Team Leader

DESCRIPTION AND VISION OF SERVICES

Corlann – West Region provide a community based, person centred service focusing on the needs and abilities of children and adults with intellectual disabilities. The vision of the service is to support people with intellectual disabilities to achieve a full and valued life in their community, in line with best practice both nationally and internationally. Working in partnership with each person supported by services, we aim to create opportunities for people supported by services to have ordinary life experiences and to be closely connected to family and friends. We are committed to supporting people to live a life of their choosing.

Orchard Services

provide a range of community-based servicesincluding day, residential, respite, community outreach, family support and a range of multidisciplinary support services. People are supported in various types of day settings – day centres, supported employment, social and micro enterprises, training and education and these can be in groups or individualised. People are supported in residential settings in their own homes in the community individually and in groups with different staffing support levels depending on their levels of disability. Our Services are person centred focusing on the needs and abilities of adults with intellectual disabilities and autism. We wish to create opportunities for people who use our service to have valued social roles in their communities and to form friendships.

We wish to recruit innovative, creative and motivated people who will relish the opportunity to assist in achieving this vision as part of a team. We are looking for people who will be flexible and dynamic, can adapt to the needs of particular individuals they supportand be open to change.

 

The Role:

The Team Leader has a pivotal role in managing the day to day delivery of services. The Team Leader will provide leadership and supervision to teams while ensuring the development of the service in line with national standards and best practice. The main responsibilities are to assist the Team Manager with the management of the services, such as – person centred planning in line with Personal Outcome Measures ethos and practice, resource management and staffing - including rosters, staff development, facilitating communication and professional leadership in order to ensure a good quality of life for the people supported. It is the Team Leader’s responsibility to ensure that the life of each individual reflects the Organisations core values by supporting each individual’s development in the areas of:

·        Dignity and respect

·        Promoting Independence in the area of personal development, educational, employment, life skills and day to day living skills

·        Developing friendships and relationships

·        Making choices

·        Community Networking

·        Whilst ensuring the physical, medical, social and emotional wellbeing outcomes of the people supported are observed.

 

Reporting/Responsible To:

Service Coordinator/Area Manager

Qualifications:

A current Live Register Certificate from An Bord Altranais is essential; RNID/RMHN qualification or HETAC/NQAI BA (HONS) in Applied Social Studies (Disability)/Social Care.

Candidates must have a full clean manual driving licence. Fluency in verbal and written English is an essential requirement of this post.

An appropriate management qualification is also desirable or a commitment to obtain one.

Social Care Leader candidates must be registered with CORU or have their application submitted.

Eligible applicants will be those who on the closing date for the competition:

(i)

Be registered, or be eligible for registration, on the Social Care Workers Register maintained by the Social Care Workers Registration Board at CORU. See list of recognised Social Care qualifications at: https://coru.ie/health-and-social-care-professionals/education/approved-qualifications/social-care-workers/    

OR

(ii)

Hold a schedule 3 qualification (see note 1 below*).

See list of recognized Schedule 3 qualifications at:

https://coru.ie/health-and-social-care-professionals/registration/registration-requirements/approved-qualifications/schedule-3-qualifications/schedule-3-qualifications.html

OR

(iii)

Hold a comparable qualification recognised by Social Care Workers Registration Board at CORU.

OR

iv)

Applicants who satisfy the conditions set out in Section 91 of the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005, (see note 2 below*), must submit proof of application for registration with the Social Care Workers Registration Board at CORU. The acceptable proof is correspondence from the Social Care Workers Registration Board at CORU confirming their application for registration as a Section 91 applicant was received by the 30th November 2025.

Note 1*

Schedule 3 Qualifications. This is a qualification listed in Schedule 3 of the Health and Social Care Professions Act 2005 for existing practitioners under section 91.Candidates who hold Schedule 3 qualifications can apply to register with CORU during the two year period after the register opens up to the 30th November 2025. Once the transitional period is over -30th November 2025, only qualifications approved by a Registration board will be considered.

Note 2*

Section 91 candidates are individuals who qualified before 30th Nov 2023 and have been engaged in the practice of the profession in the Republic of Ireland for a minimum of 2 years fulltime (or an aggregate of 2 years fulltime), between 30th November 2018 and 30th November 2023 are considered to be Section 91 applicants under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005.

 

Experience:

Candidates must have at least 3 years post qualification experience gained in services for people with intellectual disabilities.

Candidates must be able to demonstrate experience of leading and supporting a team.

Experience in community networking, supporting individuals to partake in activities in their local community, goal setting and programme implementation is desirable. Experience of working with individuals with autism, challenging behaviour and mental health is an advantage.

