Laois-Social Care Manager -Mainstream Service

Harmony Care are recruiting for a manager for our Mainstream Children's Service in Laois. At Harmony we focus on the care, safety and protection of our children. Our incredible team ensures that each individual child’s goals and potential are fully supported, nurtured and given every opportunity to grow, make mistakes, have positive experiences, learn new skills and most importantly, develop a sense of safety and security.

We strongly believe that a child-centred approach, focused on relationships and empathy, positively promotes the wellbeing of our children. Harmony maintains stability, ensures reliability and inspires hope by consistently upholding the highest standards in children's residential services. Harmony is a regulated and approved provider of children's residential services, operating under contract with Tusla.

Location: Laois Hours: Full-time (with on-call responsibilities) Reports To: Regional Manager

About the Role

As a Social Care Manager at Harmony Care, you will lead a dedicated team in providing the highest standard of care to children. You will oversee the day-to-day management of the Centre, ensuring adherence to policies, procedures, and national standards. This role requires strong leadership, governance, and operational oversight to create a nurturing, safe, and supportive environment for young people and team members.

Principal Responsibilities Policy and Procedures Adhere to all organisational policies and procedures. Manage the Centre in compliance with the Child Care Act 1991, Children’s Act 2015, Children First 2017, and other relevant legislation. Ensure all team practices and Centre procedures align with the National Standards for Children’s Residential Centre's (2018).

Promote the rights and responsibilities of each young person in the Centre. Lead and engage in policy and procedure reviews as part of the policy review group. Implement procedures related to budgets, health and safety, team supervision, training, appraisals, and recruitment. Oversee the Centre’s adherence to the Safety Statement and conduct Health and Safety Risk Assessments.

Leadership Manage the day-to-day running of the Centre, ensuring proactive planning, accountability, and support. Provide leadership, motivation, and role modeling to foster good team relations and performance. Create and maintain a safe, stable, and caring environment through effective admission planning, risk assessments, and evaluations.

Supervise and support deputy managers, social care team members, leaders, and relief staff. Ensure the quality of service provided is of the highest standard within available resources. Delegate duties to promote the growth and development of team members. Chair team meetings and other relevant discussions as required.

Ensure effective communication and planning within the team and with young people. Oversight and Governance Conduct evaluations of team member performance and provide feedback. Participate in Significant Event Reviews to promote learning and highlight best practices. Oversee audits, assessments, and monitoring of the Centre’s standards and quality of service.

Prepare and present reports and statistics as required. Care of the Young People Consult with young people, their families, team members, and external stakeholders to ensure individual care needs are met. Ensure young people participate in decisions affecting their lives. Oversee the assessment and implementation of care plans, aftercare plans, and placement plans, ensuring they reflect the young person’s voice.

Attend court, professional meetings, care reviews, and management meetings as required. Respond to risks with the appropriate risk management framework. Support young people holistically, including their social, educational, recreational, and medical needs. Professional Development Maintain effective self-care practices and promote professional growth among team members.

Engage in training opportunities and oversee the team’s training needs. Take responsibility for your own development plan and support supervision of others. Safeguarding Perform duties as a mandated person, reporting all child protection concerns to Tusla immediately. Act as Designated Liaison Person for the Centre, managing safeguarding concerns and associated risk assessments.

Ensure compliance with the Organisation’s Child Safeguarding Statement and risk management plans. Other Responsibilities Manage the Centre budget, ensuring compliance with approved procedures. Maintain records, oversee staff rosters, and ensure appropriate resource allocation. Ensure the upkeep, cleanliness, and maintenance of the Centre and its facilities.

Provide on-call services and respond to emergencies as required. Team Member Benefits Comprehensive Induction: Full induction into the role of Social Care Manager. Employee Assistance Programme (EAP): 24/7 support for team members and their families/partners. Annual Leave: 25 days annual leave Supervision and Professional Development: Structured supervision and career progression opportunities.

Complimentary Training: Paid core professional training to enhance your skillset. Employee Wellbeing Focus: Designated Mental Health Officers in every Centre and regular Social Days planned by the team. Why Join Us? Be part of a leadership team dedicated to making a meaningful difference in children’s lives. Work in a supportive, professional, and values-driven environment.

Develop your leadership skills with training and career progression opportunities. Access a comprehensive range of benefits and wellbeing supports.