Job Specific Information
PG
6289
Date
Post Title
Role Profile
Final Grade
May 2015
Quality Improvement Manager
OS4S
Grade 12
To be read in conjunction with the role profile
Organisational
Support
Service Area description
The Community Learning and Skills (CLS) Service is an integral part of the Council’s Environment and
Community Services Directorate. The service is largely externally funded by the Skills Funding Agency
with other smaller contracts from the Education Funding Agency, European Social Fund and Department
for Work and Pensions, plus some Council funding through the Community Investment Fund.
The service delivers community learning and skills provision to around 9,000 adults a year in over 200
venues across the county including a network of Council-run community learning centres, schools,
children’s centres, employer premises, a wide range of community outreach locations and a number of
independent externally sub-contracted organisations. The service is focussed on provision which
transforms the lives of our most disadvantaged communities, enhances employment opportunities for low
skilled residents and meets the needs of local employers.
The service provision consists of a wide range of community learning and skills programmes including:
vocational qualifications; work-based learning (including apprenticeships); English & maths (at all levels
from entry level through to GCSE); LLDD provision; employability; family learning; ICT; civic engagement;
health & well-being, and culture.
Purpose of this post
Regardless of funding stream, curriculum area, mode of delivery or venue:
 Manage the development and implementation of all compliance processes.
 Manage all continuous improvement processes to improve service delivery.
 Responsible for inclusion, learner support and equality and diversity.
Key job specific accountabilities
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Lead on all functions that are required to comply with service, council, funding body and awarding body
requirements and to meet the Ofsted Common Inspection Framework criteria for a positive inspection
outcome.
Develop and implement processes which support continuous quality improvement for the service,
looking for ways to continually improve the service and encouraging staff to do the same
Lead on the promotion of equality and diversity throughout the service, ensuring equality and diversity is
embedded in all curriculum areas and learner support services. Analyse learner data for Equality and
Diversity Impacts Measures (EDIMS) and make quality improvement interventions where needed.
Promote inclusion across the service and ensure all learners are appropriately assessed for learning
support needs, including learners with learning difficulties and disabilities whether on discrete or
mainstream programmes. Ensure appropriate and reasonable high quality learning support within
funding and budget resources.
Develop, lead and coordinate a service-wide lesson observation team to conduct Observations of
Teaching, Learning and Assessment (OTLA), learning walks and any other observation processes
developed by the service, including initial and ongoing training and development of observation staff.
Be a member of the observation team, conducting OTLs, learning walks etc as needed by the service.
Analyse staff development needs across the service, using OTL reports, other performance
management processes, staff surveys and other sources. Coordinate a service-wide staff development
programme, including a wide range of activities such as training sessions, mentoring, shadowing, online learning etc, that supports staff and partners to meet service objectives and to continually improve
Cumbria County Council
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delivery.
Lead on compliance with all awarding body requirements, including ensuring that improvement actions
identified on External Verifier reports are actioned. Coordinate and support lead internal verifiers
across the service.
Coordinate processes for gathering and analysing learner feedback, maximising learner engagement in
feedback systems.
Lead and coordinate the annual Self-Assessment Report (SAR) and Quality Improvement Plan (QIP)
and process, involving all staff and partners in a rigorous self-assessment and analysis process.
Monitor implementation of QIPs and make interventions where needed.
Ensure implementation of service and council safeguarding policies and procedures across the service.
Key facts and figures of the post
Budget
responsibilities
Staff management
responsibilities
Other
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Additional Learner Support budget.
Quality budget.
Inclusion and Learner Support Officer.
Sessional observers.
Post Specific - Qualifications, knowledge, experience and expertise
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Qualified to degree level in a relevant subject.
Qualified to teach in the post-16 sector (minimum Level 4).
Qualified lead Internal Verifier.
Level 2 English and Maths (GSCE A-C grades or equivalent).
Extensive experience of teaching in the FE or adult learning sector.
In depth understanding of the principles of outstanding teaching, learning and assessment.
Extensive experience of conducting observations of teaching, learning and assessment.
In depth understanding of Ofsted Common Inspection Framework.
Extensive experience of developing and implementing quality processes and continuous improvement
arrangements in the FE or adult learning sector.
Ability to analyse and interpret statistical and other business information and communicate key issues
that arise from this.
Extensive experience of successful compliance with awarding body regulations.
Extensive experience of effective implementation of the RARPA framework.
Extensive experience of producing effective SARs and QIPs which lead to measurable quality
improvement.
Extended experience of managing staff and performance.
Ability to challenge existing practices in a constructive way to encourage others to embrace new
disciplines and challenges.
Able to encourage others and offer them potential ways of finding solutions and creating changes.
Job working circumstances
Emotional demands
Physical demands
Working conditions
normal
normal
Post is based in Penrith with some travel across the county.
Other Factors
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Ability to travel throughout Cumbria with occasional out of county travel.
Willingness to work outside normal office hours to meet the requirements of the post and the business needs of
the service.
Enhanced CRB check required.