Quality Lead and Shared Lives Manager

Seeking a Quality Lead and Shared Lives Manager to work on a 35 hour per week contract with a minimum two days a week in the office.

Target start date: 12 Oct 2026

Target end date: 04 Apr 2027

Must have:

• Enhanced DBS
• Social Work England Registration

Main Purpose of the Role

This is a unique opportunity to lead quality assurance and continuous improvement while maintaining the Manager responsibility for our Shared Lives service. Reporting directly to the Head of Operational Commissioning, you will play a key role in providing independent assurance, identifying opportunities for improvement, supporting the service through inspection and championing best practice. Through strong relationships, constructive challenge and a focus on learning, you will help ensure people receive safe, effective and person-centred support.

You will provide operational management responsibility for Shared Lives, ensuring the service continues to deliver high-quality, family-based support that enables people to live fulfilling and independent lives.

This role offers the opportunity to influence organisational strategy, work directly with senior leaders, and make a visible impact across the organisation.

Responsibilities of the Role

Quality Leadership and Improvement

• Undertake quality reviews to support continuous improvement and inspection readiness.
• Provide assurance to senior leaders through quality reporting, performance analysis and oversight of improvement activity.
• Monitor progress against quality standards, regulatory requirements and organisational priorities.
• Support the Shared Lives service to prepare for and respond to inspections, audits and external reviews.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, learning and accountability across the service.
• Facilitate learning from audits, inspections, incidents, complaints and compliments.
• Work collaboratively with operational managers to develop, deliver and implement improvement initiatives that enhance quality and outcomes.
• Build positive relationships with operational teams to encourage innovation, reflection and shared learning.
• Keep abreast of sector developments, emerging best practice and regulatory changes, bringing learning into the organisation where appropriate.
• Provide professional challenge, support and advice to managers on quality improvement matters.

Manager (Shared Lives)

• Efficiently manage the day-to-day operation of the service, providing leadership and oversight.
• Ensure the service operates safely, effectively and in accordance with regulatory requirements and organisational standards.
• Oversee the recruitment, assessment, approval and ongoing support of Shared Lives carers.
• Ensure robust arrangements are in place to assess the suitability of carers, placements and support arrangements.
• Promote positive outcomes, choice, independence and community inclusion for service users.
• Promote a strong safeguarding culture and ensure carers and staff are equipped to respond appropriately to concerns.
• Ensure carers and staff have access to appropriate training, development and support.
• Work closely with commissioners, social care professionals, carers and families to support the development and growth of the service.
• Promote opportunities for carers and service users to influence and improve the scheme.
• Ensure effective governance, quality monitoring and continuous improvement in Shared Lives.
• Monitor service performance, resources and budgetary responsibilities and lead on opportunities that strengthen sustainability and impact.