Quality Assurance Officer

Quality Assurance Officer (SEN)

Full-time | £35,000 - £42,000 (depending on experience)
Sutherland House School Bath Street, Nottingham, NG1 1DA

We are seeking a dynamic, highly organised individual to quality assure our services at Autism East Midlands.

Are you passionate about raising standards and ensuring the highest quality of care for children and young people with SEND? Sutherland House School Bath Street is seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented Quality Assurance Officer to join our supportive, multi-disciplinary team.

Working in a vibrant school setting with 83 pupils, you’ll play a key role in supporting commissioning assurance across Children and Young People’s Services. Your work will focus on SEND provision. You’ll work collaboratively with commissioning teams, local authorities and operational teams within Autism East Midlands and support the school with Ofsted and SEND inspections.

Main Purpose of the Role

To support commissioning assurance across Children and Young People’s Services at Autism East Midlands, with a particular focus on SEND non-maintained independent provision and children’s services. The role involves conducting predominantly desk-based audits, compliance reviews, data-led monitoring and provider visits where risks are identified. The officer will collaborate closely with local authorities, leaders in schools, placement teams and operational teams to ensure high standards of care, safety and compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Carry out routine and timetabled audits and compliance reviews of SEND non-maintained and independent provisions
• Undertake audits as required, particularly where risk is identified
• Conduct data-led monitoring and risk assessments of services
• Escalate safeguarding concerns and support the school’s safeguarding procedures
• Monitor improvement actions and follow up with school leaders as needed
• Produce clear and accurate QA reports for internal and external stakeholders
• Maintain comprehensive and up-to-date records of audits, visits and compliance checks
• Collaborate effectively with local authorities, operational teams in schools and across Autism East Midlands
• Support preparations for Ofsted, LA audits, heath and safety audits SEND inspections etc.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of quality assurance processes within the school and wider services

Person Specification

Qualifications and training

• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience in a relevant field or hold relevant SEND qualifications
• Evidence of continued professional development in quality assurance, SEND education, or children’s services

Experience

• Experience of working in quality assurance, compliance, or auditing within education, social care, or SEND education
• Experience of collaborative working across multidisciplinary teams
• Proven track record of producing clear, concise reports and maintaining accurate records
• Experience of safeguarding and risk assessment procedures

Skills and knowledge

• Good understanding of SEND provision, non-maintained and independent placements.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Working knowledge of relevant legislation and statutory guidance, including safeguarding (KCSIE), Ofsted, and SEND frameworks
• Ability to use IT systems to record, analyse, and report accurately on quality assurance activities
• Ability to identify risks and recommend improvement actions through data led approaches.

Personal qualities

• High professional standards and a commitment to quality and safeguarding
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Proactive and flexible approach to work
• Commitment to upholding and promoting the ethos and values of the school
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion