Purpose of the role
The Governance Officer supports the Registered Manager and Responsible Individual by providing independent quality assurance and regulatory compliance monitoring across the domiciliary care service. The role does not carry the personal statutory registration held by the Registered Manager, but is responsible for auditing, evidencing, and reporting on compliance so that regulatory and quality standards are consistently met and can be demonstrated to Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW) and Social Care Wales (SCW).
Key responsibilities
- Quality Audits: conduct regular, scheduled checks on care plans, client records, and service delivery, and maintain written evidence of findings.
- Spot Checks: undertake unannounced field visits to observe care staff and assess their daily competencies against agreed standards.
- Incident Management: support investigation of complaints, accidents, and safeguarding concerns, and produce action plans in conjunction with the Registered Manager.
- Continuous Improvement: deliver training and constructive feedback to care staff to embed a person-centred care culture.
Key responsibilities
Note: the following elements are monitored and evidenced by the Governance Officer. They support, but do not replace, the Registered Manager's own personal statutory accountability to CIW and Social Care Wales.
- RISCA Compliance & “Quality of Care” Reviews: build and maintain the internal audit framework required under RISCA 2016, feeding directly into the Registered Manager's CIW Quality of Care Review submissions.
- Workforce Registration Auditing: audit staff files to confirm every care worker and manager holds an active Social Care Wales registration, or is progressing through the required registration pathway within the mandatory 6-month window from their start date; report any gaps to the Registered Manager without delay.
- Well-being Outcomes: audit care plans against the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, checking that provision is person-centred and reflects “what matters” to each individual receiving care.
- Duty of Candour: monitor and evidence the service's adherence to the statutory Duty of Candour when incidents or mistakes occur, and escalate any gaps in transparency to the Registered Manager and Responsible Individual.
Reporting and escalation
The Governance Officer reports audit findings to the Registered Manager and, on matters affecting regulatory compliance or the service's standing with CIW or Social Care Wales, has a direct escalation route to the Responsible Individual. This role does not carry line-management or on-call responsibility for the care service, which remain with the Registered Manager.
- Maintain a clear, dated record of audits carried out, findings, and any actions recommended or agreed.
- Escalate any risk, non-compliance, or safeguarding gap identified through audit or spot check to the Registered Manager without delay, and directly to the Responsible Individual where the matter concerns the Registered Manager's own compliance.
Requirements
- Experience: background in health and social care, typically as a senior carer, supervisor, or quality officer.
- Knowledge: understanding of care regulations, risk assessment, and data protection (UK GDPR).
- Skills: strong written and verbal communication, IT proficiency for record-keeping and audit reporting, and a valid UK driving licence for travel between home-care visits.
Qualifications
This role should be familiar with, or hold, qualifications from the Social Care Wales Qualification Framework:
- Level 2 or 3 Health and Social Care (Adults) Wales diploma (or equivalent NVQ).
- Awareness of the Confirmed Competence Route or Employer Assessment Route used by Social Care Wales, which allows experienced workers to register based on verified competency rather than immediate formal qualification.
Other duties
The post holder may be required to undertake any other reasonable tasks or duties commensurate with the role, as directed by the Registered Manager or Responsible Individual.
This job description is not exhaustive and may be reviewed from time to time in consultation with the post holder.
