Director of Quality and Safeguarding

Trafford is a borough with ambition at its heart. We are proud of our communities, committed to improving lives every day, and determined to shape an adult social care system that is compassionate, forwardthinking and genuinely transformative.

To support this journey, we are seeking an outstanding senior leader to join us as our Director of Quality and Safeguarding a pivotal role at the heart of our Adult & Wellbeing Directorate.

This is an opportunity to shape the strategic direction of safeguarding and quality assurance across Trafford, ensuring that adults and carers are protected from harm and that our services consistently deliver the highest standards of practice. Working closely with the Corporate Director, you will ensure safeguarding remains a councilwide priority, with clear, effective policies, strong multiagency arrangements and a culture that promotes professional curiosity, accountability and learning.

You will lead the development of a robust and consistent safeguarding approach across the directorate, ensuring that our systems, processes and practice reflect best practice and support excellent outcomes for residents. You will oversee our assurance and quality frameworks, embedding learning from audits, resident feedback, and serious incidents, and ensuring that our workforce is equipped with the skills, confidence and support needed to deliver highquality, personcentred services.

This role also carries strategic responsibility for our readiness for the Care Quality Commission’s new assurance regime. You will ensure that our policies, procedures and practice standards reflect regulatory requirements, and that the organisation is wellprepared for inspection. You will work closely with colleagues across the Council, NHS partners, and wider system leaders to drive improvement, strengthen professional practice, and support the delivery of our Improving Lives Everyday transformation programme.

As a key member of the Directorate Leadership Team, you will provide visible, valuesdriven leadership, modelling the behaviours and culture we expect across the organisation. You will work collaboratively with elected members, senior officers, external partners and national bodies, ensuring Trafford remains a trusted and influential partner within the wider health and care system. You will also deputise for the Corporate Director when required, contributing to the overall leadership of the directorate.

We are looking for an inspiring, forwardthinking leader with a deep understanding of safeguarding, quality assurance and adult social care. You will bring strategic insight, strong partnership skills, and the ability to influence and drive change across complex systems. Most importantly, you will share our commitment to improving the lives of adults, carers and families across Trafford.

If you are motivated by the opportunity to shape highquality, safe and compassionate services, and to play a central role in Trafford’s transformation journey, we would be delighted to hear from you. To apply, please submit your application through our dedicated microsite: https://join-trafford.co.uk/.

If you would like an informal discussion about the role, please contact our executive search partners, Gatenby Sanderson: Philip Emms (07590 225472) or Emily Lockwood (07384 258626).