Quality Monitoring Officer (Adult Social Services)

About Us

North Somerset Council is committed to providing high-quality services to our community. We are committed to creating a fair, green, and more inclusive environment for all our residents. Join us and contribute to making a positive impact on our community.

The Role

An opportunity has arisen to join the Quality Monitoring Team in Adult Social Services as a Quality Monitoring Officer.

The Quality Monitoring Team are responsible for working with and monitoring the quality and safety of care providers (Care Homes, Home Care agencies, Community Care) that have contracts with North Somerset Council, to look after adults with care and support needs. The role involves overseeing and supporting the quality, performance and compliance of service providers. You will have the opportunity to shape and develop monitoring processes and to work closely with care providers and other professionals, such as the Safeguarding Adults Team, to promote and embed quality. This is an exciting opportunity to have a positive impact on how care services are delivered.

This role is being advertised for up to 24.5 hours a week.

In this role, you will

...manage a portfolio of work comprising quality monitoring visits (both announced and unannounced) and follow-up reviews to monitor progress against set action points and accepting referrals and specific contract related tasks e.g. undertaking investigations in response to allegations falling under the remit of Safeguarding Adults.

Services monitored will cover all adult care provision in North Somerset and may involve joint working with other Local Authorities and agencies. Care provision for North Somerset Service Users and self-funding Service Users who are placed out of county will also be monitored.

Work is generated from a range of sources including the Safeguarding Adults Team, feedback from others regarding quality and concerns of service provision, Service Managers and Senior Managers. You should have the ability to manage urgent and competing priorities. The Quality Monitoring Officer is responsible for ensuring the quality of care services provided in care homes, domiciliary care, and supported living care providers through monitoring against service quality standards and ensuring corrective actions are achieved.

The postholder will be classified as a Mobile Worker and, as such, will mainly work in the community and from home. Occasional attendance will be required in the office, based at the Town Hall in Weston-super-Mare.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage a caseload of care service providers
• Assess the risk and care needs of care service providers and develop manage a framework for monitoring care plans and documentation to ensure quality needs are met.
• Take a lead role in developing, with providers, a range of interventions with clearly identified outcomes within an integrated services framework.
• Provide information and advice to service providers about legislation and national and local guidance.
• Establish & maintain appropriate links between services and other professionals to encourage a clear understanding of each other's priorities and ways of working.
• Gathering information as part of a safeguarding adults' response.
• Work closely with partners to ensure collaborative working to ensure information is shared effectively between the Health and Social care Community.
• Communicate effectively with multi-agency partners, colleagues and people in receipt of services, both verbally and in writing through the appropriate use of case notes and other record keeping in accordance with information sharing protocols and record keeping policies.

This position is exempt under the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions) Order 1975 and is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Valid driving licence and own transport, or be able to provide alternative, suitable method of travel is an essential condition for this role.

Work Style

At North Somerset Council, we offer a hybrid working environment based on four distinct work styles. Depending on the role and personal circumstances, you will fall into one of these categories. However, please note that during the induction period, it may be necessary to spend more time in the office to support your learning and development. We are flexible and open to discussions about your preferred working style, and if you wish to be in the office more frequently, this can be negotiated.

This role falls into the category of Mobile/Field Worker which means you can expect to work in the following way:

• 0-1 day in the office each week
• Includes field workers who primarily work remotely.
• Comes into the office for meetings or focused work. Virtual connections with the team are essential, with portable technology supporting work on the go.

About You

We are looking for an individual who is passionate about quality adult social care and support, and who possesses the following skills and experience:

Essential Criteria:

• Vocational qualification or experience to level 4 or above.

• Approved professional qualification relevant to the area of work or extensive practical experience of working with people giving rise to a variety of technical skills and sound understanding of the services available, legal responsibilities, work practices and processes relevant to the role.

• Ability to manage urgent and competing priorities.

• Ability to analyse designated areas of work and make decision to improve them.

• Ability to engage with service users and partner agencies within the relevant codes of practice values (dignity, respect etc).

• Ability to manage/organise own work to meet agreed deadlines.

• Understanding and recognition of professional & personal boundaries.

• Work effectively as part of a team.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; including ability to write clear, concise, well evidenced reports

• Excellent IT skills and the ability to use a variety of IT applications including bespoke databases

• Ability to work alone, to problem solve, be proactive and use own initiative

• Have good business awareness of the local authority - understand the role of others in relation to the impact of this role

Desirable Criteria:

• An understanding of the care sector, risks and issues, risk management and/or audit.
• Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding protocols and the threshold levels is desirable

What We Offer

At North Somerset Council, we value our employees and provide a supportive and inclusive work environment.

We offer:

• Competitive salary and benefits
• Flexible working arrangements
• Local Government Pension
• Opportunities for professional development
• Inclusive Staff groups including Carers, Disabled, LGBTQ+, REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), and Young Staff Forums
• Opportunity to purchase up to an additional 10 days annual leave each year
• Dedicated in house Wellbeing Team
• Salary sacrifice Cycle to Work and Electric Vehicle schemes

Further details of our excellent rewards package can be found in our Benefits booklet .

How to Apply

If you share our vision and values and are ready to make an impact to North Somerset, please select the apply online button below. If you are interested in this exciting opportunity, please submit your application by 11.59pm on the application closing date. When completing our online application form, please detail how you meet the essential criteria for the role.

Contact Information

For further information about the role, please contact Sharon Cooper, Quality Monitoring Team Manager, at Sharon.cooper@n-somerset.gov.uk or on 07823 362060.

Important Information

As a Disability Confident Leader, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the job role.

Interview Date: Monday 28 April 2025 Or Tuesday 29 April 2025

Please note: We are currently only able to accept applications from candidates who have full permission to work in the UK.

Equal Opportunities

At North Somerset Council we want all our employees to feel valued and appreciated. We aim to ensure equality of opportunity and prevent discrimination irrespective of your sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or belief, race, age, disability, including neurodiversity, if you are married or in a civil partnership or are pregnant or currently on maternity leave. We strive to create a workplace that reflects the communities we serve and where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment.