The Orchard Care Group is a wholly Irish owned company dedicated to providing the best possible care, supports and outcomes for children, young people, and adults in Ireland across a range of settings and locations, in fostering, disability and mainstream residential services. The Group brings together three leading brands in Irish social care - Orchard Residential, Orchard Community Care and Orchard Fostering.  

 As we continue to expand to provide additional services to meet the needs of those we care for, we welcome applications for the post of Team Leader within our Orchard Residential Care division in Sligo and Leitrim residential homes.

Purpose of role

The role of the Team Leader will work directly with the Centre Management Team to assist in ensuring the daytoday management of the residential Centre.

They will retain an integral practice role and are expected to deliver a high quality, integrated approach that enables young people placed at Orchard Residential Care to achieve positive outcomes. It is expected that the Team Leader will promote a positive culture within Orchard Residential Care and all aspects of its work that is respectful, non-discriminatory and embracing of diversity. 

The role will encompass administrative duties as well as responsibilities pertaining to the progression and practice of the staff team and the implementation of Placement Plan objectives for young people; ensuring that they are receiving the agreed quality and quantity services.

The Team Leader will be accountable for the Centre functioning in the absence of the Person in Charge or the Deputy Manager.

The Team Leader will be accountable to the Deputy Manager or/and the Person In Charge. Where both are absent, the Team Leader will be accountable to the Senior Services Manager.

Responsible for: As a Social Care Leader you will work in close collaboration with the Centre Manager and deputy manager in creating and maintaining a warm, accepting and secure environment for the young people and to ensure the highest possible standards of care are maintained at all times. This will be achieved by providing frontline care to young people and developing and maintaining professional relationships with care staff as well as young people and their families. 

Duties and Responsibilities include:

•  The aim of this role, as apart from the Social Care Worker role, is to work directly with young people on the rota and to work both assisting and standing in for the unit deputy manager as required.
• To assist the manager in creating and maintaining a caring, safe, stable and professional environment for both the young people to live in and the staff to work in.
• To assist the manager and deputy manager in overseeing the running of the centre, in accordance with the National Standards for Residential Centres and relevant legislation.
• Overseeing the teams therapeutic approach alongside the manager and therapeutic team and co-ordinating appointments etc.
• To take a lead role alongside the manager and deputy manager in liaising with professionals re: care plans, referrals, monitoring and inspection, future development of the centre etc.
• To oversee key working and report progress/issues to manager.
• To ensure files in the centre are kept to inspection and registration standards and report any issues to manager.
• To liaise with outside professionals at meetings and conferences to actively promote the organisation.
• To act up in the absence of the unit deputy manager/manager for periods exceeding 1 working week.
• To uphold confidentiality in relation to any discussions with managers regarding staff.
• To act as a link between the staff team and the deputy manager/manager, facilitating an open, honest and reflective communication flow.
• To be fully aware of the unit, its purpose and function, care practises, policies and procedures, health and safety and to assist in overseeing their active implementation and regular revision.

A full job description is available on requested by emailing (email address removed)

Essential Criteria

Minimum level 7 in Social Care

Alternative Qualifications Accepted:

•  Level 8 in Psychology
• Level 7 in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy
• Level 7 in Counselling
•  Professional qualification in: Youth and Community Work, Social Work , Social Sciences Teaching & Nursing, Addiction studies
• Candidates must have no less than 3 years' experience working in social care with children / young persons'.
• Full Clean Manual Irish Drivers' licence