Compliance officer - Broadstairs - Discovery Care

Description

Overview

Location: Multi-site role covering two residential care homes and one nursing home across Thanet

Reporting to: Director / Nominated Individual

Employment type: Full-time (flexibility required to meet service needs)

Salary: Competitive, commensurate with experience

The Role

We are seeking an experienced and professionally credible Compliance Officer to assume responsibility for regulatory oversight, quality assurance, and governance standards across three established care services within our organisation. This is a senior strategic role designed to provide assurance that our services consistently meet and exceed the Care Quality Commission's Fundamental Standards, statutory obligations, and sector best practice.

The successful candidate will work closely with Registered Managers and senior leadership to maintain robust compliance frameworks, support continuous improvement, and ensure our homes are inspection-ready at all times. This role is particularly well-suited to individuals with a clinical background—preferably Registered General Nurse (RGN) or Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN)—or those with substantial regulatory and governance expertise gained within residential or nursing care environments.

Principal Responsibilities

• The Compliance Officer will discharge duties across all three services.
• Regulatory Compliance and Governance — The postholder will oversee compliance with the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, with particular focus on Regulations 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17, and 18. The role includes monitoring inspection readiness, leading preparation activities in anticipation of CQC inspections, and supporting Registered Managers in addressing compliance actions, completing audits, and implementing improvement plans. The postholder will also ensure that governance systems across the services are demonstrably robust, effective, and appropriately evidenced.
• Clinical Oversight — Where applicable and particularly in respect of the nursing home the Compliance Officer will provide clinical compliance oversight. This includes reviewing care planning processes, risk assessments, medication management systems, and clinical documentation to ensure accuracy, completeness, and adherence to professional standards. The postholder will scrutinise incidents, safeguarding concerns, complaints, and clinical risks, ensuring that learning is effectively embedded following incidents and audit findings.
• Audits and Quality Assurance — Regular audits across domains such as care plans, MARs, risk assessments, staff training records, and governance documentation. The postholder will identify gaps, risks, and opportunities for improvement, supporting managers to address deficiencies and tracking remedial actions through to completion. Assurance reporting will be provided to senior leadership on a regular basis.
• Policy and Procedure — Ensure organisational policies and procedures remain current, are properly implemented, and understood by staff at all levels. Support managers in embedding policy into daily practice and ensuring staff conduct aligns with regulatory requirements.
• Safeguarding and Risk Management — Support safeguarding investigations, ensuring referrals and responses are timely, appropriate, and compliant with statutory guidance. Accident, incident, and near-miss reporting will be reviewed systematically, with lessons learned disseminated across the services and corrective actions implemented and monitored.
• Training and Support — Provide guidance and training to managers and senior staff on compliance-related matters, fostering a positive, transparent, and learning-oriented culture. The role will serve as a point of escalation for complex compliance issues and provide expert advice where required.
• Reporting and Assurance — Prepare comprehensive compliance reports for senior leadership, clearly highlighting risks, trends, and evidence-based recommendations. Support the organisation in evidence gathering for internal reviews, CQC inspections, and external scrutiny processes.

Person Specification

• Essential Criteria — Substantial experience in adult social care compliance, strong working knowledge of CQC regulations and inspection frameworks. Experience conducting audits in care home settings and supporting managers with improvement plans. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to work effectively across multiple sites. Strong attention to detail, the ability to challenge poor practice constructively, and a commitment to maintaining high standards of care. A full UK driving licence and willingness to travel regularly between homes is mandatory.
• Desirable Criteria — Clinical background (preferably RGN, RMN, or equivalent) is highly desirable, as is experience in nursing home environments. Prior involvement in supporting services through CQC inspections, familiarity with compliance management systems such as QCS, and experience in safeguarding, complaints handling, and regulatory correspondence.
• Personal Attributes — Professional, calm, credible, assertive yet supportive; highly organized, methodical, and values-led with a focus on quality, safety, and dignity in care.

Terms and Benefits

This is a full-time position requiring flexibility to meet the operational needs of the services. A competitive salary will be offered, reflective of qualifications and experience. The role presents a significant opportunity to shape and strengthen compliance frameworks across a growing portfolio of services, contributing to the quality and sustainability of care provision. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults. This post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and satisfactory references.