Children’s Residential – Social Care Unit Manager

<p style="text-align: justify;">Our client is seeking a passionate and experienced Social Care Unit Manager to lead a residential service supporting young people in Lismore, Waterford. This is an opportunity to take on a key leadership role, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, child-centred care in a safe, nurturing environment.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Job Overview</strong><br>As Unit Manager, you will oversee all aspects of care delivery, team leadership, compliance, and service development within the home. You will lead and support a multidisciplinary team while ensuring the highest standards of care and adherence to national regulations. The role reports to the Regional Manager.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>What’s on Offer</strong></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li>Competitive salary</li> <li>Flexible rostering to support work-life balance</li> <li>Ongoing professional training and development</li> <li>Education support opportunities</li> <li>Health and life insurance supports</li> <li>Incremental pay scale</li> <li>Employee Assistance Programme (for staff and families)</li> <li>Team-building activities and social events</li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Key Responsibilities</strong></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li>Ensure care delivery meets regulatory standards and best practice</li> <li>Maintain a safe, homely, and developmentally appropriate environment</li> <li>Lead, supervise, and support Social Care staff and team leaders</li> <li>Oversee staff training, performance management, and team development</li> <li>Manage budgets and resources effectively</li> <li>Support referral processes and maintain accurate reporting</li> <li>Ensure compliance with inspection standards (e.g. Tusla)</li> <li>Build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders (e.g. Tusla, Gardaí, CAMHS)</li> <li>Participate in on-call rota as required</li> <li>Promote safeguarding, transparency, and a positive team culture</li> <li>Contribute to service development and continuous improvement</li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Qualifications &amp; Experience</strong></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li>Minimum Level 7 qualification in Social Care (or equivalent relevant discipline)</li> <li>CORU registration (or eligibility)</li> <li>Significant experience in children’s residential care (typically 3–4 years post-qualification, depending on qualification level)</li> <li>Experience in leadership or management within a care setting</li> <li>Working knowledge of childcare legislation, national standards, and best practice</li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;">Relevant qualifications may include Social Care, Social Work, Psychology, Youth &amp; Community Work, Child &amp; Adolescent Psychotherapy, Counselling, Nursing, Teaching, or other related disciplines.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Essential Requirements</strong></p> <ul style="text-align: justify;"> <li>Full, clean manual driving licence (valid in Ireland)</li> <li>Right to work in Ireland</li> <li>Strong leadership, communication, and organisational skills</li> <li>Experience in team management, conflict resolution, and crisis management</li> <li>Full Garda Vetting and police clearance (where applicable)</li> </ul> <p style="text-align: justify;">This is a rewarding opportunity for a motivated professional to lead a service that makes a real difference in the lives of young people.</p> <p><strong>Reasonable Adjustments:</strong></p> <p>If you consider yourself to have a disability or require any reasonable adjustment during the recruitment process or within the workplace, please highlight this at the earliest opportunity by contacting our team.</p> <p>We are unable to support or accept applications from candidates who are residents within the Red or Amber list of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Workforce Support and Safeguard List.</p> <p class="x_MsoNormal">BH - 198027<br>GH - 34544</p>