Overview:

The Services Manager carries operational responsibility at a Regional level for all Unaccompanied Minor projects and services in the geographical region assigned to them.
The Services Manager contributes to the development of strategies, policies and systems related to all aspects of Odyssey Social Care Operations, and to their implementation, so that all regulatory and professional standards are adhered to at all times within their region.  They work with the other Regional Managers within the Senior Management Team of Odyssey Social Care to develop and maintain Odyssey Social Care’s services to the highest standards nationally.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

The Services Manager carries operational responsibility at a Regional level for all Unaccompanied Minor projects and services in the geographical region assigned to them.

The Services Manager contributes to the development of strategies, policies and systems related to all aspects of Odyssey Social Care Operations, and to their implementation, so that all regulatory and professional standards are adhered to at all times within their region.  They work with the other Regional Managers within the Senior Management Team of Odyssey Social Care to develop and maintain Odyssey Social Care’s services to the highest standards nationally.

 Main Duties and Responsibilities

Young People/Clients

Always ensure that all Unaccompanied Minors in Odyssey Social Care’s services are looked after safely, professionally and in a way which ensures that they achieve their maximum potential, in line with Odyssey Social Care’s mission and vision. Responsibility to ensure that the specialist care framework is embedded in the practices and approaches of our care teams.

Staff

Ensure that all staff employed by Odyssey Social Care are treated with respect and that their health, safety and wellbeing is safeguarded during their time at work. That all teams within the region are supported and trained to carry out their role.

Direct Management

Personally support, supervise, and guide the direct reports for whom the postholder has responsibility in a way which keeps them motivated, committed and enthusiastic so that they are equipped to consistently deliver high quality, child centred services.
On behalf of the organisation, hold the Social Care Managers in their region accountable for their performance, and the performance of their teams.
Provide direct support and assistance to the Social Care Managers in the production of accurate, well written reports to social workers and other professionals involved with a child’s care, and their families where appropriate.

Ensuring an appropriate environment

Ensure at all times that houses in the region for which the postholder is responsible are clean, welcoming, homely, warm and safe. – in short, that they are fit for purpose.
Ensure that maintenance logs are kept up to date for each house, signing off on work completed when undertaking audits and visiting houses. Holding the maintenance service accountable for their work by reporting, in writing, to the Maintenance Manager, and CEO if work is unsatisfactory or incomplete.

Team Management

Lead a cohesive, focused and effective staff team in the delivery of high-quality services which comply at all times with regulations and standards. Manage the team effectively and appropriately and ensure all staff in the region are properly managed and trained, so they are equipped to deliver childcare which meets and exceeds the regulatory standards and requirements.  Operate a proactive style of management, spotting and solving problems in advance before they become a big problem.
Fully participate in the Services 24 hour on-call service, so that staff in the region have, at all times, access to direct help and support by telephone.
When organisational change processes are initiated at Board and Executive Team level, lead the change process at Services level to its successful conclusion.

Financial Control

Take responsibility for the Services budget, ensuring that spending is kept within approved limits at all times.
Ensure budgets in all regions of the house services are adhered to, and that appropriate and effective financial controls are in place and are operated according to procedures and in line with good financial management practice and good governance.
Within budget, and in a timely fashion, in consultation with the Head of Childrens Residential Services, the COE and HR ensure that all services in the region have an appropriate, qualified and balanced staff team with sufficient relief to deliver the service safely.
Within budget, and at all times, ensure that all houses in the region have appropriate buildings, furniture, transport, food and other resources so that the children can be cared for safely and properly, and staff are safe and treated with respect by the Company.

Meeting Standards

Actively engage in Odyssey Social Care’s auditing and performance management system, operating it appropriately. Undertake monthly audits in all houses in the postholder’s region, according to our systems and processes, and signing all documentation as necessary.  Ensure Social Care Managers follow through on recommendations from these audits.
Ensure that all houses in the region, at all times, receive excellent feedback from TUSLA, monitoring officer visits and inspections.
Ensure at all times that regulatory and procedural requirements (Child Care, Health & Safety, HR etc.) are met by all services in the region.
Conduct grievance and disciplinary investigations and hearings, as appropriate, according to procedures outlined in the Odyssey Social Care’s Policies and Procedures and in line at all times with advice from the CEO, HR, HR advisers and insurers.

External Relationships

Develop and maintain positive and effective relationships with TUSLA inspectors, Monitoring Officers, Team Leaders, Garda Superintendents and Inspectors, CAMHS teams, School Principals and all other key stakeholders in the delivery of services to our children.
Generate new business for the Company by the effective use of relationships with key stakeholders and potential customers.
Support the development of new services as required, helping to set up buildings, to recruit and induct new managers, to achieve Registration and to generate clients for the service.

