Requirements
Candidates must hold a suitable professional qualification at the postgraduate level and possess experience in quality assurance within children's services. Strong analytical, leadership, and communication skills are essential for managing complex workloads and driving service improvements.
Job Description
Suffolk County Council
Address: Endeavour House, Ipswich IP1 2BX - Hybrid
Salary: £49,752 - £60,792 per annum (pro rata for part time)
Hours: 37 per week - flexible working options available
Contract: Permanent
We are focused on making a meaningful difference to children and families across Suffolk. How? By listening to our people learning from what they say and creating a culture of mutual respect, where everyone works together to achieve great things. As a Quality Assurance Lead in the Quality Assurance Team, you will be as keen to collaborate and build a bright future as we are. So, to make a positive impact, connect with us and connect with a fantastic career.
Reimagine the possibilities.
Your role and responsibilities
As a Quality Assurance Lead, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the highest standards of practice for children, young people, and families across Suffolk. Your daily activities will be both varied and impactful, requiring a balance of analytical, advisory, and collaborative skills.
A typical day in this role may include:
- Leading and participating in quality assurance evaluative work and reviews across the system including Family Help, gathering and analysing feedback, and identifying areas for development.
- Developing and implementing Group Supervision across all services and supporting and Embedding Family Group Decision Making.
Engaging with children, young people, families, and professionals to ensure their experiences inform and shape quality assurance activities.
Providing expert guidance, support, and constructive challenge to colleagues and partners, enabling them to deliver improved outcomes.
Designing and facilitating development workshops, reflective sessions, and coaching opportunities to support continuous professional growth.
Collaborating with internal and external partners to share best practice and foster effective multi-agency working.
Preparing and presenting analytical reports on service quality, highlighting strengths and recommending improvements.
Monitoring legislative and policy developments to ensure that practice remains current and compliant.
Supporting safeguarding and risk management, with a focus on promoting the welfare of children and young people.
You will be expected to manage your own workload with autonomy, respond flexibly to emerging priorities, and contribute to the ongoing improvement of services. The opportunity to make a tangible difference, both to service quality and to the lives of children and families, is at the heart of this role.
You will need:
To have a suitable professional qualification at post graduate level and equivalent experience in a relevant area of work
Experience in quality assurance work in a Children and Young People’s Services, and/or other sector work which demonstrates transferable skills
Management and leadership experience and/or qualification (desirable)
Have a sound working knowledge of relevant legislation and statutory frameworks
Have an analytical/forensic approach to your work
Excellent communication skills (written and verbal)
Strong ability to work both on your own and as part of a team
To be able to work at pace within agreed timescales
Effective ICT skills, use of internet and other digital methods of communication
To be aware of local and national research and frameworks.
If you believe you can succeed in this role, apply. Even if you don't meet all requirements, still apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.
The Team
The Quality Assurance Team is a multidisciplinary group of professionals within the Children and Young People’s Services directorate. The team’s purpose is to support and enhance quality assurance processes across all services, ensuring that every intervention is meaningful and every child’s voice is heard.
The team members are motivated by the positive impact they make—supporting colleagues, celebrating excellent practice, and driving continuous improvement. The team culture is collaborative, supportive, and committed to learning and professional development. Open communication, mutual respect, and a shared sense of purpose underpin all that we do.
Empowering Everyone
We’re big believers in potential, possibility and the power of different ideas. We’re always searching for ways to encourage, respect and enable everyone to be the best they can be. We want to represent the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all individuals, especially those from groups that are currently underrepresented in the organisation, as shown in our Workforce Equality Report
For more information
Please contact Rachel Cogman for a casual conversation. You can reach them by calling 01473264704 or emailing rachel.cogman@suffolk.gov.uk
How to apply
Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (word).
Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.
Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template (Word).
- Can you describe a time when you led a quality assurance review or audit within a children’s or young people’s service? What approach did you take to gather and analyse feedback, and how did your findings contribute to service improvement?
- Please provide an example of how you have communicated complex information to a diverse audience, such as children, families, colleagues, or external partners. How did you ensure your message was understood and acted upon?
- Give an example of how you have identified an area for improvement within a service and implemented a creative or innovative solution. What was the outcome, and how did you measure its success?
Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. Any supporting documents must be in either PDF or MS Word format.
For guidance on completing your application, please see our How to Apply page.
Planning to use Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Please ensure your application still reflects your own skills, experience and ideas. If used inappropriately, your application may not be processed. Please read our guidance for using AI to understand what’s acceptable.
Do you need any reasonable adjustments to help you to apply? If you are disabled and/or have additional support needs, you can request reasonable adjustments. You can do this by contacting our Recruitment Team at recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or 03456 014412. You can find examples of possible adjustments on our Reasonable Adjustment pages.
Closing date: 11.30pm, 29 September 2026
Interview dates: 2 or 5 October 2026 at Endeavour House, Ipswich
This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts. #LI-Hybrid
As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.
In return, you’ll enjoy:
- up to 29 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
- membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
- travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
- performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
- training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
- a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
- diverse and active staff networks
- flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day
If you want to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Suffolk County Council careers website (careers.Suffolk.gov.uk).