Job Purpose:
To provide management and leadership to the Sophia Limerick team in providing housing and support to Service Users.
Areas of duties and responsibilities: Services, Human Resources, Health and Safety, Finance, Project Development

Key Responsibilities
Services
To commit to the objectives and ethos of Sophia
To establish and maintain a system of communication with the Service Manager including the provision of agreed reports to NSM
To develop and implement the standards within support services in a manner that reflects the policy and procedure of Sophia
Efficient and effective property management of accommodation including rents, tenure, furnishing, budgets, etc., where appropriate
To oversee the referral and assessment process for applicants to the Project and additional properties in collaboration with other Services as required.

In Residential Projects:
The arrival and admission of new Service Users
Issues regarding the welfare of Service Users as appropriate
The departure of Service Users from the Project
In Outreach Projects:
The referral and interviewing of new Service Users
The on-going support to Service Users
Assessment of individual and family needs, including childcare issues
To work in a holistic way with family members and single persons as appropriate to meet their housing management and personal needs and to support staff to do so.
To be responsible for key-working a number of families/single people when necessary for the operation of the Project and to support staff to do so.
To ensure that Service User disputes and grievances are dealt appropriately within the Project and Local Community
Manage the set up and maintenance of professional records.
To manage referrals, admissions and discharges in the Project and additional Sophia properties
To provide direction and leadership in the development of appropriate links to, and securing support from, relevant professionals and services; e.g. Health Services Executive and Local Housing Authorities etc.
To actively promote Service User involvement within the Projects and Local Communities.

Human Resources
To manage the recruitment, induction and on-going training, support and direction of Employees, Volunteers, Students and Trainees of Sophia.
To assign work as appropriate
Ensuring that there is regular communication with staff
Promoting positive working relationships with Relief Workers and permanent Staff Teams
Identifying the training needs of Staff
Providing support to Staff in their work
To provide professional supervision as appropriate to staff. To ensure that all employees, volunteers and students receive regular supervision and keeping a professional record of this.
Finances
To manage the annual budget for the Limerick Project and additional Sophia properties, based on the information provided by the Finance Department.
To manage the Service Level Agreements for the Project and to ensure the return of data and information agreed with funders.
To actively source and make grant applications to fund the services and costs of the service in your region. To provide information to funders on expenditure of grants.
To promote networking with appropriate voluntary and statutory agencies.
Health and Safety
To ensure that necessary fire, health and safety policies and procedures are in place and adhered to
To ensure appropriate procedures are in place for responding to emergencies within the Project and additional properties.
Development

To attend other agency meetings as appropriate and to work effectively with relevant personnel within Sophia.
To contribute to policy development and review within the agency.
To work on the development of services provided by Sophia in your region.
To work proactively to develop and implement strategies and actions which ensure that the Project and additional properties are fully occupied
To work closely with local State Bodies (including Local Authorities and HSE) to fulfil our obligations in alignment with and to compliment the development and national and area plans, and strategies and objectives of the Council and the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government.
To work closely with Health Service Executive and the new Children and Families Agency to fulfil our obligations in alignment with and to compliment the development and national and area plans, and strategies and objectives of the Council and the Departments of Health, Children and Youth Affairs.
To undertake other work that may be assigned to you from time to time.
Person Specification

Experience
2 years’ experience in a management role in housing and homeless sector or similar

Qualification
Degree in Social Care or related discipline
Values
A strong and flexible work ethic
Ability to provide evidence of personal alignment to Sophia’s values
Warm, engaging, compassionate with an empathy and an acute awareness for the trauma that service users have experienced due to homelessness
Commitment to the values and principles of Housing First and Trauma Informed Care

Skills
Proficient IT skills and knowledge of databases
Strong ability to work on own initiative
Excellent interpersonal communication skills both written and verbal
Excellent report writing and record keeping skills
Other
A full clean driving licence
Appointment is subject to satisfactory references and Garda Vetting
Application Process
Please forward a Cover Letter and CV to Recruitment@sophia.ie
The closing date for receipt of applications is Monday, August 3rd 2020