Manager Of Community Living Services

About ChildVision

ChildVision is Ireland's national education centre for children who are blind or have multi-sensory impairment. From its campus in Drumcondra, it provides Education, Therapy, Residential, family-support and equine services to children and young people with visual impairment and complex additional needs.

Around 150 staff work across Education, Social Care, Therapy, Research, Fundraising and Corporate Services. ChildVision has a trusted national brand, long-standing philanthropic relationships and strong goodwill across corporate, sporting and community Ireland. The organisation has just completed a strategic review process and a major property acquisition. Together they mark the start of a new chapter, and our Residential Services sit at its heart.

Residential care for children with complex needs is demanding work, and it rarely comes with the surrounding support that ChildVision offers: a school, therapists, clinicians and families on one campus, a Board and senior team who understand the services, and a national organisational structure with a strong name and secure future.

The Role

ChildVision is appointing a Community Living Manager to lead its residential and respite services for children and young people based on a Sunday to Friday service delivery model. These are HIQA-registered designated centres for children with visual impairment, many of whom have additional needs. The children who live here are among the most vulnerable in the country, and the standard of care they receive is the measure of the organisation.

The Manager holds day-to-day operational, quality and regulatory responsibility for these services. The role leads the Persons in Charge (PIC) and their teams, ensures each centre is safe, compliant and inspection-ready at all times, and gives the Senior Management Team confident oversight of the residential side of the organisation.

There is also an important second dimension to this exciting new role. ChildVision has acquired a substantial neighbouring property with scope for further residential and respite provision. The Manager will play a central part in planning, developing, registering and launching any new services on that site, working closely with the Deputy Chief Executive and the wider Senior Management Team.

This is a hands-on leadership role for an experienced Social Care Professional or Nursing manager who has operated in and understands regulated residential care from the inside and has the passion and desire to take on a service with a genuine national purpose.

The Services

The Manager will take on established services with a strong culture and real potential to develop further:

• Residential and respite centres on the Drumcondra campus for children and young people with visual impairment and complex needs, each with a PIC and a dedicated Social Care team.

• An on-campus network of education, therapy, clinical and family-support colleagues working alongside the residential teams, giving children a level of integrated support that is unique in the sector.

• Development potential on the newly acquired second Drumcondra site, where ChildVision will extend residential and respite capacity over the coming years.

• Established relationships with HIQA, the HSE, Tusla and families, and a governance framework the Manager will be expected to enhance and strengthen further.

Key Responsibilities

Leading & Developing Services

• Provide leadership, direction, and operational oversight to support the effective delivery of Community Living services.

• Support the planning, coordination, budget and staff management aspects of service activity, resources, and priorities within the Community Living division.

• Work with the Deputy Chief Executive and Senior Management Team on the operational design of any new residential or respite provision on the acquired site.

• Ensure care planning, placement planning and transitions are child-centred, well documented and delivered in partnership with families, schools, clinicians and other key stakeholders.

• Embed the model of care and a culture of reflective, rights-based practice across every facet of the service ensuring that services are responsive to the needs, rights, and preferences of the children and young adults.

• Work closely with education, therapy and clinical colleagues so that residential care is fully integrated with each child's wider programme.

• Ensure the delivery of a high-quality service through the provision of strong professional leadership.

• Work as part of the multidisciplinary team in the provision of assessment and appropriate interventions to children and young adults as required.

• Provide professional support, advice, and consultation to Social Care Leaders and staff regarding complex decision-making and risk management.

• Lead the HIQA registration process for new designated centres, from statement of purpose through to the opening of any new service.

• Plan staffing, rostering and models of care for new services so they open safely and sustainably.

• Monitor service performance, identify emerging challenges, and contribute to solutions and service developments to enhance service outcomes.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of policy, information sharing protocols, audit systems, referral and integrated care pathways.

• Contribute to the ongoing development of the service in keeping with good practice and ChildVision strategic and operational objectives and goals.

• Contribute to the service planning process; recognising and replicating successful interventions together and by identifying unmet needs and service requirements into the future.

Leading People

• Lead recruitment induction and retention activities for the Community Living Services.

• Set the standard for supervision, performance management and staff wellbeing, and deal with grievances, disciplinary matters and workplace reviews when they arise.

• Facilitate effective collaboration and decision making across community living services across the internal teams, and external stakeholders.

• Support the development of staff through mentoring, guidance, and the promotion of good practice.

• Build a good working relationship with our partners in external agencies and funders.

• Ensure compliance with and implementation of HR policies, procedures, and guidelines.

• Promote a culture that values diversity and respect.

Quality, Safety and Regulation

• Ensure each designated centre meets the Health Act 2007 regulations, the National Standards for Residential Services for Children and Adults with Disabilities, Children First and ChildVision's own policies.

• Lead preparation for and response to HIQA inspections and assume responsibility for the completion of compliance plans and corrective actions.

• Maintain the Risk Register for the service, chair regular risk and quality reviews, and escalate promptly where a risk cannot be managed at centre level.

• Oversee safeguarding, incident management, complaints and serious incident reviews, ensuring statutory notifications are made within required timeframes.

• Carry out announced and unannounced audits of centres against the standards and regulations.

• Provide guidance, support, and oversight in relation to service-related matters, and assistance to the Social Care Leaders in managing and progressing complex service needs.

