Quality Assurance Regulation 44 Lead
| Posting date: | 21 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £48,163 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 03 February 2026 |
| Location: | Ipswich, Suffolk, IP1 2BX |
| Company: | Suffolk County Council |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | 22037 |
Summary
- Suffolk County Council – Endeavour House, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2BX - Hybrid
- £48,163 - £58,850 per annum pro rata
- 37 hours per week – Flexible working options available
- Fixed term contract – 6 months
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 and Regulation 44 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 the Quality Assurance and Regulation 44 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:
- Engaging with children, young people, families, and professionals to ensure their experiences inform and shape quality assurance activities.
- Conducting vital Regulation 44 visits, evaluating the quality of care in our children’s homes, assessing whether our children are safeguarded and their wellbeing is effectively promoted.
- Preparing and presenting analytical reports highlighting strengths and recommending improvements, monitoring actions and reviewing progress.
- Providing expert guidance, support, and constructive challenge to colleagues and partners, enabling them to deliver improved outcomes.
- Leading and participating in quality assurance reviews, gathering and analysing feedback, and identifying areas for development.
- Designing and facilitating 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.
- 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 Children’s Homes (Regulation 44 work) and/or other sector work which demonstrates transferable skills
- management and leadership experience and/or qualification (desirable)
- an analytical/forensic approach to your work
- e xcellent communication skills (written and verbal)
- strong a bility 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
You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (word). 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 is 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 (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 500 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template.
1. Describe a time you carried out an in‑depth quality assurance activity. What methods did you use to evaluate practice, and what impact did your findings have?
2. Describe your experience of conducting (or contributing to) Regulation 44 visits or similar assurance work. What key elements do you focus on, and how do you ensure children are effectively safeguarded?
3. Describe a time where you have demonstrated creativity or innovation to improve practice and the outcomes for children
We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We ask you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.
Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailing recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.
Closing date: 11.30pm, 3 February 2026
Interview date: 12 February 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
Plus lots more!
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).
- £48,163 - £58,850 per annum pro rata
- 37 hours per week – Flexible working options available
- Fixed term contract – 6 months
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 and Regulation 44 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 the Quality Assurance and Regulation 44 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:
- Engaging with children, young people, families, and professionals to ensure their experiences inform and shape quality assurance activities.
- Conducting vital Regulation 44 visits, evaluating the quality of care in our children’s homes, assessing whether our children are safeguarded and their wellbeing is effectively promoted.
- Preparing and presenting analytical reports highlighting strengths and recommending improvements, monitoring actions and reviewing progress.
- Providing expert guidance, support, and constructive challenge to colleagues and partners, enabling them to deliver improved outcomes.
- Leading and participating in quality assurance reviews, gathering and analysing feedback, and identifying areas for development.
- Designing and facilitating 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.
- 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 Children’s Homes (Regulation 44 work) and/or other sector work which demonstrates transferable skills
- management and leadership experience and/or qualification (desirable)
- an analytical/forensic approach to your work
- e xcellent communication skills (written and verbal)
- strong a bility 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
You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (word). 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 is 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 (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 500 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template.
1. Describe a time you carried out an in‑depth quality assurance activity. What methods did you use to evaluate practice, and what impact did your findings have?
2. Describe your experience of conducting (or contributing to) Regulation 44 visits or similar assurance work. What key elements do you focus on, and how do you ensure children are effectively safeguarded?
3. Describe a time where you have demonstrated creativity or innovation to improve practice and the outcomes for children
We value authentic applications that showcase your genuine skills and experiences. Applications suspected of being generated by AI may be rejected. We ask you to present your own work and ideas throughout the application process.
Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the application process before the next selection stage, please contact our Recruitment Team by emailing recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk or calling 03456 014412. If you are invited to the next stage of selection, you will have another opportunity to request adjustments for the next stages of the process.
Closing date: 11.30pm, 3 February 2026
Interview date: 12 February 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
Plus lots more!
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).
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.