Reporting

Provide written and verbal reports, as required, to the CEO and Board and other managers as required by the Executive Team. Ensure all statutory and standard reports are made to the TUSLA and other professionals, as required, in the times required and to the standard required.
Notify Odyssey Social Care CEO or Board of any serious risks to Odyssey Social Care, our staff, the children in our care, or our business.
Deputize for the Head of Childrens Residential Services when necessary, representing the interests and views of Odyssey Social Care professionally and appropriately.

Whistle Blowing, Confidentiality, Company Welfare:

In line with our duty of care both to young people and to staff, bring to the attention of the CEO or Executive Team any matter which may pose a risk to the safety or wellbeing of a child, staff member or the company,  according to our whistle blowing policy.
Encourage “whistleblowing” in all staff, according to the whistleblowing policy, and receive reports from staff and managers as appropriate, acting upon them promptly and effectively.
At all times maintain confidentiality in regard to the children in our care, staffing matters, financial matters, procedural matters and any other matters internal to the company.
Take responsibility at all times for the wellbeing of the Company, putting it before personal, financial or other gain.

Any Other Duties:

Any other duties, within the competence of the postholder that may be required, reasonably, from time to time.

Personnel Specification

 Essential Qualifications:

• A Bachelor or MA/MSc in any of the following fields: Social Care; Applied Social Studies in Social Care; Social Work, Social Care Management or related Social Care Qualification.
• A full, clean, manual driving license, valid in Ireland.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Knowledge of the key elements of effective team working.
• Knowledge of the Irish National Standards in Children’s Residential Centres.

 Essential Experience:

• At least 3 years senior management experience in a service company employing more than 100 staff.
• Experience in marketing, sales, operations management, logistics, or Human Resource Management.
• At least 5 years direct experience of working in and/or managing services to vulnerable children and young people.
• Experience working in specialist services with young people under 12.
• Extensive experience of working with young people and attachment disorders.
• Experience in presenting and training teams.

Essential Competencies:

• This post requires a high level of literacy and numeracy.
• The postholder must be a self-starter, able to direct and organise their own work and priorities.
• The person must have excellent communication and motivation skills.
• The postholder must, at all times, maintain a professional demeanour.
• An ability to “see the big picture” at the same time as paying attention to detail.

Young People

• Ensure at all times that all children and young people in Odyssey Social Care’s services are looked after safely, professionally and in a way which ensures that they achieve their maximum potential, in line with Odyssey Social Care’s mission, stated model of care and vision statement.

Staff

• Ensure that all staff employed by Odyssey Social Care are treated with respect and that their health, safety and wellbeing is safeguarded during their time at work.

Direct Management

• Personally support, supervise and guide their Social Care Leaders and all permanently employed care workers for whom the postholder has responsibility in a way which keeps them motivated, committed and enthusiastic so that they are equipped to consistently deliver high quality, child centred services.
• Support the Social Care Leaders in supervising the staff (student placement, Relief or Social Care Workers) that you assign to them to supervise in a way which keeps them motivated, committed and enthusiastic so that they are equipped to consistently deliver high quality, child centred services.
• On behalf of the organisation, hold their Social Care Leaders and all Social Care staff, including relief staff and waking night staff accountable for their performance.
• Provide direct support and assistance to key workers, Social Care Workers and Regional Managers in the assessment and provision of documentation to referring agents, and positively support and facilitate the movement of referrals into our services.
• Provide direct support and assistance to key workers, Care Workers and Regional Managers in the production of accurate, well written reports to social workers and other professionals involved with a child’s care, and their families where appropriate.

Ensuring an appropriate environment

• Ensure at all times that the house for which the postholder is responsible is clean, welcoming, homely, warm and safe. – in short, that it is fit for purpose.
• Ensure the management of the maintenance log for the house, keeping it up to date, and signing off on work completed. Holding the maintenance service accountable for their work by complaining, in writing, to the maintenance manager and the regional manager if work is unsatisfactory or incomplete.

Team Management

• Lead a cohesive, focused and effective staff team in the delivery of high quality services which comply at all times with regulations and standards. Manage the team effectively and appropriately and ensure staff are properly trained, so they are equipped to deliver child care which meets and exceeds the regulatory standards and requirements.
• Fully participate in the regional 24 hour on-call service, so that staff in the region have, at all times, access to direct help and support by telephone.
• When organisational change processes are initiated at Board and Senior Management Team level, lead the change process at unit/ house level to its successful conclusion.

