Social Care Manager

To manage a Centre for 16 - 17 year old children seeking international protection based in Portarlington, Co Laois

About Harmony Residential Care:

Harmony Residential Care Ltd is a regulated and approved provider of Children’s Residential Services established in Co. Laois. The Organisation is contracted with Tusla to provide high levels of care and support to the most vulnerable children in the State.

Each day at work is different; however, each day requires all of our team members to ensure the care, welfare, safety, and security of each child. Promoting a positive lived care experience is essential for children residing in Harmony Residential Care.

Our team members, regardless of their role, are responsible for ensuring that each child’s individual care plan goals are fully supported so that each child has opportunities to grow, develop, make mistakes, have positive experiences, learn new skills, and most importantly develop a sense of safety and security.

The hours of work for this role are 40 hours per week (9am to 5pm – Monday to Friday). Flexi time and working from home one day per week is also available once planned and approved with the line manager of the Centre. In addition, the Social Care Manager may at times need to be flexible in working hours when the need arises. On call duties are a feature of this role meaning hours outside of the above noted hours will take place in line with the on-call rota.

Annual leave entitlements are 25 days per annum.

About The Role

Principal Roles and Responsibilities

Policy and Procedures

• Adhere to all policy and procedures in the Organisation.

• To manage the Centre in accordance with Harmony Residential Care policies, guidelines and protocols and with the regulations made by the Minister for Health and Children under the Child Care Act 1991 and other relevant legislation such as Children's Act 2015 and Children First 2017.

• To lead a team and ensure team member's practice and Centre procedures are followed in line with the National Standards for Children’s’ Residential Centre's, 2018

• To promote the rights and responsibilities of each child and young person in the Centre.

• Engage in policy and procedure reviews as part of the role within the policy review group.

• Implement all policies and procedures and carry out tasks in line with procedures related to budgets, health and safety, team member supervision, training and appraisal,

  and the recruitment of social care team members as examples.

• Maintain a strong understanding of the Safety Statement and all associated Health and Safety Risk Assessments.

• Ensure the Health and Safety of children and young people, team members and visitors by ensuring thorough oversight on the premises. Report any concerns immediately to the Regional Manager and conduct health and safety risk management assessments.

• Maintain young person, employee, and business confidentiality at all times.

• Report any shortfalls to the Senior Management Team.

Leadership

• To manage the day to day running of the Centre.

• Ensuring rigorous oversight and governance in the Centre to promote proactive planning, accountability, support, and learning.

• To report all matters required to the line manager in line with the internal reporting procedures.

• To provide leadership, motivation, flexibility and role modelling which is conducive to good team relations and work performance.

• To create and maintain a safe, caring, and stable environment for the young people placed in the Centre via admission planning, risk assessing, Significant Event Reviews and the effective evaluation of interventions/practices.

• To ensure the facilitation of recreational programmes for children and young people to promote community integration.

• Responsibility for supervising deputy manager / social care team members / social care leaders/ and relief social care workers.

• Ensure that the service provided is of highest possible quality within available resources.

• Ensure the upkeep of the Centre and that the Centre is a place of warmth and comfort for the young people and the team.

• Delegate key working duties to social care workers.

• Promote the ongoing professional development of team members.

• Delegate other duties where applicable to promote the growth and development of team members.

• Liaise with other agencies in a professional and positive manner.

• Support team members in your on-call role.

• Act as chairperson at team meetings or other meetings when required.

• Ensure the procedures for handover are carried out by the team.

• Observe and maintain high levels of communication with the teams, individual colleagues, and young people. Ensure effective communication and planning with the team.

• To engage in any inspections taking place in the Centre

• To review on a regular basis the job description for your post and agree to any changes.

• Be accountable to the Regional Manager for all areas of your duties and responsibilities.

Oversight and Governance

• Complete the effective evaluation of team members practice and performance and provide feedback.

• Engage in Significant Event Reviews to promote learning and highlight best practice.

• Assist with the evaluation and monitoring of the Centre.

• Engage in auditing of the Centre.

• Assess the preparation and presentation of reports and assessments.

• To evaluate standards and quality of service on an ongoing basis.

Care of the Young People

• To consult with young people placed in the Centre, their families, Centre team and external stakeholders as appropriate.

• Ensure that all young people are enabled and encouraged to participate in all decisions affecting their lives.

• Assess and supervise the assessment of young people’s needs and ensure that an appropriate level of care is provided through sensitive care practices, designed to preserve individuality, and maximise independence.

• To attend court, professional meetings, care reviews, management meetings as required.

• Case Management Responsibilities - work in partnership with keyworkers to ensure that care plans, aftercare plans, and the young person’s voice are central in placement planning.

• Ensure that the social, educational, occupational, recreational, medical, dietary, and religious needs of young people are met.

• To respond to any identified risk with regard to the risk management framework in place to reduce risk/ eliminate risk.

• To work with the Children in line with the identified Model of Care in Harmony Residential Care.

Professional Development

• To maintain effective self-care practices

• To engage in training appropriate to your role as provided by the Organisation.

• To undertake any additional training and development programmes the Centre may consider appropriate to enhance your contribution to the work.

• Be responsible for your own personal training and development plan, and to promote self-development amongst team members (take part in and provide supervision)

• To ensure the training needs of the team are met.

Safeguarding

• To perform all duties related to your role as a mandated person.

• To report any child protection and welfare concerns to Tusla immediately.

• To notify the DLO of any child protection and welfare concerns.

• To fulfill your duties as a Designated Liaison Person for the Centre.

• To ensure solid knowledge of the Organisation's Child Safeguarding Statement in regard to potential risks of harm and the risk management plan in response to the potential risks.

• To engage in risk management assessments for any identified safeguarding concern relating to young people in your care.

• Raise any issue that amounts to a protected disclosure in line with the relevant policy and procedures within the Organisation.

• To participate in the safe recruitment, selection and appointment of Centre team members

Other Responsibilities:

• To provide reports, statistics to the Line Manager (or other specified person) as required.

• To participate in on-going planning and strategic development with the Centre/ Organisation

• Ensuring high support and high accountability

• To ensure the appropriate supply and use of resources within the Centre.

• To ensure that the maintenance, upkeep, hygiene and cleanliness of the Centre, its furniture, vehicles and equipment.

• To manage the budget for the Centre, in compliance with approved budgetary procedures, and to ensure that optimum benefit is achieved from available resources.

• To ensure that expenditure in the Centre is controlled within agreed cash limits and in compliance with approved procedures.

• To ensure that appropriate financial information for the Centre is provided to the Line Manager (or other specified person).

• To arrange the roster and manage the designated resources, ensuring that staffing levels and skill mix are appropriate and within the resource allocation.

• To maintain staff records within guidelines laid down by Harmony Residential Care and relevant legislation/National Standards

• Provide an on-call service and attend the Centre in the event of a Serious Emergency

The above Job Description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Skills Needed

About The Company

Our mission is to provide whatever supports are required to assist individuals in reaching their potential and becoming integrated into their community.

Company Culture

Harmony Residential Care’s team of fully qualified professionals work alongside individuals, their family, the HSE and any other clinical professionals with a legitimate interest in the individual’s progression and development.

Desired Criteria

• A current full clean driving license

Required Criteria

• Minimum QQI level 7 qualification in social care and hold or be enrolled in a programme leading to a management qualification suitable for a health or social care setting
• 4 years’ full time work experience in a social care setting post qualification.

Closing DateFriday 18th October, 2024