Quality Assurance Auditor

Job Purpose

Odyssey Social Care (OSC) is a leading provider of residential care for young people, committed to fostering an environment of support and continuous growth. The Quality Assurance Specialist reports directly and only to the Head of Quality & Risk within Odyssey Social Care. They are directly responsible for the planning, auditing, and formulating quality control policies, procedures, systems and compliance tools within Odyssey Social Care. They have no management function and do not manage performance of teams, but they do ensure that the quality controls are updated and circulated to our teams. Quality compliance tools will then be used to report on the implementation processes, compliance with protocols and adherence to policies. The Quality Assurance Auditor is required to be knowledgeable in all current legislation and regulations relevant to our sector and to be able to determine quality indicators of care. This office-based/ Hybrid role requires significant stakeholder engagement to implement policies aligned with organizational goals, including the 3X10X journey and fostering a workplace culture aligned with the H.A.V.E. strategy.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1) To audit services using our internal audit tools, paying close attention to the regulatory framework and internal systems. It is expected that two services per week are inspected with at least one report submitted to the Executive Team.

2) To train and guide management within services during the onsite audit to ensure consistency with systems and compliance with protocols & policies and procedures.

3) Analyse data-qualitative and quantitative and report immediately should a service fall below the minimum requirements for compliance. This maybe within the auditing structure or on a day a day to review.

4) Complete themed audits when required by the Executive Team.

5) To conduct interviews with team members to ensure their knowledge of policies and procedures and in line with our expected care practice codes and framework.

6) To conduct interviews with young people to ensure that their needs and rights are met and that they have an independent forum to give feedback to management.

7) Report concerns relating to child protection, whistle blowing, code of conduct or relevant subjects immediately to the Executive Team.

8) Control quality system – Design Control Documentation & Change Control. To ensure the portal and or related systems are kept up to date with all current policies and procedures and that these are available to all teams.

9) To recommend training deficits in teams when required.

10) Write policies, procedures, and design systems to enhance our services for better outcomes for young people.

11) Represent Odyssey Social Care in inspections with TUSLA when required.

12) Promote Quality in Odyssey Social Care – Internally and externally, through seminars, workshops, training and in audit feedback and action planning.

13) To apply learnings quarterly through various forms of reporting to all stakeholders and to provide training in these areas to management to ensure consistency and replication and improvement across all services.

14) Communicate with all stakeholders for learnings and improvement.

15) Problem Solving and recommendations for improvement.

16) Design and apply principles of risk management when required.

17) A knowledge of the requirements under HIQA in the areas of Registration, staffing requirements, Statement of Purpose, Child protection, Person in Charge and how these apply within Odyssey Social Care.

Essential Qualifications, Knowledge and Skills:

· Degree in Social Care or relevant discipline.

· Experience in management of care systems with young people.

· Experience in implementing quality control systems.

· Understanding of Quality and Continuous Improvement and the principles within Odyssey Social Care.

· To have an in-depth knowledge of Odyssey Social Care’s Policies and Procedures.

· Knowledge of Health and Safety, Fire Safety, Risk Management, Medication Management, Infection Control, HIQA Standards, Regulatory Inspection Framework, HCI Framework, Social Care Codes of Practice, Employee Supports.

· Ability to problem solve and apply logical thinking regardless of current events and situations to ensure better outcomes for young people.

· To have effective communication to apply and guide learnings to colleagues and ensure clarity and impactful implementation.

· Ability to manage own time and schedule whilst travelling from location to location and adhere to deadlines.

· Full, clean driving license.

Desirable Qualifications, Knowledge and Skills:

In order to become a successful internal auditor, you need to show evidence of the following:

· Organisation skills.

· Excellent oral and written communication skills.

· An ability to work well under pressure.

· The capacity to adapt to change.

· Good critical-thinking skills to gather all of the available data and make informed decisions.

· Teamwork skills but also the ability to work on your own.

· Meticulous attention to detail and analytical thinking.

· Strong ethics and exemplary integrity.

Work Conditions

• Traveling will be a large component of this role; you will need a full clean driving license in order to visit the different locations of the business.

• Office based for administrative duties but mainly travelling from service to service.

• Requirement to keep abreast of new legislation and regulatory frameworks.