Head of Services – Children’s Residential Services

About the job

As Head of Service you will provide day to day operational management for all care and support services across the Residential Childcare Centre settings, ensuring that care and support is equitable, professional and of an excellent standard.

You will work closely with the Director of Services, all TUSLA contracted colleagues and clinical leads for service users to ensure the effective management of placement planning activities for residents and oversight of resources.

You will work closely with the Registration and Inspection Services, TUSLA and the Central Referral Services to enhance integrated working.

You will contribute to the senior management leadership of centres and deputise for the Director of Services in their absence.

Offices are based in Co. Meath and the services are in Co. Cavan and Co. Westmeath.

Key Responsibilities

Managing the service

• To make decisions about the appropriate allocation of resources and to ensure deployment of centre staff across all care settings meeting residents needs and preventing unnecessary significant events, ensuring safety and effective care practices.
• Monitor and regularly review centre management, personnel files, resident’s files, maintenance records, health and safety, fire and medication records.
• Ensuring oversight and governance of the centres with the Directors and providing monthly reports on outcomes and risks in centres.
• Manage care and support budgets for centres.
• Work with all relevant and directed external organisations to ensure collaborative and integrated working.

Governance

• To ensure that all Centres comply with National Standards, Professional Standards and all company Policies and Procedures, safeguarding and child care laws.
• Support the Centre Managers, Deputies and Teams.
• Ensure that systems are in place to manage and reduce risk.
• Ensure safe and sensitive management of complaints, incidents, crises and unanticipated significant events.
• To produce reports on the lived experiences of young people in residence and the resource allocation by the centres.
• To ensure line managed staff recognise their responsibility for governance and contribute fully.

Leadership

• To provide and embed strong leadership in the care and support services.
• To imbed the Model of Care in centres across the organisation.
• To ensure teams embed quality assurance in everyday practices in all roles.
• To work closely with the Social Work Departments, Referring Agents, Inspectors and Clinical Participants.

Financial Performance

• To monitor and manage the service’s budget, ensuring financial efficiency, cost control and resources allocation aligned with service delivery goal.
• To identify opportunities for cost savings and financial optimization across operations while maintaining high-quality service standards.
• To ensure compliance with financial policies.

Special Features of the Job

• Participate in the on-call rota when required.
• The post holder will be required to work flexible and unsocial hours.
• Be the representative at local, regional and national meetings, events and conferences.
• Work closely with HR, Accounts and Marketing elements of the company.

People Management

Providing leadership, management and development of all staff and students within the area of responsibility through effective:

• Workforce planning, recruitment and selection
• Communication and staff support
• Performance Management
• Staff development including annual appraisals
• Staff support including health and safety and wellbeing awareness
• Facilitating a culture of learning, inclusiveness, respect for difference and care.