice changes
• Embedded across all services

8. Action Planning and Delivery

Produce clear, structured audit reports including:

• Risks
• Actions
• Owners
• Timescales
• Measurable success criteria
• Monitor delivery of action plans through to completion and embedded practice change
• Escalate delayed or ineffective actions through governance routes

9. Organisational Consistency and Quality Improvement

• Reduce variation in quality across services

Ensure consistent standards in:

• Care planning
• Risk management
• Documentation
• Support services to move from:
• Reactive → proactive care delivery

Essential Skills & Experience

• Experience in a Quality Assurance / Governance role within Health & Social Care
• Strong understanding of CQC regulations and inspection frameworks
• Proven ability to:
• Analyse complex data
• Identify risks and trends
• Drive measurable improvement
• Strong attention to detail and ability to challenge poor practice
• Excellent communication and report-writing skills
• Experience working with complex needs, PBS and person-centred care
• Ability to work under pressure and manage competing priorities
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel

Desirable Qualifications & Experience

• Professional qualification in Quality Assurance, Clinical Governance, or Health & Social Care
• OR demonstrable experience in audit, compliance or regulatory oversight
• Experience supporting services to achieve CQC Good or Outstanding ratings
• Knowledge of Regulation 17 (Good Governance) and audit frameworks
• Experience contributing to audit cycles, service reviews and improvement plan

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary
• Free parking
• Company pension
• Professional development
• Westfield Cashplan & Rewards
• Blue Light Card

Why Join Gray Healthcare
Gray Healthcare is a specialist Health and Social Care provider. We support people with Learning Disabilities, Autism, Mental Health conditions, Acquired Brain Injury, and Emotional Complex Needs to transition safely and successfully from inpatient and community settings back into their own homes and communities.

Our approach is founded on person-centred care, clinical expertise, and measurable outcomes, enabling individuals to regain control, independence, and quality of life within their own environment.

We design and deliver bespoke support packages for each individual, led by a dedicated multidisciplinary team and adapted to meet both current and future needs. Our focus is not only on stability, but on progression, independence, and reducing long-term reliance on restrictive environments.

We are committed to delivering safe, effective, and outcome-focused care, underpinned by continuous improvement, strong governance, and a culture of learning. Our services are designed to demonstrate clear evidence of impact, including improved wellbeing, reduced risk, and successful community integration.

At Gray Healthcare, we are passionate about delivering exceptional care and Outstanding outcomes. Our commitment to quality and transparency is reflected in our Care Quality Commission (CQC) ratings and inspection reports, available on our website.

Pay: £30,000.00-£35,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Free parking
• Health & wellbeing programme
• Private medical insurance

Application question(s):

• We ask all candidates if they need any adjustments to ensure that our interview process is inclusive and accessible. Is there anything we can do to accommodate your needs?
• Do you require sponsorship?
• Are you aware this role is full time office based with no hybrid option?
• Do you live within a commutable distance of Alderley Park, SK10 4FT?

Work Location: In person