Job Description

About Looking Forward Activities

Looking Forward Activities is a leading learning disability and autism day opportunities service in Cheshire. We provide meaningful, person-centred activities that promote independence, confidence, skill development, and wellbeing. We pride ourselves on offering high-quality support within a safe, inclusive and friendly environment.

The Role

The Head of Quality & Compliance is the organisation's operational lead and subject-matter expert for safeguarding, quality assurance, compliance, governance, and regulatory standards. The post holder is responsible for developing, implementing, and monitoring the systems that ensure Looking Forward Activities operates safely, lawfully, and in line with best-practice and CQC-aligned expectations.

This role carries delegated operational responsibility for safeguarding, MCA compliance, policy governance, internal auditing, risk management, incident oversight, quality monitoring, and organisational learning. The post holder provides expert guidance across the service and leads all technical aspects of quality and compliance.

The role also includes operational HR responsibilities, including workforce compliance, safer recruitment, induction, training coordination, supervision quality, HR policy implementation, and monitoring of staff conduct and practice standards. The post holder supports managers to apply HR procedures consistently and lawfully.

Key Responsibilities

1. Safeguarding & Wellbeing

Act as the

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

for the organisation. Lead the management, investigation, and recording of safeguarding concerns, incidents, complaints, near-misses, and learning reviews. Ensure compliance with local authority safeguarding procedures and internal policies. Provide safeguarding supervision, training, and guidance to staff.

2. Quality Assurance & Compliance

Hold operational responsibility for ensuring that all support, environments, activities, documentation, and staff practice meet relevant legislation, best-practice standards, and CQC-aligned expectations. Maintain, implement, and regularly update all policies, procedures, and quality frameworks. Conduct regular internal audits, including health & safety, documentation reviews, practice observations, and environment checks. Produce written Quality & Compliance Reports for the Managing Director and management team. Monitor and report on organisational performance against KPIs, compliance indicators, and risk thresholds.

3. Risk Management

Lead on organisational risk management, including maintaining the

Risk Register.

Ensure risk assessments (PEEPs, activity risks, support plans, behaviour risks) are completed to a high standard and regularly reviewed. Support staff to understand, mitigate, and balance risk with autonomy and positive risk-taking. Escalate high-risk issues to the Managing Director promptly.

4. Mental Capacity Act (MCA) Compliance

Ensure that all practice complies with the

Mental Capacity Act 2005

, including capacity assessments, supported decision-making, and best-interest processes. Provide training, oversight, and quality checks on MCA documentation and practice. Lead organisational preparation for Liberty Protection Safeguards (LPS) implementation.

5. Staff Development & Training

Oversee training compliance, ensuring all staff maintain required competencies and refresher timelines. Deliver training or coordinate external training where required (safeguarding, MCA, boundaries, etc.). Promote a culture of reflective practice, learning, and continuous improvement. Support supervisors and managers in maintaining quality oversight of staff practice.

6. Continuous Improvement

Identify themes, trends, learning needs, and improvement opportunities. Lead service improvement projects aligned to organisational values and quality goals. Ensure that learning from incidents, complaints, audits, and feedback is captured, embedded, and monitored.

What We're Looking For

Essential Requirements

Extensive safeguarding experience within learning disability/autism or adult social care settings. Strong knowledge and practical experience of the Mental Capacity Act. Significant experience in quality, compliance, governance, or safeguarding roles. Strong auditing, policy writing, and quality assurance skills. Experience leading or managing incidents, complaints, or investigations. Excellent communication, report writing, decision-making, and organisational abilities. Ability to lead, influence, and support staff practice. Calm, professional approach to sensitive, challenging, or complex situations. Ability to work independently with delegated operational authority.

Desirable

Experience in CQC-regulated environments. Advanced safeguarding leadership training. Auditing or compliance qualifications. Health & Safety training. GDPR/Data Protection training. Level 4/5 Health & Social Care Leadership (or working towards).

Qualifications

Essential

Level 3 Adult Safeguarding (or willingness to complete upon appointment). Strong knowledge and training in the Mental Capacity Act. Leadership or management qualification at Level 4 or above (or equivalent). Evidence of quality assurance or auditing experience.

Desirable

Advanced Designated Safeguarding Lead training. Accredited auditing or compliance qualifications.

Location:

Northwich, Cheshire

Hours:

35 hours per week (Occasional evenings/weekends for audits, events, or training)

Salary:

45,000-49,000 (dependent on experience)

Contract:

Permanent

Right to Work:

Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK

What We Offer

Bupa Employee Assistance Programme - emotional, financial and wellbeing support. 5.6 weeks' holiday (pro rata). One paid birthday day after 12 months' service. Christmas closure period (annual leave required for this break). Annual staff celebration events. Supportive, caring workplace where staff feel valued. Opportunities for training, development and leadership progression. A meaningful, rewarding role supporting adults with learning disabilities and autism.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 45,000.00-49,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Additional leave Company pension Health & wellbeing programme On-site parking
Application question(s):

Do you have extensive safeguarding experience in learning disability/autism or adult social care services?
Work Location: In person