Quality Assurance & Improvement Manager (Supported Living Quality Lead) – Adults (CQC)

About The Company

At Salutem, we support adults with learning disabilities, physical disabilities and other social care needs to live fulfilling lives. Across our Supported Living and Residential Care services, we are committed to promoting independence, choice, control and meaningful outcomes. Our Supported Living services combine personalised support with individual tenancy arrangements, enabling people to live within their communities while maintaining as much independence as possible.

About The Role

Location: Hybrid (UK-wide remit with regular travel to services; overnight stays as required)
Hours: 40 hours per week
Team: Quality Governance and Compliance
Reporting to: Group Head of Quality Assurance, Compliance and Inspection

The Opportunity

We’re recruiting a Quality Assurance & Improvement Manager (QAIM) into our Adult CQC QAIM Team, with a defined portfolio as Supported Living (SL) Quality Lead.

This is a key role for an experienced quality professional who understands Supported Living, is confident working to CQC regulations and Reach Standards, and can help services move beyond compliance towards Good and Outstanding outcomes.

You’ll be the named QAIM for Supported Living quality—owning clear deliverables and reporting lines—while retaining the ability to flex capacity across adult services in response to operational risk, inspection activity, and business priorities.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

As Supported Living Quality Assurance Improvement Manager, you will:

• Lead quality assurance activity across Adult Supported Living services, using Salutem’s assessment framework and annual programme
• Drive inspection readiness, including mock inspections, evidence packs, and post-inspection action planning
•  Support quality assurance, inspection readiness and quality improvement activity across Residential Care and other adult services as required.
• Provide expert advice on sector-specific standards, including CQC regulatory requirements and REACH Standards within Supported Living.
• Provide structured quality improvement support to help services progress from compliance to sustained improvement (Good to Outstanding)
•  Coach and challenge Registered Managers and leaders to strengthen:

• governance and oversight
• quality narratives and evidence of impact
• person-centred practice and outcomes
• learning culture and continuous improvement
 
• Produce clear, high-quality reports including thematic findings, risk escalation, and progress tracking
• Use quality intelligence (audits, incidents, complaints, safeguarding, KPIs) to identify themes, reduce risk and embed learning
• Work in partnership with Operations, L&D, HR, Safeguarding, PBS, IT and other functions to deliver consistent improvement
• Act as an ambassador for quality and best practice across Salutem’s adult services

What We’re Looking For

Essential:

• Significant experience in health and/or social care (typically 5+ years)
• Strong working knowledge of CQC regulations, inspection expectations, and quality frameworks
• Proven Supported Living experience, including understanding of Reach Standards and how to evidence them in practice
• Demonstrable experience delivering internal QA activity (audits/inspections/reviews) and supporting services with robust action plans
• Evidence of leading quality improvement and change implementation across multiple sites
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills (reports, action plans, senior stakeholder updates)
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage a national workload
• Willingness to travel regularly across England, including overnight stays

Desirable specialist:

Safeguarding: DSL qualification (or willingness to complete within an agreed timeframe).

Supported Living: Experience of assessing, auditing or supporting services against Reach Standards to drive quality improvement.

Why Join Salutem?

• A national role with real influence on quality, outcomes and culture
• Opportunity to shape Supported Living, with clear deliverables and governance routes
• Work alongside committed operational and quality colleagues focused on continuous improvement
• Be part of an organisation that lives its values: Supportive, Ambitious, Loyal, Unique, Transparent, Engaging, and committed to Meaningful life outcomes