Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Direct Reports: Senior Management Team, PCI Board, Finance & HR Department.

Overview
As part of the Senior Management Team, the postholder participates in the development and delivery of PCI strategy overall and in the overall management of the Company and ensures that all major risks to the business are mitigated against.

This postholder has the authority to direct, guide, advise and support people at all levels in the PCI organisation in ensuring our services are the best they can be, within resources. The postholder works closely with the HR Manager, Regional Managers & Financial Controller and has line management responsibility for the Regional Managers and their services, providing formal supervision and support, and the operation of the performance management system.

In line with Board Strategy, Senior Manager Childcare Services, Quality and Service Development this post has responsibility for:
The direction and quality of all childcare in PCI
Ensuring all buildings and equipment are suitable and fit for purpose; with all the nessecary documentation in place.
Ensuring PCI resources (people and physical resources) are sufficient to meet the needs of the service. Producing quarterly KPI reports.
Ensuring that all PCI departments/ Systems meet the needs of the Childcare Department.
Inspections and audits (internal and external) in all departments are in keeping with PCI goals and objectives.
Enuring all PCI IT systems are up to date and in compliance with internal and national policies.
Complaints
Marketing
Work force planning
Health & safety
Risk management
Ensuring company compliance with legislation and contractual obligations.
Keeping all PCI policies up to to date.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Young People
Ensure at all times that all children and young people in Positive Care Ireland’s services are looked after safely, professionally and in a way which ensures that they achieve their maximum potential, in line with PCI’s mission and vision.

Staff
Ensure that all staff employed by Positive Care Ireland are treated with respect and that their health, safety and wellbeing is safeguarded during their time at work.
To ensure that all employees are inducted, trained and supervised within PCI and that all teams are working collaboratively with PCI Departments.

Development
Ensure that new services are developed in line with demand and Board Strategy, and existing and future services are properly resourced with people and equipment.

Workforce Planning
Ensure a  balanced, appropriate workforce is recruited and available to existing and future service, in line with the needs of the children referred to PCI.
In line with budgetary requirements and within the parameters agreed with HR Manager, negotiate pay, terms and conditions with staff as they are appointed to posts.
They must also ensure that the training department meets needs of the childcare division.

Financial Control
In line with budgetary requirements, authorise spending on Operations, Quality Control and Administration in the childcare department.

Meeting Standards
Ensure that PCI maintains, at all times, external quality in line with National Standards. Ensure that regular and systematic auditing occurs internally in line with the quality system, and ensure corrective action is taken where standards are not adhered to.
Ensure that all contractual obligations with TUSLA are adhered too.
Take responsibility for health and safety in PCI, ensuring that the committee mets regularly and ensuring that all accidents and injuries are appropriately recorded and reported and that action plans are followed up on.
Take responsibility for Inspections by providing guidance to managers on preparation and management of inspections, and providing support to regional managers and unit managers when necessary to ensure positive outcomes from HSE inspections.  Ensure action plans from inspections are appropriate and that they are carried out.
Inform the Board of all significant risks within the post holder’s areas of responsibility.

External Relationships / Marketing
Taking all referrals from TUSLA ensuring the process runs to the quality standards that we require, and allocating children to services as appropriate.  Guiding and advising on the care approach for each child, including quality checking all childcare documents & plans and any other reports or planning needed.
Taking an overview of all discharge planning and the execution and documentation of the discharges themselves.
Take responsibility for the Company’s marketing plan and its implementation, in line with Board Strategy.
Liaise with clients and customers as necessary, including children and Young People, parents / carers, communities, professional stakeholders and the commissioners of projects.

Whistle Blowing, Confidentiality, Company Welfare:
Encourage “whistleblowing” in all staff, according to the whistleblowing policy, and receive reports from staff and managers as appropriate, acting upon them promptly and effectively.
At all times maintain confidentiality in regard to the children in our care, staffing matters, financial matters and any other matters internal to the company.
As an SMT member, take responsibility at all times for the wellbeing of the Company, putting it before personal, financial or other gain.
To work with CEO on producing an operations report quarterly based on information uploaded on our IT systems and from internal audits. To work with CEO on producing service review reports based on company performance and KPI’s.

Any Other Duties:
Any other duties, within the competence of the postholder, that may be required, reasonably, from time to time.

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION
Qualifications:

Essential:
Management degree or equivalent.
Professional qualification in teaching, childcare, social work, social care, youth work or psychology (clinical, educational or counselling).

Experience:

Essential:
At least 5 years senior management experience in a service company employing more than 100 staff
Experience in marketing, sales, operations management, logistics, or Human Resource Management
At least 5 years direct experience of working in and/or managing services to vulnerable children and young people.

Competencies:

Essential:
This post requires a high level of literacy and numeracy;
The postholder must be a self starter, able to direct and organise their own work and priorities.  The person must have excellent communication and motivation skills.
The postholder must, at all times, maintain a professional demeanour
An ability to “see the big picture” at the same time as paying attention to detail
An ability to work well under pressure, deadlines, and take responsibility for their work and role within the company.

Application forms can be obtained by emailing rachel.wood@positivecare.ie and the closing date is 24th March 2015 at 2pm.