Are you a strategic leader with a passion for driving excellence in children’s services? Achieving for Children is seeking an influential Associate Director of Quality Assurance to champion high standards and continuous improvement. We are an Ofsted Judged ‘Good’ authority with high ambitions for our children and young people. In this role, you will be the guardian of good quality practice, ensuring that every child and young person in Windsor and Maidenhead receives the best possible start in life through evidence-based, high-impact social care and early help services.
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We are looking for a kind and compassionate leader who embodies our AfC values: Trust, Empower and Respect.
This is a Full-Time (37 hrs per week), Permanent role.
About the role
You will oversee a comprehensive programme of audits and reviews, transforming raw data into sophisticated intelligence that shapes our strategic priorities. Your work ensures that we don’t just meet statutory requirements but we exceed them.
As the lead for our independent safeguarding functions, you will hold a broad and vital portfolio. You will oversee Quality Assurance, Independent Reviewing and Child Protection Service, alongside Children, Young People and Family Participation, ensuring the ‘voice of the child’ is not just heard, but is the primary driver of service design and delivery.
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Leading an integrated Quality Assurance Framework that triangulates evidence from audits, complaints, and direct feedback to achieve ‘outstanding’ outcomes.
- Spearheading the preparation and response for all external inspections, including ILACS, JTAIs, SEND, and CQC.
- Taking an active lead on Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews and Serious Incident Notifications, while collaborating closely with multi-agency Safeguarding Partnerships.
- Providing oversight to the Principal Social Worker to ensure the successful embedding of Signs of Safety (SoS) and Systemic practice frameworks.
- Strengthening the role of the Participation Team to ensure that children, young people, and families actively influence decision-making at every level of the council.
If you wish to have an informal discussion about the role please contact Sarah Moran, Deputy Director Children’s Social Care & Early Help on
About you
- We are looking for a visionary leader who combines strategic thinking with commitment to children’s rights. To excel in this role, you will bring:
- A degree in Social Work (or equivalent) with current Social Work England registration and a proven track record of continuous professional development in leadership.
- Significant experience leading and improving practice within a complex children’s services environment. You should have an excellent understanding of current legislation, statutory guidance and inspection regimes.
- The ability to utilise data and intelligence to evaluate the impact of interventions, identifying exactly where and how we can improve.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to negotiate, influence and build strong partnerships across a diverse range of stakeholders.
- A strength-based approach to leadership, with the personal energy to thrive in an independent role and the determination to solve complex problems creatively. xwzovoh
About our benefits
- We are focused on creating a positive supportive environment, where you will have access to a really wide range of resources, as well as a competitive salary and all the perks to enable hybrid working. In AfC you will also have access to:
- 29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after 2 years and 35 days after 4 years with an additional day off in your birthday month (Or for term-time workers, your leave entitlement consists of the non-working periods in your contract)
- Tailored induction sessions commencing on the date you start working for AfC
- Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension)
- Flexible working options – helping to keep a good work life balance
- A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
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