Financial Control

• Take responsibility for the house budget, ensuring that spending is kept within approved limits at all times.
• Ensure budgets in all areas of the house services are adhered to, and that appropriate and effective financial controls are in place, and are operated according to procedures and in line with good financial management practice and good governance.
• Within budget, and in a timely fashion, in consultation with the Regional Manager, ensure that the unit has an appropriate, qualified and balanced staff team with sufficient relief to deliver the service safely.
• Within budget, and at all times, ensure that the house has appropriate, furniture, transport, food and other resources so that the children can be cared for safely and properly, and staff are safe and treated with respect by the Company.

Meeting Standards

• Actively engage in Odyssey Social Care’s auditing and performance management system, operating it appropriately.
• Ensure that the house, at all times, receives excellent feedback from TUSLA monitoring / inspection recommendations.
• Ensure at all times that regulatory and procedural requirements (Child Care, Health & Safety, HR etc.) are met.
• Conduct grievance and disciplinary investigations and hearings, as appropriate, according to procedures outlined in the Odyssey Social Care Staff Handbook and in line at all times with advice from our HR advisers and insurers.

External Relationships

• Develop and maintain positive and effective relationships with TUSLA inspectors, Monitoring Officers,  CFA Team Leaders, CFA Social Workers, Gardai, Garda Superintendents and Inspectors, CAMHS teams, School Principals and all other key stakeholders in the delivery of services to our children.
• Generate new business for the Company by the effective use of relationships with key stakeholders and potential customers.
• Support the development of new services as required, helping to set up buildings, helping to recruit and inducting new managers.

Reporting

• Provide written and verbal reports, as required, to the Regional Manager and other managers as required by the Regional Manager. Ensure all statutory and standard reports are made to the TUSLA and other professionals, as required, in the times required and to the standard required.
• Notify Odyssey Social Care Directors of any serious risks to Odyssey Social Care, our staff, the children in our care, or our business.
• Deputise for the Regional Director when necessary, representing the interests and views of Odyssey Social Care professionally and appropriately.

 Whistle Blowing, Confidentiality, Company Welfare

• In line with our duty of care both to young people and to staff, bring to the attention of a Director any matter which may pose a risk to the safety or wellbeing of a child, staff member or the company,  according to our whistle blowing policy.
• Encourage “whistleblowing” in all staff, according to the whistleblowing policy, and receive reports from staff and managers as appropriate, acting upon them promptly and effectively.
• At all times maintain confidentiality in regard to the children in our care, staffing matters, financial matters, procedural matters and any other matters internal to the company.
• Take responsibility at all times for the wellbeing of the Company, putting it before personal, financial or other gain.

Any Other Duties

• Any other duties, within the competence of the postholder, that may be required, reasonably, from time to time.

Qualifications:

• A Bachelor or MA/MSc in any of the following fields: Social Care; Applied Social Studies in Social Care; Social Work, Social Care Management or related Social Care Qualification.
• The manager may hold a QQI level 8 qualification in social care with 4 years post qualification work experience in a social care setting.
  The centre manager must have 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 and 4 years’ full time work experience in a social care setting post qualification
• A full, clean, manual driving license, valid in Ireland.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Knowledge of the key elements of effective team working
• Knowledge of the Irish National Standards in Children’s Residential Centres

Competencies:

• Full clean Garda vetting for Ireland and police clearance for any other country in which the post-holder has been resident for more than 6 months.
• Sound knowledge of professional child care practice, detailed knowledge of the National Standards for Residential Childcare
• Sound knowledge of the provisions of the 1991 Child Care Act and especially Section 8 relating to the provision of residential care; Knowledge of the regulations associated with this.
• Sound knowledge of Irish Health & Safety legislation and its application in a residential child care context.
• Sound knowledge of Irish Employment legislation and its application in a residential care environment.
• Sound knowledge and experience of management in a residential care context.
• Ability to lead, motivate and support individuals and teams effectively.
• Ability and confidence to hold individual staff members accountable for their work.
• Ability to quickly analyse complex, conflicting and contradictory information, reach a balanced decision, act on it and ensure that others follow through.
• Ability to function effectively in a crisis, balancing the interests of children, staff and the company.
• Ability to assert oneself and exert authority appropriately and in a balanced way both with subordinates and with more senior managers.
• Ability to effectively manage conflict.
• Ability to meet and manage deadlines and to prioritise work in a high pressure environment.
• Excellent negotiation and networking skills.

If this sounds like the job for you, we’d love to hear from you!