Quality Assurance and Practice Development Manager

Salary: £51,928 - £55,224 a year
Location: The Gatehouse, Kedleston Road Training and Hybrid
Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract Type: Permanent
DBS Requirement: Yes
Closing Date: Friday 20th November 2026

The Opportunity
As Quality Assurance and Practice Development Manager, you will play a key role in improving outcomes for children and families across Derby. You will lead quality assurance activity which supports practice development across Early Help and Children’s Social Care, with a particular focus on driving the Families First Partnership Programme and providing clear assurance to senior leaders, colleagues and partners.

What you’ll be doing
You will develop and lead delivery of a child-focused quality assurance and practice development framework, plan and deliver single and multi-agency audits, and analyse qualitative and quantitative data to understand the impact of practice. You will turn this insight into clear reports and briefings, lead the development and review of safeguarding policies, procedures and practice guidance, and translate learning from audits, inspections and reviews into practical changes in day-to-day practice. Working closely with the workforce development team and the Principal Social Worker, you will ensure that learning from practice informs training, learning activities and practical tools that support good practice. Your role will be central in understanding the impact of the Families First programme locally and ensuring that national reforms are translated into best practice which makes a positive difference for children in Derby.

About you
You bring strong experience in children’s services, a thorough understanding of safeguarding legislation and guidance, and proven skills in audit, analysis and quality assurance. You are confident in practice development activity – from shaping guidance and standards to supporting training, coaching and reflective learning. You are skilled at working with complex data, writing concise and impactful reports, and presenting to leaders, managers and multi-agency forums, and you are collaborative, highly organised and committed to equality, diversity and inclusion in all aspects of your work.

Who We Are
At Derby City Council, we're proud to deliver over 250 essential services that support our residents, communities and businesses. Guided by our vision to create an Inclusive, Green, Growing and Vibrant City, we put people at the heart of everything we do.

Our values shape how we work every day. We believe in Great People, One Team, we're Bold in embracing change, Strong in delivering for our communities, and We Care about making a positive difference.

Join us and you'll be part of an ambitious, collaborative organisation where you can develop your career while helping to shape Derby's future.

Why join Derby City Council?
At Derby City Council, you'll have the opportunity to make a real difference while building a rewarding career in an organisation that values, supports and invests in its people. Alongside the opportunity to help shape the future of Derby, you'll benefit from a comprehensive range of employee benefits, including:

Financial Benefits
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) – a secure, defined benefit pension with life cover
• Team Derby Rewards – discounts across a wide range of retail, leisure and lifestyle brands
• Tusker Car Benefit Scheme – a salary sacrifice scheme for leasing a brand-new, fully maintained and insured vehicle
Work-Life Balance
• Generous annual leave, starting at 27 days and rising to 32 days after five years' service (plus bank holidays, depending on your contract)
• The option to purchase additional annual leave
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements for many roles
• Flexible retirement options, where eligible
• Support for colleagues with caring responsibilities
Learning and Development
• Learning and development opportunities, with regular career conversations to support your growth
• Leadership and management development programmes, mentoring and professional qualifications
• Modern workspaces designed to support collaboration, productivity and wellbeing
Health and Wellbeing
• Employee Assistance Programme, wellbeing support and a year-round wellbeing calendar
• Free annual flu vaccinations
• Cycle2Work Scheme and free cycle training
Community and Inclusion
• Up to 15 hours of volunteering leave each year
• Recognition through initiatives including the Here for Derby Awards and Long Service Awards
• The opportunity to join one of our Employee Networks, including LGBTQ+, Disabled Employees and Carers, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Employees, and Neurodiversity

At Derby City Council, we believe our people are our greatest strength. Whatever stage you're at in your career, you'll be joining an inclusive organisation where you'll be supported to develop, feel valued and make a meaningful difference to the communities we serve.

Some benefits are dependent on your role, contract or length of service.

How to apply
If you would like to apply for this vacancy via an application form, please submit an application via the Derby City Council website.

The closing date for this vacancy is specified at the top of the advert. Applications received after midnight on the closing date will not be accepted.

Interview dates: Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd December 2026
Interview location: Kedleston Road Training Centre

Applying using your CV
We recognise that people apply for roles in different ways and want our recruitment process to be as accessible and inclusive as possible. If you would prefer to apply using a CV rather than completing an application form, please complete the attached Declaration Form and send it, together with your CV, to [email removed].

When applying by CV, please ensure your CV clearly demonstrates how your skills, knowledge and experience meet the requirements of the role. We strongly recommend that you also include a supporting statement outlining how you meet the essential criteria set out in the person specification, as this will help us assess your suitability for the post.

Applications submitted by CV must include a completed Declaration Form to be accepted. The Declaration Form can be found at the bottom of this advert.

We also encourage you to complete the attached Equalities Form and return it to [email removed]. This is entirely optional and will not affect the outcome of your application.

Important Information
Links to the full Job Description and Person Specification are available below.

Before submitting your application, please read our guidance on completing the application form and ensure your supporting statement clearly demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification.

All employees will normally be appointed to the minimum of the grade for the role.

Where a DBS requirement is indicated at the top of this advert, the successful candidate will be subject to the appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check as part of our safer recruitment process.

Where a Market Rate Supplement is indicated at the top of this advert, it is paid in addit