Service Improvement and Strategy Lead Officer - Adult Social Care

Service Improvement and Strategy Lead Officer - Adult Social Care

The job requirements are detailed below. Where applicable the skills, qualifications and memberships required for this job have also been included.

Salary £50,269 to £53,460 Per year

Contractual hours 37

Basis Full time

Region Fixed-Term / Full-Time

Job category/type Adult Services, Commissioning & Improvement, Social Services, Social Work/Care

37 hours per week – 6 Months fixed term contract. As our Service Improvement and Strategy Lead Officer, you’ll play a key role in developing and implementing our new improvement framework and action plan. You’ll ensure that Adult Social Care services are continuously improving, aligned with best practice, and ready for future inspections under the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) assurance framework.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

Your work will help us deliver high-quality, person-centred services that make a real difference to residents’ lives. You’ll drive improvements through evidence, feedback, and innovation — ensuring learning is embedded across teams and outcomes are measurable and sustainable.

• Leading on service improvement, policy development and strategy for Adult Social Care.
• Coordinating inspections, peer reviews, and CQC assurance activity.
• Conducting research, analysis, and consultation to inform strategic planning/decisions.
• Establishing mechanisms to capture and act upon feedback from service users, carers, staff, and partners.
• Supporting senior leaders to assess policy changes and implement transformation across the service.
• Provide high-quality advice, reports, and briefings to senior managers, elected members, and partners.
• Drive innovation and ensure compliance with best practice, legislation, and assurance frameworks.

We’re looking for someone who combines strategic thinking with strong analytical and interpersonal skills. You’ll have significant experience in service improvement, project management, and policy development — ideally within local government or a complex, multi-disciplinary organisation. You’ll be confident working with senior managers, partners, and stakeholders, and able to turn data and insights into meaningful action. Above all, you’ll be committed to collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.

• A degree or equivalent experience.
• A strong understanding of adult social care policy, legislation, and CQC assurance requirements.
• Experience of delivering improvement and change in a large organisation.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving and analytical skills.
  
  A flexible and proactive approach to work.

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place. Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success.

Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do

show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential

be…