Team Leader - Quality Improvement (focus)

ROLE PROFILE

Role Title:	Team Leader - Quality Improvement (focus)
Responsible To:	Deputy Manager
Role Purpose:	The Team Leader – Quality Improvement (TL QI) role is designed to mirror the core expectations of the Team Leader role at Marydale Lodge while placing a clear primary emphasis on quality assurance, audit, and service improvement.
	Working in consultation with the Registered Manager and Deputy Managers, the postholder will support the safe, effective, and compliant delivery of care through structured quality monitoring, audit activity, and inspection readiness. The role retains Team Leader authority and accountability but differs from the standard Team Leader position by prioritising quality improvement over routine shift
	leadership. The TL QI will:
	Drive and embed quality standards across practice,
	documentation, and leadership oversight
	Support compliance with the Children's Homes (England)
	Regulations 2015 and SCCIF • Translate quality findings into sustained service improvement
	Provide operational and on-shift leadership and where it adds value to quality assurance objectives

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

What the role holder needs to do to achieve the role purpose

KeyResponsibilities	How will this be achieved?	%ofTime?
QualityAssurance,Audit &Compliance:	The postholder will:•Lead and complete a structured programme of auditsincluding:o Safeguarding and child protectiono Incident management, restraint and use of

reviews • Test practice against:

Care plans, risk assessments and placement 。 plans 。 Daily recording and shift handovers o Missing episodes, complaints and learning Staff files, supervision and training compliance o Children's Homes (England) Regulations 2015 。 SCCIF requirements o Internal Nugent and Marydale policies • Analyse audit outcomes to identify themes, risks, practice drift and strengths Escalate safeguarding and quality concerns promptly through agreed governance routes

Service The postholder will: Improvement & • Support the Registered Manager and Deputy Inspection Managers to maintain a constant state of inspection Readiness readiness • Translate audit findings into clear, measurable Service Improvement Plan (SIP) actions • Monitor progress against improvement actions and validate impact on lived practice • Collate and quality-check evidence for: • Regulation 44 visits • Internal quality reviews • Ofsted inspections • Contribute to quality narratives, leadership

25% summaries, and governance reports as required • Support post-inspection learning and embedding of In line with the Team Leader role profile, the TL QI will: • Provide supervision and reflective practice discussions to identified staff members (with a

	probationary periods where quality concerns have been identified Provide constructive, evidence-based feedback following audits, observations and reviews Role-model high-quality, trauma-informed and child-centred practice Promote a learning culture focused on accountability, reflection and continuous improvement	15%
Childcare & Care Planning Oversight	The postholder will retain responsibility to: • Ensure care plans and risk assessments are reviewed, accurate and reflective of children's current needs • Oversee quality of care planning, report writing and decision-making • Support multi-agency working with education, health and placing authorities • Ensure children's views are captured and reflected within planning and service development	10%
Operational & On-Shift Leadership Safeguarding Responsibilities:	• Monitor recording quality relating to incidents, health needs, education attendance and safeguarding The post holder may: Provide on-shift or operational cover during periods of heightened risk, instability or short-term staffing pressure Act as a visible senior presence to model and reinforce good practice Use operational involvement to validate and support quality improvement work, not to replace routine Team Leader shift responsibility	As required only
	Ensure operational duties are purposeful, time-limited and do not compromise protected QI time Act in accordance with statutory safeguarding guidance and Nugent safeguarding
procedures
Identify, challenge and escalate unsafe practice Ensure audit activity and operational decisions are child-focused and risk-informed Support managers in implementing corrective action where safeguarding concerns arise

Levels of Authority – including management responsibility and budget control

• Supervisory responsibility for Secure Child Care Workers (as delegated)

• Authority to undertake audits, quality reviews and make recommendations for improvement

• Responsibility to escalate concerns to Deputy Manager / Registered Manager

• No sole responsibility for disciplinary action, but contributes evidence and quality oversight

The Main Contacts – external/internal contacts and purpose

Children and young people

• Families and carers

• Residential staff team and leadership team

• Education, health and therapeutic services

• Central support teams (Quality, HR, Training, Finance, Estates)

• External agencies including placing authorities, commissioners, LADO, Police and emergency services

Person Specification
Essential	Desirable
Level 3 Diploma for ResidentialChildcare (or equivalent)Significant experience working in aresidential children's homeExperience of quality assurance,auditing or compliance processesStrong written and verbalcommunication skillsExcellent administration and ITskillsSound knowledge of:O Children's Homes (England)Regulations 2015O SCCIF inspection frameworkSafeguarding proceduresOand reporting requirements	Level 4 or 5 qualification in Leadershipand Management or Children andYoung People Experience supporting Ofstedinspections or Regulation 44 visitsExperience working in a Good orOutstanding rated provisionDesignated Safeguarding Officertraining