Reports to: Head of Residential and Counselling Services through the Recovery Services Manager & the Prison Governors and Consultant Psychiatrist in Addictions/Addiction Specialist

Responsible for: The efficient operation of the team and proper use of resources in the delivery of the service to our clients

Objective: To effectively manage on behalf of the Head of Residential and Counselling Services all of the resources pertaining to the Team. In doing so to uphold the philosophy and working ethos of the Merchants Quay Ireland

Hours: 39 hours per week

Key Responsibilities:
Ensure service delivery to our clients meets the needs and contractual obligations of the client through the management of operational activity of the team in line with recognised quality standards and best practice.
Responsible for the direct management and supervision of counsellors as assigned by MQI
The team leader will carry a case load of up to 30 clients at any one time. In each 39-hour week you will be required to deliver a combination of case work and management responsibilities as required.
Service Delivery/Operational Responsibilities

Act as a daily point of contact for client escalations, participate in and lead where necessary operational calls with clients.
Pro-actively engage with client work on a regular basis including attending clinical meetings
Stay current on internal work processes, policies and procedures.
Under the direction of the Recovery Service Manager, the Team Leader implements systems and processes to achieve client specific metrics while providing development opportunities to the counsellors
Participate in new initiatives, in line with the development of services in the Irish Prison Service and the relevant health authority
Engage in multidisciplinary prison based training
Co-operate with relevant approved research, by or on the behalf of MQI and/or the Irish Prison Service
Regular meeting with the IPS and local prison management, as necessary, to review the service.
Be familiar with the operational policies of the Irish Prison Service and be aware of fire and other safety precautions as outlined in the Health and Safety Statement
Responsible for understanding and complying with all IPS and company policies and procedures
Caseload/Engaging with Prisoners

Provide individual counselling and facilitate group work
Comprehensively assess prisoners referred
Engage in Crisis Intervention
Develop comprehensive care plans in conjunction with the multidisciplinary team
Ensure prisoner confidentiality in the context of a multidisciplinary team. In certain circumstances, issues may need to be discussed with the Consultant Psychiatrist and multidisciplinary team against the wishes of the prisoner.
Implement and facilitate appropriate treatment strategies focusing initially on short term targeted interventions
Provide information regarding the details of counselling i.e. the nature, objectives, duration etc.
Ensure regular review of individual treatment plans and goals identified
Refer to other agencies where appropriate. This can be within the prison and within the community and is dependent on shared care plans and integrated care pathways.
Provide information and advice supporting health promotion and the reduction of risks associated with substance misuse and dependency
Complete formal case closure following completion of counselling or if the individual has left counselling before completion
Keep computerised records and observe professional standards in respect of ethics and confidentiality as outlined by MQI, the Irish Prison Service and relevant professional accreditation bodies
To act in accordance with the MQI policies and procedures compliant with best practice & legislation in the field of counselling and social care.
Compile weekly and monthly reports as required detailing counsellor activity and identifying blocks to service provision.
Managing Staff

Management responsibility to include performance management and HR policy adherence
Development of team skills through training, coaching, mentoring and up-skilling
Work with the Recovery Services Manager and the Human Resources Department to resolve personnel issues in a professional and timely manner.
Ensure that counsellors have a clear understanding of performance expectations, that they are properly trained and that they have the tools they need to perform at high levels of productivity
Conduct meetings with counsellors in all locations to ensure communication of relevant information and as an open forum for input from counselling staff.
To collaborate with the Recovery Services Manager and HR in the recruitment, selection and allocation of staff within the service.
To co-operate with the Service Manager in the identification and implementation of appropriate on- going training for all staff
To provide line management to staff members.
To ensure adherence to good work practices and employment legislation
To ensure that Health and Safety standards are maintained in accordance with the H&S Statement of MQI and the Irish Prisons Service.
Be available to support other counsellors in the service if their team leader is unavailable.
Administration

