Home Manager in Louth

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure that all care practices comply with relevant childcare legislation, National Standards for Children’s Residential Centres and best practice.
• Actively promote, participate in and ensure the provision of high standards of physical care, hygiene and safety for all children resident in the Home.
• Manage the home to meet the expressed needs of the individual children and promote positive outcomes for them.
• Participate in the pre-admission and admission processes to ensure that the placement needs of the child are fully identified and individual care plans are in place.
• Ensure that individual care plans are developed, implemented and monitored in accordance with agreed standards.
• Attend and contribute to planning meetings, statutory reviews, management team meetings and other meetings as required, representing the Home positively and acting as an advocate for the child and their family when necessary.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of good working relationships with parents, family members, social workers, teachers, doctors, and other relevant professionals and agencies.
• Ensure that the young people’s views and wishes are sought and acted upon where appropriate.
• Ensure that the Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) model is fully integrated within the home’s care practices and monitor its application.
• Provide monthly summary reports/weekly reports on Children’s placements to the Social Worker.
• Attend court and furnish the court with updated court reports.
• Provide regular statistics in updating the census held on young people.
• Carry out regular audits of care standards and practices within the home and develop creative ways of engaging young people in this process.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of governance systems within the company to ensure continuous improvement in the quality of service provided.
• Help create and develop links between the home and the local community.

Staff Management

• Provide leadership and guidance.
• Organise and manage staff on a day-to-day basis to maintain 24-hour staff cover and consistent care.
• Assist in the induction of new staff to help them understand their role and responsibilities.
• Provide professional supervision to staff and participate in staff appraisal in accordance with Children’s Care Ireland policies and procedures.
• Ensure effective communication within the staff team regarding operational practice, including systematic handovers, accurate recording by all staff, and regular staff meetings.
• Assist and support staff with the production of written reports.
• Implement Children’s Care Ireland’s human resource policies when required, including participating in the staff selection process, appraisal process, and management of absence.
• Promote a positive culture of learning and development within the staff team.
• Develop an annual team training and development plan based on an analysis of individual training needs, the needs of residents, and any external factors.

Management of Finances

• Assist with budgetary control in terms of verifying monthly returns, mileage sheets and accounts for payment where required.
• Ensure that financial procedures regarding children’s allowances, pocket money, clothing etc. are adhered to by staff within the home.
• Ensure petty cash policy is adhered to by staff within the home and complete monthly petty cash returns to Finance.

Management of Resources

• Create a homely setting with which children can identify.
• Ensure the maintenance and promotion of a safe environment that complies with health and safety and other legal requirements.
• Ensure the outside of the building, the grounds, equipment, and vehicles are maintained in good condition, encouraging staff and children to care for their surroundings and make best use of available resources.

Personal

• Promote high standards of child care practice.
• Take appropriate action to deal immediately with poor practice and report to the Directors when aware of such practice.
• Continually develop own professional knowledge and skills by participating in supervision, attending courses and study days in accordance with the Home’s staff development and training plan.
• Participate with on call and undertake sleeping-in duties if required.
• Supervise students where appropriate (subject to completion of practice teacher or similar training).

This job description is not definitive or restrictive and should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the post holder will work. It will be subject to periodic review to ensure it continues to meet the future needs of Childrens Care Ireland.

Essential Criteria

• Minimum Level 8 degree in Social Care/Work.
• 4 years’ experience of working in a social care environment with children.
• A full driving licence with access to a car and business insurance.

Experience Required

• Previous management experience preferred.
• Up to date knowledge of legislation surrounding Residential Childcare and Safeguarding.
• Experience of multi-disciplinary working with a range of professionals in the industry.
• Ability to deliver reports and meet deadlines.
• Full driving licence.
• Flexible approach to meet business needs.

We reserve the right to enhance the criteria at shortlisting stage. Childrens Care Ireland are an Equal Opportunities Employer.