Care Quality Compliance Officer - Optalis : Job Details

Optalis is the adult social care delivery partner on behalf of Wokingham Borough Council and the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Council. Optalis is owned and funded by the 2 Councils. Optalis is not a private provider or an employment agency.

Care Quality Compliance Officer

Wokingham | Maidenhead | Windsor £28,000 Full Time

Purpose of the Service/Team

The Quality, Governance and Risk team provides internal services, with a core focus on compliance, continuous improvement and learning, to maintain compliance and offer assurance, direction and guidance to the broader teams and functions across Optalis Services.

The Governance and Risk team covers the following areas:

• Data Protection
• Governance and Quality Assurance
• Health and Safety
• Information Governance; and
• Regulatory Compliance
• System Analysis and Reporting

Primary Purpose of Role

The role's primary purpose is to support quality monitoring throughout Optalis, focusing on (but not limited to) Optalis provider services registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The Care Quality and Compliance Officer will work with the wider team to ensure services meet regulatory standards and organisational policies. By conducting thorough audits across various compliance areas, including finance, person-centred care, support practices, and medication management, you will help to maintain and improve the quality of care provided, ensuring the highest standards of safety and support for the people we support. This role will involve remote assessments and on-site visits to perform audits, assess compliance, and make actionable recommendations.

Reporting to the Head of Governance and Risk, and with support from the Care Quality Specialist, you will embed a quality assurance framework and set SMART actions. The evidence-based audit reports give the Senior Management Team operational oversight and ensure services can demonstrate quality processes to regulators.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Quality and Compliance

• To promote positive customer outcomes and customer safety in the context of the Optalis Core Values.
• To monitor the Quality, Governance and Risk team mailbox and respond to staff, customers, and other professionals on issues relating to care quality.
• Review audit data, follow up and support corrective actions.
• Work positively in partnership with the teams as part of a quality assurance function.

Regulatory Compliance and Quality Assessment

• Conduct regular internal audits and site visits, to monitor quality and compliance.
• Assist in the preparation for regulatory inspections and audits, ensuring all documentation, processes, and practices meet required standards.
• Analyse compliance data, highlight areas of risk, and report findings to the Care Quality Specialist and Head of Governance and Risk, with actionable recommendations.

Communication and Reporting

• To be a point of contact in Optalis for questions and support for in-service care quality and provide advice and guidance as appropriate to the role.
• Liaise with staff to ensure an accurate and timely response in line with the legislation.
• Provide accurate and timely information to ensure that engagement is consistent, and communication is accurate and transparent.
• Plan and prioritise work activities, to ensure continuous improvement is the focus.

Quality Improvement

• With the Quality, Governance and Risk team, support to deliver quality and compliance guidance.
• To support the Policy Writer to review and update policies, procedures, guidance documents and associated forms.
• To make suggestions to improve quality across Optalis and assist where required to implement changes and help identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
• Seek out, manage and influence opportunities for continuous improvement and change.
• Commit to ongoing learning and improvement, keeping mandatory training up to date.
• Maintain professional knowledge by attending workshops and reviewing CQC updates.

Working for Optalis you will also receive a range of benefits, including:

• A Perkbox rewards package offering discounts on cinema, shopping, health, travel and insurance
• 25 days annual leave (pro rata) rising annually to a maximum of 30 days with 8 bank holidays, and an extra day off for your birthday
• An additional health and wellbeing day
• A comprehensive paid training and development programme
• Excellent career progression opportunities and support
• As a valued and integral member of the team you will have a voice in the service and forums to be heard and make a difference
• STAR awards - a reward scheme which recognises staff who have gone the extra mile
• A generous pension scheme

Optalis is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our staff and customers. All successful applicants will be required to undertake a DBS check and will need to provide proof of their right to work in the UK.

We anticipate this being a popular role and therefore reserve the right to close early should there be a large volume of applications. We would therefore advise not to wait until the closing date to submit your interest.

This role isexempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The DBS clearance level required is Enhanced with Adult Barred list.