Quality manager jobs

Operational Standards and Performance Manager

Location: Great Horwood, Buckinghamshire / Hybrid working as agreed

Salary: £37,000 - £45,000  DOE

Vacancy Type: Permanent, Full Time

Medical Detection Dogs trains dogs to save lives.

We train specialist dogs to detect the odour of human disease, providing life-saving Medical Alert Assistance Dogs to people with complex health problems across the UK and collaborating with NHS Trusts and other researchers and Universities both in the UK and internationally to advance the early diagnosis of disease.  We have an exciting new opportunity to join this small, but ambitious charity that is a world leader in its specialist, innovative field.

MAIN PURPOSE & SCOPE OF THE ROLE:

The Operational Standards and Performance Manager will lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of operational standards, quality assurance processes and performance reporting across Medical Detection Dogs. The postholder will help ensure that services, systems and ways of working are consistent, evidence-based, efficient and aligned with the charity’s mission to train dogs to save lives. Working across canine training and client services, the role will oversee the training and development of all operational staff in Training and Partnership Services.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

You will act as the central point for operational standards and performance across Training and Partnership Services, ensuring consistency in how services are delivered, measured and improved.

Working across training and client delivery functions, you will provide oversight of processes, support staff development and ensure that quality and compliance requirements are met.

You will design and embed performance frameworks, using data and insight to inform decision-making and support service improvement.

This role requires strong analytical capability, attention to detail and the ability to influence and support colleagues across a specialist, multi-disciplinary environment.

Responsibilities of the Role:

Operational Standards & Staff Development

• Develop, review and embed operational standards, procedures and service frameworks
• Ensure ways of working and competencies are clearly defined, documented and consistently applied
• Responsible for staff induction, training and ongoing development of operational staff
• Provide coaching and guidance to promote best practice across teams
• Maintain training materials and manuals, ensuring alignment with ADUK / ADI standards
• Promote a culture of learning, accountability and continuous improvement

Quality Assurance & Compliance

• Support ADI accreditation requirements and inspection readiness
• Monitor adherence to operational standards and identify areas for improvement
• Ensure appropriate documentation, record-keeping and process consistency

Performance, Data & Reporting

• Design and implement performance frameworks, KPIs and reporting tools
• Analyse operational data to identify trends, risks and opportunities
• Produce clear, concise reports and performance summaries for the Head of Training and Partnership services
• Provide actionable insights to support service improvement and decision-making

Operational Development & Projects

• Contribute to process redesign and efficiency improvements
• Identify gaps or inefficiencies and recommend practical solutions
• Support wider organisational projects where operational input is required

Essential

• Project management and process improvement experience.
• Experience with KPIs, reporting, and operational processes.
• Strong analytical, organisational, and communication skills.
• High attention to detail and commitment to continuous improvement.
• Confident using Microsoft Office and reporting systems.
• Commitment to the values and mission of Medical Detection Dogs.

Desirable

• Knowledge of puppy training and development.
• Understanding of assistance dog users and their needs.
• Coaching and people development skills.
• Resilient, adaptable, and comfortable in a growing charity environment.

Comfortable working in a growing charity environment

First-stage interviews will take place on Thursday 20th August 2026

To Apply

If you feel you are a suitable candidate and would like to work for Medical Detection Dogs, please do not hesitate to apply.

PURPOSE OF POSITION

This role will be responsible for developing and reviewing organisational standards of support in line with contractual and regulatory standards, leading on quality assurance, performance monitoring, and continuous improvement as well as supporting compliance and regulatory requirements.

To lead on the development of new models of support practice which are person centred and trauma informed, working closely with operational managers, frontline teams, and the Head of Compliance, the post-holder will ensure that services delivered to vulnerable adults are safe, effective, person-centred, compliant, and consistently achieving positive outcomes.

The role will provide strategic oversight of quality and performance data, lead on the interpretation and analysis of operational and compliance information, identify emerging risks and trends, and support leaders to implement improvements. The post-holder will also drive organisational learning, promote consistency in practice across services, and lead the development of a robust framework to capture and embed the resident voice in service delivery and improvement. Enabling residents to have a significant contribution in shaping services and contributing to an inclusive and safe community. In addition, this will support contributing to achieving the social housing consumer standard around transparency, influence and accountability.