To manage all monies allocated to the Team.
Oversee and be accountable for any expenses claimed by team members
To ensure that accurate and transparent book -keeping systems and procedures are employed.
To comply with the Recovery Services Manager in relation to all the appropriate paperwork, such as clients’ files, daybooks and accident reports.
To work with the Recovery Services Manager as above in the operation and monitoring of counsellor input to the relevant client data base system.
General

To maintain a good relationship with the IPS and other external agencies and associations on behalf of the Recovery Services Manager
To attend meetings in MQI and with the Recovery Services Manager when requested.
To assist with any other duties which the Recovery Services Manager might reasonably request.

PERSON SPECIFICIATION
EDUCATION/QUALIFICATIONS
Educated to at least degree level in relevant disciplines (e.g. addiction, health or social care)
Qualification and accreditation with ACI or IACP.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
Minimum of 2 years’ experience at supervisory level
Demonstrable track record in operational management including managing and monitoring activities to agreed service levels
Demonstrable experience proactive problem solving
Ability to identify key training needs for staff and organise relevant opportunities.
Contributing to and experience of writing local policy and protocols
Experience or understanding of what constitutes high quality services for addiction counselling and prison work with experience of using measuring outcomes.
Previous experience of collating and analysing data to evidence outcomes and inform service improvement
Experience of writing reports and proposals
Experience of supervising and motivating teams to deliver to agreed target levels.
Experience of operational planning and producing monitoring systems for outputs, outcomes and impact
A successful track record of effective partnership working

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES
Knowledge and understanding of current homeless & substance misuse and criminal justice policy, legislation and evidence based practices.
Ability to provide strong leadership to a diverse workforce, using both motivational and performance management tools.
Ability to use initiative and creativity in problem solving
Knowledge of Health and Safety and Risk Management
Ability to communicate both written and verbally with a wide variety of stakeholders both internally and externally
Ability to manage pressure and conflicting priorities effectively
Able to demonstrate excellent organisational and time management skills with the ability to manage client work and management responsibilities.
Excellent influencing and negotiation skills and the ability to manage differences constructively.
Ability to work closely with a range of stakeholders and other providers in helping plan the future of service provision
Ability to work within evidence based practice and with due regard to diversity and inclusion in the workplace
Excellent IT skills using Microsoft Office, in particular Word, Excel, Outlook etc.
Ability to participate fully at clinical meetings and Irish Prison Service Prisoner Review Meetings. Comfortable building relationships with heads of function and Campus Governors.
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal to be able to communicate with a wide variety of groups e.g. prison management, clients, community both internally and externally.
Strong team skills and a proactive, supportive way of closely working with colleagues to achieve results.
Experience of designing and delivering effective group work programmes and supporting staff to deliver same.

ATTITUDES/PERSONAL
Ability to treat services users with respect and dignity at all times
An ability to make sound and timely decisions and initiate actions to solve problems
To be outcome and solution focussed
To hold a belief that people can and do make changes.
Able to build constructive relationships with warmth and empathy, using good communication skills
Ability to demonstrate empathy for the issues faced by people affected by substance misuse, incarceration and homelessness and the ability to learn about their information and support needs.
A proactive people person committed to the development and wellbeing of their teams
Willing and able to work over and above contracted hours when necessary
Ability to travel/work in all MQI / IPS prison based service and meeting locations
Hold a current driving licence, have access to a roadworthy vehicle and have appropriate car insurance for the purpose of the job role.
Duration: 12mth fixed term contract

If you are interested in applying for this position, please complete the application form attached to this ad and email to recruitment@mqi.ie with a copy of your up to date CV attached by 5pm on Tuesday the 7th November 2017. Please ensure to include the following title in the subject line of your email ‘Team Leader IPS’. Applications that do not have this title may fail to be shortlisted.

As this is a new role, management reserve the right to amend this job description to meet organisational needs.

Merchants Quay Ireland is an equal opportunities employer