Compliance Manager

Our Ref: TOG1249177

Location: Watford
Salary:  £45,000
Hours:  Monday to Friday 8am – 5pm
Contract: Permanent

Primary Objective  
The Compliance Manager is responsible for supporting, developing and maintaining a strong culture of compliance, patient safety and continuous improvement across the organisation’s 36 dental practices.
Working closely with the Head of Compliance, CQC Registered Managers, practice managers, clinicians, associates and wider practice teams, the postholder will provide leadership, guidance and practical support to ensure that all practices operate in accordance with applicable legislation, regulatory requirements, company policies and clinical governance standards.
The role will focus on proactively identifying and managing compliance risks, monitoring practice performance, developing team knowledge and capability, and ensuring that appropriate actions are implemented, documented and completed within agreed timescales.
The Compliance Manager will empower colleagues to take ownership of compliance and patient safety within their respective roles, promoting accountability, consistency and a culture of openness, learning and continuous improvement.

Objectives:
The Compliance Manager will:
•    Support the organisation in maintaining compliance with Care Quality Commission (CQC) requirements and applicable legislation.
•    Lead and develop compliance training, ensuring colleagues understand their responsibilities and are equipped to meet required standards.
•    Support CQC Registered Managers and practice teams in achieving and maintaining compliance across all practices.
•    Plan, conduct and document compliance audits, reviews and unannounced practice visits.
•    Ensure mandatory compliance requirements and company-defined non-negotiable standards are consistently implemented, evidenced and monitored.
•    Monitor, review and develop the effective use of RADAR systems to support compliance oversight, risk management and continuous improvement.
•    Support the management of incidents, ensuring appropriate escalation, investigation, documentation and learning outcomes.
•    Identify trends, recurring issues and opportunities to improve compliance performance across the organisation.

Main Duties and Responsibilities 
Duties will include but not be limited to the following:
•    Plan, conduct and document scheduled compliance audits, practice reviews and unannounced visits.
•    Assess compliance against relevant legislation, CQC requirements, company policies, procedures and established clinical governance standards.
•    Travel to all 36 practices as required to support compliance monitoring, nursing standards and clinical improvement.
•    Identify areas of non-compliance, assess associated risks and agree appropriate corrective and preventative actions with practice teams.
•    Produce clear, accurate and timely audit reports, documenting findings, recommendations, action owners and completion deadlines.
•    Monitor action plans to ensure identified issues are addressed effectively and within agreed timescales.
•    Escalate significant risks, repeated non-compliance and overdue actions to the Head of Compliance and relevant senior stakeholders.
•    Identify trends and recurring issues across practices and recommend measures to prevent further non-compliance.
•    Promote consistent standards and share good practice across Together Dental.
•    Support CQC Registered Managers and practice managers in maintaining compliance with applicable CQC regulations, fundamental standards and relevant guidance.
•    Provide practical advice and guidance to practices on regulatory requirements and the implementation of policies and procedures.
•    Support practices in preparing for CQC inspections, including reviewing evidence, identifying gaps and monitoring the completion of improvement plans.
•    Ensure compliance documentation, policies, audit records and supporting evidence are accurate, accessible, up to date and appropriately maintained.
•    Monitor changes to relevant legislation, regulatory guidance and industry standards, communicating their implications to the appropriate teams.
•    Support the development and implementation of action plans following regulatory reviews, audits, inspections or identified compliance concerns.
•    Work collaboratively with relevant stakeholders to promote consistent regulatory compliance across all 36 practices.
•    Assess compliance training needs and develop and deliver appropriate training sessions, briefings and guidance.
•    Ensure training is relevant to individual roles, regulatory requirements and identified practice needs.
•    Support practice managers, clinicians, associates and other colleagues in understanding their compliance responsibilities.
•    Promote accountability, ownership and a proactive approach to compliance and patient safety.
•    Monitor training completion and effectiveness, identifying and addressing knowledge gaps where necessary.
•    Ensure relevant information is recorded accurately, consistently and within required timescales.
•    Monitor outstanding actions, incidents, risks and compliance-related records, ensuring appropriate follow-up and escalation.
•    Support the development and continuous improvement of RADAR processes, reporting and monitoring arrangements.
•    Provide guidance and support to practice teams to improve the quality, consistency and effectiveness of system usage.
•    Ensure incidents are appropriately recorded, reviewed and escalated in accordance with organisational policies and applicable reporting requirements.
•    Support investigations and the identification of contributing factors, root causes and opportunities for improvement, where appropriate.
•    Promote a culture of openness, learning and continuous improvement, encouraging colleagues to report concerns and share lessons learned.
•    Provide administrative and compliance support for the Clinical Panel, including the preparation, collation and review of relevant information, as required.
•    Monitor compliance with organisational non-negotiable standards and ensure that evidence of implementation is maintained.
•    Represent the Compliance Department professionally and promote a collaborative, solutions-focused approach to resolving compliance issues.

Standard Company Requirements
•    Comply with all relevant health and safety legislation, Health and Safety Executive guidance and organisational policies.
•    Follow organisational infection prevention and control procedures and wear personal protective equipment (PPE) as required.
•    Participate in quality assurance programmes, audits and continuous improvement initiatives.
•    Maintain an appropriate understanding of relevant Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) requirements applicable to the role.
•    Where responsibilities involve the purchasing, storage, distribution or sale of medicines, follow applicable requirements and procedures, including Good Distribution Practice (GDP) where relevant.
•    Undertake mandatory and role-specific training as directed by the line manager.
•    Maintain confidentiality and comply with relevant information governance and data protection requirements.
•    Act professionally and in the best interests of the organisation, its colleagues and patients.
•    Undertake other reasonable duties consistent with the level and responsibilities of the role, as requested by the line manager.

Skills Required:    
•    A minimum of three years' experience working within the dental sector.
•    A sound understanding of dental compliance, clinical governance and patient safety requirements.
•    Knowledge of relevant CQC regulations, standards and regulatory expectations.
•    Knowledge of applicable dental decontamination, healthcare facilities and waste management guidance, including HTM 01-05, HTM 04-01 and HTM 07-01, as relevant to the role.
•    Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage a high volume of work and meet demanding deadlines.
•    The ability to manage multiple priorities effectively in a fast-paced environment where requirements may change at short notice.
•    Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the confidence to engage with colleagues at all levels.
•    Strong attention to detail and an appreciation of the importance of accurate, complete and timely documentation.
•    The ability to analyse information, identify risks and recommend practical solutions.
•    A proactive and forward-thinking approach, with the ability to anticipate compliance issues and take appropriate action.
•    Strong follow-through, with the ability to monitor outstanding actions and ensure they are completed.
•    A collaborative, flexible and solutions-focused approach to working across multiple practices and teams.
•    The ability to challenge non-compliance professionally and escalate concerns appropriately.
•    A commitment to maintaining high standards of patient safety, regulatory compliance and continuous improvement

Qualifications Required:
•    3 Years of Experience in the Dental industry.
•    Managerial Experience (Desirable)

Driving Licence Required as will be required to drive as part of the role.