RESPONSIBILITIES & ACCOUNTABILITIES

Quality Assurance and Performance Oversight

• Lead the quality assurance function across support services

• Review and analyse and interpret quarterly performance, identifying risks, trends, gaps, and areas of concern, as well as providing solutions

• Provide comprehensive analysis and evidence-based recommendations to operational and senior management teams

• Ensure quality standards are consistently applied across all services

• Monitor service delivery against contractual, regulatory, and organisational standards

• Produce high-quality reports identifying key findings, themes, risks, opportunities, and improvement actions to support strategic and dynamic problem solving, as well as continuous improvement

• Maintain oversight of our Service Improvement Plan and monitor progress against agreed actions and outcomes

Data Analysis and Insight

• Lead on the collection, interpretation, and deep analysis of operational, performance, quality, compliance, and outcome data

• Translate datasets into meaningful insights to support informed decision-making

• Identify emerging trends, performance risks, and opportunities for service enhancement

• Produce executive summaries and reports for senior leadership teams and governance meetings

• Use data to drive continuous improvement and demonstrate service impact

Development of Support Practice

• Be responsible for developing person centred and trauma-informed practice standards for our support services

• Contributing to creating a Psychologically Informed Environment across the organisation

• Develop our reflective practice offer across all services

• Lead on the development and implementation of an accredited programme of independent living skills activities for our residents

Impact and Performance Management/Reporting

• To lead on impact and performance, providing leadership and line management to Impact Specialist

• Lead and facilitate regular KPI and performance review meetings with Frontline Management and services

• Challenge and support managers to understand performance outcomes and develop improvement plans

• Track progress against agreed targets and improvement actions

• Ensure accountability and ownership for quality and performance outcomes across services

• To maintain up to date project management and reporting records

• To write and present regular reports for senior management and external stakeholders/partners, on the development and progress of Quality Assurance.

• To contribute to the updating of InForm to capture performance requirements

Practice Development and Workforce Support

• Design and deliver workshops, quality forums, and learning sessions for frontline staff and managers

• Promote consistency of practice across all services

• Share learning from audits, complaints, incidents, safeguarding concerns, resident feedback, and performance reviews

• Develop resources and tools to support high-quality, person-centred service delivery

• Foster a culture of continuous learning, accountability, and quality improvement

Resident engagement and accountability

• To lead on the development of a programme of resident engagement, empowerment and involvement, which targets resources to build strong, sustainable support services that engage proactively with local communities

• Establish meaningful opportunities for residents to influence service design, delivery, and improvement through expression of voice, listening, connecting and motivating each other; promoting a culture of co-production

• Develop methods for gathering, analysing, and responding to resident feedback

• Ensure resident experiences and outcomes are reflected within quality assurance processes

• Provide leadership and management of Resident Engagement Specialist

General

• To attend internal meetings as and when necessary, for example Directorate, Management and Planning meetings

• To undertake such other duties within the competence of the post holder which may be required from time to time.

Ideal attributes for meeting the needs of position and being an effective member of the wider Your Place team.

Experience

• Experience supporting rough sleepers and homeless people with complex needs, including mental health, substance use and physical health.

• Experience developing and reviewing quality frameworks, audits, service standards, action plans and improvement processes.

• Experience developing and implementing monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks.

• Understanding of safeguarding and MARAC processes.

• Experience of reflecting critically upon own practice in order to improve the experience for service users

Skills, knowledge & Abilities

• Strong organisational and project management skills, with confident use of Microsoft Office and digital recording, analysis and reporting systems.

• Strong understanding of issues affecting rough sleepers and homeless people with complex needs, including barriers to accessing services, sustaining accommodation and engaging with support.

• Strong analytical skills, able to interpret performance, safeguarding, complaints, incidents, outcomes and resident feedback data into clear recommendations.

• Strong communication and facilitation skills, including leading workshops, learning sessions, reflective practice and quality forums.

• Ability to produce clear reports, briefings and presentations for managers, senior leaders, commissioners, boards and governance forums.

• Sound knowledge of safeguarding, risk assessment, confidentiality, information governance and professional boundaries when supporting vulnerable adults

• Strong understanding of anti-discriminatory practice.

• Good case-management recording skills, ideally with experience of InForm.

Personal qualities

• Flexible and resilient

• Patient and pro-active

• Personable and energetic

• Self-motivated

• High attention to detail and accuracy

• Commitment to the values of compassion, collaboration, inclusion and growth

Before starting this position, you’ll need to undergo a criminal record check by the Disclosure and Barring Service. You must be entitled to work in the UK.