Duty Social Work Team Leader

Permanent employee, Full-time · Dublin, SligoAbout the Role

Orchard Fostering - Duty Social Work Team Leader (Referrals Manager)
Location: Hybrid Role - Nationwide

As part of Orchard Care Group, Orchard Fostering is an Irish company established in 2008 that provides fostering and supported lodging services to children and young people who are referred to its service by TUSLA. Orchard Fostering is committed to service excellence and ensuring the best outcomes for children and young people in its care.

We currently have an opportunity for a full-time Duty Social Work Team Leader (Referrals Manager) to join our team with responsibility to manage all referrals for the organisation. The successful candidate will be required to pro-actively source pathways to achieve placements by building and managing relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

As the first point of contact between Orchard Fostering, Tusla, foster families, and Social Workers, you will be required to build and nurture positive relationships with colleagues, foster carers, and other stakeholders and be confident communicating with professionals at all levels. The role will require excellent knowledge of the children's services sector and the key requirements in child protection and screening.

Role Key Requirements

• Maintain and develop relationships with external stakeholders such as Tusla, at various levels, through a business development approach.
• Manage the placement of children/young people by following childcare legislation and regulations, child protection procedures, the requirements of the Children's First Act 2015, in conjunction with Orchard Fostering Policies and Procedures.
• Build and maintain a responsive quality-led referral service through the sourcing management of foster care vacancies in line with organisational objectives.
• Provide strong leadership through effective management and supervision of all referrals in line with Orchard Fostering's vision, mission, and values.
• Ability to build positive relationships with children, young people, and families.

The post holder will initially report directly to the Managing Director and work closely with both the social care and social work teams. With offices in Dublin and Sligo, we operate nationwide, and this hybrid role will involve travel and availability for some evening and weekend work will be required for this post.

About You

• You will hold a recognised third-level qualification ideally in Social Work (or similar) within the Children's Services sector, ideally within a child protection, screening/duty role, fostering or similar.
• You will have at least three years post-graduate experience of working directly with children, young people, and families, in a busy environment with a proven track record of achieving positive outcomes and results for the benefit of the children we support.
• Must have valid Garda Clearance and valid Overseas Clearance if you have lived abroad for more than 6 months.
• Must hold a full driver's license (with full eligibility to drive in Ireland) and access to own vehicle, as travel will be required for this post.

Additional Criteria

• Applicants who also meet the following criteria are particularly welcomed:
• Previous experience in the foster care field.
• Experience of working therapeutically with children.
• Additional training in creative and therapeutic interventions and experience of facilitation of training.
• Excellent knowledge of relevant legislation, child protection procedures, and related regulations, standards, and guidance.
• Excellent written and interpersonal communication skills, with a high standard of report writing skills and computer literacy.
• Being pro-active and dynamic with a 'can do' attitude.
• Your ability to work on own initiative in a creative and flexible manner.
• Your ability to work under pressure and handle changing priorities.

Closing Date for Applications is 25th April 2025.

Benefits to Working with Company

• Generous annual leave.
• Hybrid role.
• On-going mentoring and support.
• Refer a friend initiative.
• Orchard Values Champion Award.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
• Internal career progression opportunities.

The Orchard Care Group is a wholly Irish owned company dedicated to providing the best possible care, supports, and outcomes for children, young people, and adults in Ireland across a range of settings and locations, in fostering, disability and mainstream residential services.

The Group brings together three leading brands in Irish social care – Orchard Residential, Orchard Community Care and Orchard Fostering.

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