5295119 – Project Support Officer

Introduction This is an opportunity for an experienced Quality Assurance professional to support commissioning assurance activity across children and young people’s services, with a particular focus on SEND independent provision and Children’s Social Care, including residential and supported accommodation. The role is predominantly desk based, focusing on audits, compliance reviews, intelligence‑led monitoring and assurance activity. However, there will be a requirement to undertake and/or support provider visits within and around the borough where risk, concern or improvement need has been identified, working alongside operational colleagues. The post will play a key role not only in providing assurance, but also in working collaboratively with providers and internal teams to support quality improvement, embed consistent QA approaches and strengthen oversight across the provider market. The post is expected to last 3–6 months, subject to service requirements, and is offered at a day rate of £325.

Overview

To undertake Quality Assurance (QA) activity across commissioned provision for children and young people, including Children’s Social Care and SEND. The postholder will carry out desktop audits, compliance reviews and monitoring activity, and will support and accompany operational colleagues on selected provider visits as required. The role will provide assurance on quality, safeguarding, contractual compliance and outcomes, while also contributing to inspection readiness, market development and continuous improvement. A key aspect of the role will be supporting the establishment and consistent application of core QA frameworks, standards, audit trails and escalation routes, ensuring that QA activity across the market is effective, proportionate and risk based.

Main Responsibilities

• Undertake planned and responsive QA activity across commissioned provision, including residential children’s homes and independent and non-maintained SEND provision.
• Carry out desk based audits, provider visits, compliance checks and reviews in line with agreed QA frameworks, standards and schedules.
• Work jointly with Commissioning, Placements, Brokerage and operational colleagues to coordinate QA activity, share intelligence and align assurance with practice oversight.
• Review policies, procedures, records and practice evidence to assess quality, safeguarding, outcomes and contractual compliance.
• Identify, assess and escalate safeguarding concerns, quality risks or contractual non compliance in line with agreed escalation and governance arrangements.
• Contribute to provider risk assessments, ratings and embargo considerations, ensuring a defensible and evidence based approach.
• Support the monitoring of improvement actions, provider responses and progress against agreed actions.
• Produce clear, accurate and timely QA reports, setting out findings, strengths, risks and required actions in a constructive and proportionate way.
• Maintain robust QA records and audit trails to support assurance, scrutiny and decision making.
• Contribute QA evidence to support Ofsted ILACS inspections, SEND area inspections and other regulatory or assurance activity.
• Work constructively and professionally with providers to explain findings, expectations and improvement actions, supporting improvement while maintaining appropriate challenge.
• Support the ongoing development and embedding of consistent QA processes and standards across the commissioned provider market.

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