• Support the development and implementation of service improvements, policies, procedures, and quality initiative in ensuring that HIQA standards are achieved and maintained.

• Participate in service reviews, audits, reporting, and the evaluation of service effectiveness.

• Ensure that service users and their families are treated with dignity and respect, always promoting a culture of unconditional positive regard.

• Recognise the children and young adults as expert through experience, promoting their participation in respite and community living.

• Implement and assess quality initiatives and management programmes as required.

• Work within relevant legislation and the policies, procedures, guidelines and protocols as laid down by ChildVision.

• Ensure that record keeping is maintained to the required standard and that appropriate statistical information is available.

Governance and Reporting

• Report to the Deputy Chief Executive on quality, risk, incidents, staffing and budget across the services, and contribute to Board reporting as needed.

• Manage residential budgets and resources, including agency and overtime, with financial discipline.

• Ensure that the CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system is maintained with a quality of information that adequately reflects the daily activity and overall activity of the children and young adults.

• Contribute to governance, quality assurance, compliance, and continuous service improvement.

• Participate in the senior on-call arrangement for the residential services.

Training & Development

• Undertake ongoing professional training and development.

• Take an active role in supervision for both Social Care Leaders and staff as required.

• Engage in reflective and evidence-based practice.

• Participate in the identification, development and delivery of induction, education, training and development programmes for staff.

• Engage in performance review processes including personal development planning.

• Keep up to date with sectoral developments.

Risk, Health & Safety

• Have an in depth and working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc.

• Work in a safe manner with due care and attention to the safety of self and others.

• Be responsible for own health and wellbeing to carry out the duties of the role, be committed to managing your own work life balance.

• Comply with and contribute to the development of policies, procedures, guidelines and safe professional practice.

• Ensure that effective safety procedures are developed and managed to comply with statutory obligations, in conjunction with relevant staff e.g. health and safety procedures, emergency procedures.

• Observe, report and take appropriate action on any matter which may be detrimental to staff and / or service user care or wellbeing which may be inhibiting the efficient provision of care.

• Document appropriately and report any near misses, hazards, accidents, incidents or concerns and bring them to the attention of designated individual(s) in line with best practice.

• Be aware of risk management issues, identify risks and take appropriate action.

• Be familiar with emergency procedures and know who to contact in an emergency.

Competencies

Professional Knowledge

• Sufficient clinical and professional knowledge to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role.

• Sufficient awareness of and application of relevant legislation, national policies, professional standards, and regulatory requirements governing disability services, including safeguarding, quality assurance, and person-centred practice.

• The ability to maintain and deliver operationally on services while maintaining a strategic position on the future of services.

Planning and Managing Resources

• Aligns service delivery with the strategy of the organisation.

• Develops service plans that aim to anticipate the changing needs of the children and young adults.

• Demonstrates the capacity to plan and deliver services in an effective and resourceful manner within a model of person-centered service.

Managing & Developing (Self & Others)

• Demonstrates leadership and team management skills and the ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.

• Demonstrates the ability to manage and develop self and others in a busy working environment including the ability to prioritise caseloads for self and others.

• Creates an enthusiastic and committed work climate.

Evaluating Information and Judging Situations

• Demonstrates the ability to adopt a system overview.

• Anticipates substantive issues with a view to taking a problem-solving approach.

• Demonstrates the ability to evaluate information and make effective decisions, especially regarding service delivery matters.

Commitment to the Provision of a Quality Service

• Demonstrates a commitment to assuring high standards operating in a person-centered service.

• Displays an appreciation for the child and young adult in the planning, decision-making and service development initiatives in a community setting.

Communication & Interpersonal Skills

• Displays effective interpersonal and communication (verbal and written) skills.

• Works collaboratively with multiple stakeholders.

• Demonstrates the ability to empathise with and treat others with dignity and respect.

The Person

Essential Criteria

• A relevant professional qualification at Level 7 or above in Social Care, Nursing (RNID or RCN), or a related discipline, and be registered with CORU or the relevant professional body.

• At least five years' management experience in regulated residential services for children or people with disabilities, including line management of Persons in Charge or centre managers.

• Detailed working knowledge of HIQA National Standards, Children First, Adult Safeguarding and HIQA's registration and inspection processes.

• A track record of improving service standards through inspection outcomes, embedding quality systems and managing risk.

• Experience of budgets, rostering and staff management in a care setting.

Desirable Criteria

• A management qualification at Level 6 or above, or a willingness to complete one. desirable

• Experience of registering and/or opening a new designated centre is a distinct advantage.

Other Requirements

• Eligible to work in Ireland

• Satisfactory Reference Checks and Garda Vetting

• Available to interview in person

Why Join Us?

• Opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of children and families.

• Collaborative, supportive, and multidisciplinary team environment.

• Comprehensive training and ongoing professional development.

• Access to specialist expertise in visual impairment and inclusive education.

Benefits

• Competitive Salary and Benefits package

• Professional Development Opportunities

• Employee Assistance Programme

• Bike-to-Work scheme

• On-site Parking

• Company Pension

• Wellness Programme

• Onsite Café – Staff Discount

ChildVision is an equal opportunities organisation and is committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse environment where all individuals are treated with dignity, fairness, and respect.