 

Skills:

Candidates must demonstrate leadership and planning skills and the ability to set goals, put into action and follow through. Candidates must have the ability to exercise good judgement, discretion and confidentiality, be creative and self-motivated, communicate effectively in both written and verbal forms and co-operate in a team environment with a person-centred philosophy.

 

Working Hours:

75/75 CNM1 or 78/78 Social Care Leader hours per fortnight based on a 14-day duty roster. Contracted hours of work are liable to change over 7 days to meet the requirements of the service. The successful candidate will be required to work days, evenings, weekends, public holidays, and occasional night duty.

 

On Call: On Call commitment is an essential requirement of this post

 

Corlann’s model of service is based on Personal Outcome Measures requiring employees to be flexible in their working hours to provide a quality service delivery for each individual.

Annual Leave:

Leave will be granted according to the agreed leave assigned to the grade of the successful candidates i.e. Social Care or CNM1. Annual leave must be planned in advance with the Area Manager / Service Coordinator to ensure appropriate and adequate cover is provided for the service.

 

Remuneration:

Based on the salary scale attached to the grade of the successful candidates i.e. Social Care Leader or CNM1.

 

Tenure:

2 x Permanent, Full-Time and Pensionable.

 

Probation:

A probationary period of nine months from the date of appointment applies to the post. The employment may be terminated at any time during the probationary period should the employer find that the appointee is unsuitable to continue employment. The probation period may be extended at the Employer’s discretion.

 JOB DESCRIPTION

 

Corlann’s model of service is based on Personal Outcome Measures requiring employees to be flexible both in their approach and their working hours to provide a quality service delivery for each individual.

 Specific Conditions

• Staff must have a positive attitude towards working with persons with an intellectual disability and help to ensure that they lead as normal and enjoyable a life as possible.
• Staff must treat each person with an intellectual disability as an individual and at all times acknowledge and respect the rights and personal dignity of the person with an intellectual disability.
• Staff are required to establish and maintain relationships with adults with disabilities that are based on respect and equality and that promote their independence.

 Main duties, functions and responsibilities:

 

Team Member Responsibilities and Relationships:

• Be an active member of the assigned service Team, while also being an active member of the Orchard Services management team.
• Co-operate with all staff in maintaining, developing and enhancing the partnership model.
• Develop and foster good relationships with people supported in the service.
• Take ownership of and manage the team and cover the whole staff team and Orchard team as required by the Service coordinator or Area Manager.
• Support and Supervision: Manage and supervise the performance of staff assigned to the group home including responsibility for their performance and conduct as well as timekeeping, attendance and planning annual leave.
• Co-operate on all aspects of programmes with the staff and the multidisciplinary team members.
• Assist in formulating, implementing and evaluating service plans in co-operation with the Service coordinator, multidisciplinary supports and other team members under the direction of the Service coordinator.
• Manage and promote community liaison including advocacy, citizen and advocacy and promoting and maintaining family contact for the people supported.
• Ensure that appropriate records are kept to enable full reports on the people who use the service to be available to the multidisciplinary staff and Service coordinator. Coordinate filing and storing of these records are in line with policy.
• Ensure that all IP records, local reviews, Team based performance records are completed and inputted on the database as required.
• Ensure that each individual receives a quality day programme. Formulate and implement programmes designed for the needs of the individual, in cooperation with the multidisciplinary team as required.
• Promote community integration and maximum participation for the individual.
• Ensure that the money of the people who use the service is spent according to their wished and that appropriate records are kept in line with policy. Awareness of resource management is also important with the ability to achieve efficiencies in resource usage.
• Facilitate co-ordination, co-operation, liaison and communication across multidisciplinary teams and programmes.
• Plan and record the discussion items of Team Meetings.
• Assist individuals in menu planning and preparation of food, cook their daily meals and maintain a high standard of food hygiene.

 

Leadership and Management:

• Take responsibility for the duty roster and ensuring staff cover in the case of absenteeism and ensure return to work discussions are implemented.
• Assist in managing all resources efficiently and effectively within agreed budget.
• Assist people who use the service with personal banking and adhering to the National Guidelines on managing individual finances.
• Provide leadership and direction for all members of the team to ensure good practice according to policy.
• Ensure that all aspects of service delivery conform to meet stated HIQA regulations and standards.
• Assume responsibility of the Person Participating in Management role under HIQA regulations and meet with and report to HIQA Inspection teams as required. If required in the future to be the Person in Charge for this designated centre.
• Ensure all relevant HIQA files and required information is kept up to date.
• Ensure that appropriate records are kept to enable full reports on the people we support to be available to the multidisciplinary staff and Service Coordinator. Update OLIS, Hazard, Personal Outcomes, AIRS and other databases as needed.
• Carry out Audits and training with the team as needed in areas such as Client Protection, Fire Evacuation. Health and Safety, Quarterly AIRS Audits, Complaints Audits and Follow up on Actions from HIQA inspection and Provider Nominee Audits.
• Keep abreast of changes in IT, including adapting to changes on our recording and storage of records i.e. OLIS Docs.
• Provide induction for new staff as required.
• Plan and provide support on the day to day operational and development of the service; within the Team Based Performance Management framework.
• Provide leadership, good time management and supportive supervision to staff in the service where appropriate and appraise staff performance as required.

