Quality Assurance and Auditing

• Take delegated responsibility for completing allocated monthly, quarterly and annual audits in line with the organisational audit schedule.
• Support the Service Manager and Deputy Manager to coordinate the service audit programme and ensure that audits are completed accurately and within required timescales.
• Review audit findings, identify gaps, themes, trends and recurring issues, and report these to the management team.
• Develop, update and monitor action plans arising from audits, checks, incidents, complaints, internal reviews and external visits.
• Follow up allocated actions and provide assurance to the Service Manager and Deputy Manager that evidence of completion is available.
• Maintain accurate audit trackers, quality records and supporting evidence in the agreed systems and locations.
• Support preparation for internal quality reviews, commissioner visits, local authority monitoring and CQC inspection activity.
• Promote continuous improvement and share learning from audits with the wider staff team.

Care Planning and Documentation

• Review care plans and associated risk assessments to ensure they remain person-centred, accurate, current and reflective of assessed needs, preferences and outcomes.
• Complete or support scheduled care plan evaluations and ensure changes in need, incidents, professional advice and learning are reflected promptly.
• Check the quality and consistency of daily records, monitoring charts and other care documentation.
• Identify omissions, contradictions or poor-quality recording and support colleagues to make the necessary improvements.
• Ensure care plan reviews include appropriate involvement of the person, relatives or representatives and relevant professionals where applicable.
• Escalate significant changes in need, risk or capacity to the Service Manager, Deputy Manager and appropriate professionals.

Medication Governance

• Complete allocated medication audits and medication record reviews in line with WCL procedures.
• Monitor MAR records, PRN protocols, stock balances, storage arrangements, returns and other medication documentation for accuracy and compliance.
• Review medication errors, omissions and near misses with the management team, supporting identification of causes, learning and required actions.
• Monitor completion of medication-related actions and escalate repeated or significant concerns.
• Support medication competency assessments and coaching where appropriately trained and delegated.
• Continue to maintain medication competence and support operational medication duties when covering shifts, where required.

Health and Safety and Environmental Compliance

• Complete allocated health and safety, fire safety, infection prevention, environmental and equipment checks in accordance with the service compliance schedule.
• Monitor the completion and quality of routine checks undertaken by colleagues and follow up gaps or concerns.
• Report defects, hazards and maintenance concerns promptly and monitor actions through to completion.
• Support reviews of accidents, incidents and near misses, identifying trends and learning for the service.
• Ensure relevant records, certificates, checks and supporting evidence are maintained and readily available.
• Support the Service Manager and Deputy Manager to maintain a safe environment for the people we support, colleagues and visitors.

Colleagues

• Support the induction, retention and development of colleagues in accordance with legislation and WCL procedures.
• Provide coaching, guidance, observations and competency support within the boundaries of the role.
• Complete supervision or other delegated colleague-development activities where requested by the Service Manager.
• Share audit findings, learning and required improvements with colleagues in a constructive and supportive manner.
• Promote effective communication and ensure important information is shared appropriately across the team.
• Contribute to team meetings, reflective learning and service improvement discussions.

Operational And On-Call Responsibilities

• Work 24 flexible hours per week. Hours will ordinarily be worked Monday to Friday and may be arranged to suit the responsibilities of the role, for example across shorter working days such as 10.00am to 2.00pm.
• Use allocated management-support time effectively to complete agreed audits, reviews, checks, follow-up actions and associated records.
• Remain available to provide operational leadership or shift cover from time to time when required to maintain safe service delivery.
• When providing shift cover, undertake the full responsibilities expected of a Team Leader, including coordinating care, supporting colleagues, responding to incidents and maintaining effective handover arrangements.
• Participate in the management on-call rota, currently approximately one week in every three weeks, in accordance with the WCL On-Call Policy.
• Respond appropriately to out-of-hours concerns, emergencies and service-continuity issues within the scope of the role, escalating where necessary.
• Work flexibly to complete allocated audits, reviews, meetings and compliance activities. Any requirement to work outside the agreed Monday to Friday pattern will be reasonable, occasional and discussed in advance wherever possible.

Business

• Follow WCL Financial Procedures and use resources responsibly and sustainably.
• Support the Service Manager and Deputy Manager to ensure the service complies with contractual, regulatory and organisational requirements.
• Contribute to effective use of staffing and resources while recognising that rota management and budget accountability remain with the management team unless specifically delegated.
• Use organisational systems and technology appropriately to maintain accurate, secure and accessible records.
• Support service development and improvement while maintaining a clear focus on the needs and outcomes of the people we support.

The People We Support

• Promote a caring environment delivered in accordance with current guidance, best practice, legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure high standards of care are maintained and that the assessed needs, rights, choices and preferences of the people we support are reflected in practice.
• Support effective communication with the people we support, relatives, representatives, colleagues and external professionals.
• Ensure that feedback from the people we support and those important to them is considered within care planning and service improvement.
• Support the Service Manager and Deputy Manager to respond appropriately to complaints, concerns and compliments in accordance with WCL policy.
• Maintain positive and professional relationships with relatives, professionals, commissioners and external agencies.
• Understand and implement safeguarding, Mental Capacity Act and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards requirements relevant to the service.
• Provide direct care and support when covering shifts or where reasonably required, maintaining dignity, choice and independence.

Safeguarding

• To complete required safeguarding and Mental Capacity Act training and understand and implement WCL safeguarding, Mental Capacity Act and related policies and procedures. The post holder must take immediate and appropriate action in response to concerns, including reporting and escalating safeguarding matters to the senior person on duty, Service Manager or on