📍 Colchester (covering 3x Residential care homes)

🕒 Full Time – 40 hours | Hybrid Working
💷 Negotiable DOE)
🚗 Travel required between services

We are recruiting an experienced Quality Assurance Manager to lead quality, compliance, and continuous improvement across three care homes in the Clacton-on-Sea area.

This is a pivotal, strategic and hands-on role where you will oversee standards across multiple homes, ensuring full compliance with Care Quality Commission (CQC) requirements and the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations.

Working closely with Home Managers and the Regional Manager, you will provide practical support, coaching, and oversight to ensure each home consistently delivers high-quality, person-centred care and remains inspection-ready at all times.

Key Responsibilities

Quality Auditing & Monitoring

• Develop and implement a structured internal audit programme across all operational areas.
• Conduct regular, evidence-based audits aligned to CQC Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs).
• Produce detailed reports highlighting compliance, risk areas, and best practice.
• Track KPIs and quality metrics to monitor performance trends.
• Present findings and recommendations to senior leadership.

Improvement & Action Planning

• Work collaboratively with Home Managers to develop measurable action plans.
• Support implementation and sustainability of improvements.
• Verify that corrective actions are embedded effectively.
• Promote a positive culture of accountability and learning.

Regulatory Compliance & Inspection Readiness

• Ensure ongoing compliance with CQC Fundamental Standards.
• Conduct mock inspections and provide coaching to managers and staff.
• Keep services up to date with legislative changes and sector best practice.
• Support policy review and development.

Resident & Staff Engagement

• Lead biannual resident and staff surveys.
• Analyse feedback, identify trends, and present improvement plans.
• Support managers to communicate outcomes and embed positive change.

Training & Mentoring

• Identify learning needs arising from audits or incidents.
• Provide mentoring and targeted support where quality issues are identified.
• Encourage a culture of professional development and continuous improvement.

Governance & Safeguarding

• Act as a safeguarding champion across services.
• Support investigations relating to quality or compliance concerns.
• Maintain robust governance systems and accurate documentation.

About You

Essential:

• Strong working knowledge of CQC regulations and adult social care governance.
• Experience in a senior care leadership role (e.g., Deputy Manager, Registered Manager, Quality Lead).
• Proven experience conducting audits and implementing improvement plans.
• Confident communicator with the ability to influence and support teams.
• Highly organised and able to manage multiple sites.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel between homes.

Desirable:

• Level 4/5 Diploma in Health and Social Care (or equivalent).
• Experience overseeing multiple services.
• Knowledge of dementia and end-of-life care best practice.

Why Apply?

• Lead quality and compliance across three care homes.
• Play a key role in shaping service standards and inspection outcomes.
• Hybrid working model.
• Work with a supportive senior leadership team.

If you are an experienced care professional with a passion for governance and raising standards, we would love to speak with you.

To Apply

Please contact Lauren on 01789 867181 or email lauren@avonsearch.co.uk to discuss this opportunity.