• Provide support, manage and resolve problems within the team when appropriate.
• Facilitate team building and staff motivation.
• Participate in the identification, development and delivery of education, training and development programmes for staff.

• Ensure the appropriate proactive strategies are documented and implemented on individual person who uses the service.

• Assist in supervising and assessing volunteers and students as required.
• Lead and implement change.
• Be proactive and take an active part in future service planning, development and delivery.
• Perform such other duties appropriate to the post as may be assigned from time to time by the Service coordinator/Deputy. All duties must be carried out in person at all times.
• As the duties and responsibilities of any post in the services are likely to change with the ongoing needs of the people being supported i.e. age, level of ability, HIQA, New Directions, Personal Outcomes Measures etc., staff are expected to have a high level of flexibility, willingness and an ability to develop new approaches to their work as required.

 

Health, Safety and Hygiene Responsibilities:

• Participate in assisting people supported with personal hygiene and personal care and promote their independence.
• Implement all public health advice as regards the prevention and management of infection.
• Provide leadership and direction for all members of the team (Day and Residential), to ensure that high standards of cleanliness are maintained according to the service’s hygiene and infection control policy. Record and audit of hygiene practices in the assigned service area.
• Ensure that effective safety procedures are developed and managed to comply with the statutory obligations in conjunction with relevant staff.
• Carry our regular checks of the facilities and ensure ongoing maintenance of the buildings.
• Be aware of and become familiar with Fire Drill procedures within the Centre, i.e. fire detection, evacuation and fire fighting.
• Ensure all regulations are adhered to with regard to transport and insurance
• Be conscious of Health & Safety matters in the workplace and, in particular, to comply with employees' obligations as set out under Chapter 2 of the Safety, Health & Welfare at Work Act, 2005.
• Ensure that all accidents/incidents to the people supported, staff or visitors are reported in accordance with Service policy and that all staff is fully aware of the contents of the Safety Statement for the Centre. Carry out regular review of AIRS in line with the multidisciplinary team reviewing and planning protocols to meet any highlighted trends and patterns.

 

Responsibilities:

To monitor the high medical needs of people supported attending the centre.

To be responsible for the administration and ordering of medication in line with the medication administration policy of the service.

To perform appropriate procedures as required and recommended by the medical department of the service, or other medical personnel involved with the individual.

• To ensure that medications are appropriately stored.

• Supervise and support workers staff who has completed two-day Safe Administration of medication. (S.A.M.S.).
• Ensure that specific care plans are formulated, implemented, reviewed and updated as required.
• Ensure regular consultation and follow up with GP’S, specialist practices and mental health services.
• Ensure everyday care practices are upheld are in line with health promotion within a community setting
• Ensure further educational and skills-based training is undertaken to improve clinical practice.
• Undertake educational on-line training modules.
• Ensure individualised care plans are relayed to support staff.

 

Personal Outcomes Responsibilities:

• Manage people who use the service supports; care and learning experiences to ensure the highest professional standards, using evidence-based planning approach such as an individual personal outcome for each person supported.
• Actively support Key Worker’s in their endeavours to achieve priority goals for people supported within the service.
• Assist people supported in the service in making informed decisions.
• Facilitate individual plan meetings and review meetings.

 

General Responsibilities:

• Ensure strict confidentiality in all matters concerning people who use the service including the safe storage of reports and records. Ensure all information is adapted as needed.
• Driving the Service vehicle as required.
• Evaluate and manage the implementation of best practice policy and procedures including the policies and procedures of Corlann’s and operate within the policies and procedures of the Services in all aspects of your work.
• Promote dignity at work and show respect to people who use the service, colleagues and stakeholders in the course of duty.
• Avail of all training and development opportunities that enhance this position.

 

The role of the post holder will not be limited by reference to this job description. It would be expected that the role will evolve as professional, structural and people who use the service demands and the post holder will be expected to demonstrate flexibility skills that will facilitate this.