Quality Assurance Lead
8 hours ago
Newcastle upon Tyne
Quality Assurance Lead Location: Hybrid In-person with some remote working – clinic location to be agreed Hours: Full-time preferably, flexible across weekdays - talk to us about your availability Contract Type: Permanent Salary: £65,000 - £75,000 (pro rata), depending on experience About Held Health Held Health is a fast‑scaling healthcare organisation redefining assessment and support for neuro‑diversity, Autism, ADHD, learning difficulties, and mental health across the UK. We deliver evidence‑based clinical pathways supported by rigorous governance, strong data quality, and a genuinely neurodivergent‑affirming culture. As we grow, we’re building modern, digital‑first operations that make accessing care simpler, faster, and more accessible for children, adults, and families. Our goal at Held Health is to deliver care so exceptional that it becomes the natural choice people recommend to their friends and family. Role Overview The Quality Assurance Lead is a Clinical Psychologist who plays a pivotal role in strengthening our clinical governance and quality assurance systems. They will have two primary focuses in their role – spending approximately 2 days a week working with children and young people, providing assessments, therapeutic interventions, and support to address complex emotional and relational needs. They will be involved with contributing to multi-disciplinary assessments. In additional they lead on clinical audits (both internal and external), effectiveness and improvement programmes to drive patient safety whilst enhancing clinical outcomes. Working closely with the Clinical Leads and Academy Lead, they drive a culture of continuous improvement, governance, quality and compliance with regulatory bodies e.g. CQC. Their expertise supports the Clinical Leads and their teams in delivering safe, evidence- based care that is reported and recorded according to your guidelines, quality standards and is aligned with Held Health’s vision and goals. Thy support the Clinical teams through providing expert advice on all clinical quality matters, risk and ultimately patient safety. Key Responsibilities Clinical Practice (approx. 2 days a week) Comprehensive Psychological Assessments • Conduct psychological evaluations for children, adolescents, and young adults presenting with complex emotional, behavioural, and developmental concerns., • Perform MDS (Minimum Data Set) and Outcome Measures assessments to gather critical clinical information, including social, behavioural, and developmental data, to inform treatment planning., • Administer and interpret the ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule) for individuals with suspected Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), including those with co-occurring trauma or attachment-related difficulties., • Collaborate with the multidisciplinary team to provide thorough diagnostic evaluations and develop individualized, trauma-informed treatment plans., • Address a wide range of psychological conditions, with a focus on complex trauma, attachment disorders, and developmental delays in children and young adults., • Incorporate trauma-sensitive, attachment-based interventions into treatment plans and work with families to promote healing and stability., • Maintain comprehensive, clear, and timely clinical documentation, including assessment reports, treatment plans, and progress notes., • Work closely with other mental health professionals, including psychiatrists, social workers, case managers, and educators, to ensure a holistic approach to client care., • Participate in multidisciplinary case discussions, team meetings, and care coordination to provide the best outcomes for clients., • Integrate trauma-informed principles into every aspect of care, ensuring a safe, supportive environment for children, adolescents, and young adults., • Offer psychoeducation to families about the impact of trauma and attachment disruptions on mental health and development., • Provide clinical supervision and mentorship to interns, trainees, or junior staff working with complex cases involving trauma and attachment., • Leads the development and delivery of clinical quality and effectiveness programme., • Oversees quality assurance processes, including audits (internal and external), compliance checks, and service evaluations., • Ensures alignment with national and local quality priorities., • Develops and maintains QA frameworks, policies, and procedures., • Provides expert advice to clinical teams on quality standards., • Supports the external audit process, ensuring audits are prioritised and leads on the subsequent production of annual quality reports and improvement plans., • Promotes evidence‑based practice and support implementation of clinical guidelines., • Collaborates closely with senior leadership, Clinical Leads and external partners., • Provides guidance and support to clinicians, managers, and multidisciplinary teams., • Ensures services meet regulatory requirements (e.g. CQC standards)., • Supports preparation for inspections and external reviews., • Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date documentation for compliance purposes. Skills, Qualifications & Experience Essential Demonstrable experience as an experienced Clinical Psychologist with a strong background conducting high‑quality diagnostic assessments using standardised tools, ideally within a scaling organisation. Current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) or equivalent (e.g. Social Work England) Proven experience in clinical governance, quality assurance, or audit roles and experience leading clinical audit and effectiveness programmes. Strong understanding of clinical governance and quality assurance and a solid understanding of CQC guidelines and regulatory expectations. Deep commitment to CPD and staying current with research, evidence, and best practice in neurodivergent assessment and care. Passion for neuro‑affirming language, practices and culture, with excellent communication and influencing skills. Desirable Experience in service improvement methodologies (e.g., QI, Lean). Specialized training in Trauma Therapy. Who you are: Attributes & Behaviours Empathetic, calm, patient‑centred approach and active listening skills essential for effective client engagement. Highly organised with strong attention to detail. Commitment to ongoing professional development. Collaborative and able to build trusted relationships across teams. Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team. Strong sense of ownership, accountability, and follow‑through. Comfortable working in a fast‑paced, evolving environment. Passionate about developing others and driving high clinical standards. What you get in return includes but not limited to: • Salary £65,000 - £75,000 (pro rata), DOE, • Company Pension scheme where applicable, • Holidays – 34 including bank holidays (pro rata), • Induction Programme, • Opportunities for professional learning and development with career advancement, • Supportive and collaborative work environment, including a proactive Multi-disciplinary Team, • Dedicated regular clinical supervision for our full-time roles - creating a safe, reflective space with clear boundaries, tasks, and expectations. This person-centred focus allows our staff to feel heard, supported, and equipped to grow in their roles., • Maternity / Paternity / Adoption Leave, • Regular Team events, • Cycle to work scheme