Manager, Under 18's Residential Services, Dalkey
Location: Dublin
Contract: Full Time, Permanent
The purpose of this role will be to support and manage the team in Dalkey and ensure that the service provides the best possible care to the young people placed there, in line with HIQA’s National Standards for Children’s Residential Centres, 2018.
Dalkey Residential Centre is a mainstream residential unit providing care for up to five males, aged between thirteen and seventeen years upon admission. The placements are on a medium to long-term basis. The centre’s model of care is based on a therapeutic and relational, child-centred approach identifying individual needs and responding to them in a safe and secure environment.

What you will do:
Work within the framework of the overall objectives of Focus Ireland.
Work with and under the supervision and direction of the Head of Youth Services.
Provide leadership and direction to the residential staff teams.
Create and maintain a safe, caring and stable environment for the young people placed in the centre.
Manage the centre in accordance with relevant Tusla policies, guidelines and protocols, the Child Care (Standards in Children’s Residential Centres) Regulations, 1996, and HIQA's National Standards for Residential Care, 2018.
Ensure that Care and Placement Plans are in place, agreed, implemented and monitored regularly in respect of every young person placed in the centre.
Promote the rights and responsibilities of each young person in the centre.
Consult with young people placed in the centre, their families, centre staff and external stakeholders as appropriate.
Provide regular supervision to team members.
Promote and encourage staff development within the staff teams.
Implement project and agency policies and procedures, including child safeguarding, complaints, confidentiality, health and safety, housing, and human resource policies.
Ensure policies and procedures are reviewed regularly.
Manage the performance of staff in the projects by upholding best practice in human resourcing and performance management, and by complying with legal requirements in relation to employment/recruitment, supervision, health and safety and welfare, training and development.
Be flexible and open to future development in line with any change to service provision.
Effectively respond to the changing needs and challenges of the client group.
Implement financial management systems and participate in annual budget process.
Coordinate referrals to the services and allocation of case workers as appropriate.
Ensure the maintenance of appropriate records of work and statistical information.
Work effectively with relevant personnel from external agencies.
Engage in regular supervision sessions with the line Manager.
Participate in relevant training and development courses.
Attend and contribute to Team, Project and Agency meetings as required.
Prepare regular monthly project reports and any other reports as requested by line management.
Participate in project reviews and evaluations and to implement any changes arising from such work.
Be available for the on-call service and to monitor its use and effectiveness and to be part of the development of the on-call service as the project develops.
Undertake other work that is assigned by the Head of Youth Services and/or Services Director.

What you will need:
A minimum QQI level 7 qualification and 4 years’ full-time work experience in a social care setting post qualification. A professional qualification in Social Work is also considered as suitable, with the requisite 4 years’ post qualification practice experience and holding a management qualification suitable for a health or social care setting.
Management and supervisory experience in a social care setting.
Extensive experience working with young people at-risk.
Report writing skills.
Knowledge and experience of financial management and budgeting.
Experience of interagency working.
A working knowledge and understanding of residential childcare and the issues affecting young people in the care of the state.
Ability to plan and implement programmes.
Flexible & Reliable.
Leadership skills.
Communication skills.

Focus Ireland is an equal opportunities employer