Lead Quality Assessor

Age UK are recruiting for a part-time Lead Quality Assessor (21 hours per week) to undertake assessments of the quality of Information, Signposting and Social Welfare Advice that is provided by Age UK Network Partners (local Age UKs; local Age Cymru Partners; Age Cymru; Age Scotland; Age NI; and Age UK); and ensure consistency in how our quality standards are assessed across the wider assessment team.

In this role you will:
* Carry out assessments on the quality of Information, Signposting and Social Welfare Advice delivered by Age UK and its Network Partners across the UK through a range of services (e.g. traditional I&A service, social prescribing, LPA etc), assessing how well each Partner is delivering against the relevant requirements of the Age UK Network Quality Assurance Framework.
* Provide written reports for Age UK Network Partners in the required format, using your expert skills and knowledge to identify how well they have met the standard - identifying areas of strength, areas of non-compliance and suggestions for improvement.
* Support the process of quality assessment and continuous improvement of services where Age UK Information, Signposting and Social Welfare Advice is given, including, * moderating reports - with responsibility for ensuring that assessors are applying the standard fairly and there is consistency between the assessors; * reviewing self-assessments - liaising with Network Partners to give feedback on how well they are meeting the standards; * following up on Corrective Action - working with our Service Quality Advisors to review submitted evidence and the adequacy of corrective action taken by Network Partners, in response to their assessment findings. * signing off Corrective Action Reports and providing formal feedback to Network Partner Managers and CEOs.
* Work with the Quality Team to ensure consistency across the assessor team, by taking a lead role in assessor training / consistency days, using these to share learning, provide updates and instruction.
* Contribute to the on-going development of the wider Age UK Quality Framework by providing feedback on any Information and Advice related quality programmes.

The post holder is required to travel to a range of locations for assessments and for meetings at the London Office which may involve overnight stays. (Although the majority of work is currently online using MS Teams, national travel is likely in future).

Applicants must have ability to access a computer, confidential workspace, key advice texts and be able to work online.

Must haves:

* Extensive and relevant experience in an advice service, with knowledge of key advice issues affecting older people in at least two of the following areas of social welfare law: welfare benefits, community care, housing.
* Knowledge and understanding of good practice in managing and delivering Information, Signposting and Social Welfare Advice services.
* Demonstrable experience of supervision of advice work. Demonstrable experience of maintaining effective case recording systems and procedures, ideally electronic.
* Effective communication skills with a range of audiences, both interpersonal skills and the ability to write and proof-read effective reports for external stakeholders.
* Ability to make rigorous, fair and impartial assessments against quality benchmarks for Information, Signposting and Social Welfare Advice services.
* Excellent organisational skills, including the ability to manage workload and prioritise.
* Good time management skills, and the ability to meet deadlines.
* Understanding of the issues affecting older people seeking advice.
* Good IT skills including an ability to use Microsoft Office, and online systems for bookings, assessing case records.
* Clear understanding of the principles of confidentiality and data protection.
* Knowledge and understanding of the equality and diversity issues affecting the delivery of Information, Signposting and Social Welfare Advice services.

What we offer in return

• Competitive salary, 26 days annual leave (pro-rata) + bank holidays + annual leave purchase scheme
• Excellent pension scheme, life assurance, health cashback plan and EAP
• Car Benefit Scheme, Cycle to Work Scheme and Season Ticket Loan
• Techscheme - buy any tech from Apple or Currys, up to £1000, and spread the cost over 12 months, interest free
• Blue Light Card Scheme
• You Did It Awards - recognition awards from £100-250.

Additional Information

For a full list of benefits please click here https://about-us/jobs/employee-benefits/

All CVs will be anonymised by our recruitment system when you apply for a role at Age UK. Please note that our system is unable to anonymise cover letters, and we would therefore ask that to support the work we are doing on making our recruitment selection process fairer and more unbiased, that you remove any personal information from your cover letter/supporting statement, including your name before uploading this. All equalities monitoring information is also anonymised and not shared with the hiring panel. Your name and address will only be known to us once you are invited for an interview.

Age UK is an Equal Opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates, regardless of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital/civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity. We guarantee an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria under the Disability Confident Scheme. Please note that on occasion, due to high numbers of applications, Age UK reserves the right to limit the overall number of interviews offered, and therefore, it may not always be practicable or appropriate to interview all disabled people that meet the minimum criteria for the job.