Quality Assurance Expert - LAFSE (FTC 12 months)
| Posting date: | 22 May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £47,437 to £52,508 per year |
| Additional salary information: | £47,437- £52,508 inclusive of £706 London Weighting |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 06 June 2025 |
| Location: | Bracknell, Berkshire |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 3 days per week |
| Company: | Bracknell Forest Council |
| Job type: | Temporary |
| Job reference: | People/25/314292 |
Summary
12-month fixed-term contract or 12-month secondment opportunity for internal candidates
Join our expanding team as a highly organised Quality Assurance Expert supporting Local Authority Fostering South East’s (LAFSE) Fostering South East partnership hub and make a real difference in children's lives.
Whilst largely homebased, there is an expectation that you will work from the Bracknell Forest Council Time Square offices 2-5 days a month and visit the 17 local authorities partner offices in the South East on occasions throughout the pilot year to support the Regional Subcluster Officers.
About you…
You will need to be a registered Social Worker with Social Work England.
As a highly organised Quality Assurance Expert you will support our Regional Strategic Lead; Project Delivery Manager; Service Leads and Team Managers and Enquiry Officers from across the South East region. You will provide staff with the necessary skills, tools and training to support fostering recruitment and assessment, through the delivery of targeted workshops and development sessions. You will also contribute to staff and foster carer engagement and retention across a range of DfE-funded projects within the Children’s Social Care team.
You must be able to work independently, manage your time effectively and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Equally important is the ability to build and maintain strong virtual working relationships with colleagues, external partners and prospective foster carers across the South East region.
About the team…
You will be part of a small team of staff working for the fostering hub and in partnership with other hubs in the UK. We are a collaborative and supportive team, committed to driving innovation in fostering recruitment. Our approach is centered on working together to create solutions that make a difference. We spearhead strategic, high-profile marketing campaigns that not only raise awareness but also drive meaningful and lasting change across the South East. Through our efforts, we aim to reshape recruitment practices, ensuring that they are effective, inclusive and impactful in addressing the needs of the region.
Key responsibilities...
The Quality Assurance Expert ensures the consistent and robust quality within the Hub, including call handling and initial home visits. You will quality assure all initial home visit reports for prospective foster carers, provide guidance on quality and safeguarding practices, and support the handling of complex fostering recruitment enquiries. You will supervise and develop a team of Sub Cluster Officers, ensuring high standards in recruitment and assessment processes. The role involves delivering case tracking findings, conducting audits and identifying practice improvements to enhance the Quality Assurance Framework.
Interview date...
Interviews will be held on 1st July 2025.
Interviews will be conducted in person, providing candidates with the chance to personally meet the team and experience our work environment.
We will be reviewing applications regularly and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible.
Please note AI is prohibited during the interview, any candidate using AI will be withdrawn from consideration.
Want to ask us a question?
For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact:
Anne-Marie Ali - Senior Project Delivery Manager
Email: Anne-Marie.Ali@bracknell-forest.gov.uk
At Bracknell Forest we champion equality, diversity and inclusion. At Bracknell Forest Council, we are always learning, ambition and inclusive. Please see our candidate pack for more details
Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect everyone employed with us to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check as part of our pre-employment checks process.
Any successful internal candidate will be offered the position as a secondment and, in line with Section 8.1 of the Secondment Policy, must consult with their manager before applying.
Candidates should be able to demonstrate experience of working within the current Social Care System and Framework.
We can only accept applications from candidates currently residing in the UK.
Candidates currently residing in the UK who require sponsorship to work are encouraged to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) based on the relevant criteria. Please be aware that sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility requirements and budget limitations. As a result, we cannot guarantee sponsorship for all roles and will evaluate sponsorship requests on a case-by-case basis.
No agencies please.
Join our expanding team as a highly organised Quality Assurance Expert supporting Local Authority Fostering South East’s (LAFSE) Fostering South East partnership hub and make a real difference in children's lives.
Whilst largely homebased, there is an expectation that you will work from the Bracknell Forest Council Time Square offices 2-5 days a month and visit the 17 local authorities partner offices in the South East on occasions throughout the pilot year to support the Regional Subcluster Officers.
About you…
You will need to be a registered Social Worker with Social Work England.
As a highly organised Quality Assurance Expert you will support our Regional Strategic Lead; Project Delivery Manager; Service Leads and Team Managers and Enquiry Officers from across the South East region. You will provide staff with the necessary skills, tools and training to support fostering recruitment and assessment, through the delivery of targeted workshops and development sessions. You will also contribute to staff and foster carer engagement and retention across a range of DfE-funded projects within the Children’s Social Care team.
You must be able to work independently, manage your time effectively and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Equally important is the ability to build and maintain strong virtual working relationships with colleagues, external partners and prospective foster carers across the South East region.
About the team…
You will be part of a small team of staff working for the fostering hub and in partnership with other hubs in the UK. We are a collaborative and supportive team, committed to driving innovation in fostering recruitment. Our approach is centered on working together to create solutions that make a difference. We spearhead strategic, high-profile marketing campaigns that not only raise awareness but also drive meaningful and lasting change across the South East. Through our efforts, we aim to reshape recruitment practices, ensuring that they are effective, inclusive and impactful in addressing the needs of the region.
Key responsibilities...
The Quality Assurance Expert ensures the consistent and robust quality within the Hub, including call handling and initial home visits. You will quality assure all initial home visit reports for prospective foster carers, provide guidance on quality and safeguarding practices, and support the handling of complex fostering recruitment enquiries. You will supervise and develop a team of Sub Cluster Officers, ensuring high standards in recruitment and assessment processes. The role involves delivering case tracking findings, conducting audits and identifying practice improvements to enhance the Quality Assurance Framework.
Interview date...
Interviews will be held on 1st July 2025.
Interviews will be conducted in person, providing candidates with the chance to personally meet the team and experience our work environment.
We will be reviewing applications regularly and reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified. To avoid disappointment, you are advised to submit your application as soon as possible.
Please note AI is prohibited during the interview, any candidate using AI will be withdrawn from consideration.
Want to ask us a question?
For an informal discussion or to ask any questions about this role, please contact:
Anne-Marie Ali - Senior Project Delivery Manager
Email: Anne-Marie.Ali@bracknell-forest.gov.uk
At Bracknell Forest we champion equality, diversity and inclusion. At Bracknell Forest Council, we are always learning, ambition and inclusive. Please see our candidate pack for more details
Bracknell Forest Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect everyone employed with us to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to a DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) check as part of our pre-employment checks process.
Any successful internal candidate will be offered the position as a secondment and, in line with Section 8.1 of the Secondment Policy, must consult with their manager before applying.
Candidates should be able to demonstrate experience of working within the current Social Care System and Framework.
We can only accept applications from candidates currently residing in the UK.
Candidates currently residing in the UK who require sponsorship to work are encouraged to assess their eligibility for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) based on the relevant criteria. Please be aware that sponsorship availability varies and is subject to eligibility requirements and budget limitations. As a result, we cannot guarantee sponsorship for all roles and will evaluate sponsorship requests on a case-by-case basis.
No agencies please.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.