Social Care Leader (Scl)

THE ORGANISATION Rowan (Child and Parent Services) was established in established in 2019 and to date, on behalf of Tusla, HSE and the Court Service, has provided specialised and responsive community based services to all types of families and the children they care for.
Rowan CPS is now providing community based childrens residential services for younger children as part of the range of services currently provided, and in response to a need for highly informed and outcome focused services for children and families.
OVERVIEW OF ROLE In developing this Job Description, we are cognisant of National Standards for Residential Children's Centres 2018, our need to comply with these standards and the need to focus the role of the Social Care Leader on ensuring our compliance with the said standards.
The role of the Social Care Leader (SCL) is to work directly with the Centre Management Team toassist in ensuring the day-to-day management of the residential centre.
The SCL will retain anintegralpracticeroleandensurethatthehighestqualityofcareisprovidedtoyoungpeople.
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 SCL will be accountable for the centre functioning in the absence of the PIC or the Deputy Person in Charge (DPIC).
The SCL will be accountable to the Deputy Person in Charge (DPIC) or/and the PIC.
Where both are absent the SCL will be accountable to the Regional Manager.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES The duties and responsibilities of the SCL are at the discretion of the PIC and DPICs discretion and have been identified based on the National Standards for Childrens Residential Centres (2018), through which all residential centres are regulated.
CHILD CENTERED CARE AND SUPPORT Consultation The SCL will be responsible for Chairing or appointing a chair for Young PeoplesHouse Meetings, ensuring that the agenda for such meetings is relevant, creativeand responsive to young people and centres current needs.
Minutes will be promptlyrecorded and verified by the SCL who will be accountable for communicating anyissuesarisingfromthesemeetingsto thePICandorDPIC.
The SCL will be responsible for coordinating the keywork process for young people,ensuring that this is proactive, meaningful and in line with young peoples assessedneeds.TheSCLmaycountersignkeyworkrecords.
The SCL will be identified as a keyworker for young people and will be accountable for the implementation of the keywork policy.
They will also be responsible for monitoring the implementation of this policy in relation to other keyworkers and co- keyworkers, where they are not in SCL positions.
Access to Records The SCL will be responsible for certifying that young peoples right to access their information is promoted and facilitated by the staff team, within the permitted boundaries.
Complaints The SCL will be accountable for ensuring that all grievances and complaints madeduring their shift are identified and recorded accordingly in the relevant centrerecords and registers.
The SCL must ensure that young people are encouraged tomake complaints and ensure that these are efficiently passed on to the PIC orDPICfor resolution.
The SCL will be responsible for advocating for young people.
This may entail attending professionals meetings with or on their behalf, contacting external agencies such as EPIC or communicating grievances or complaints to relevant persons.
Contact with Families The SCL will verify that young peoples families receive the agreed quality and quantity inputs.
They will maintain suitable contact with families and ensure that this is adequately recorded.
Supervision and Visiting of Young People The SCLwill beresponsible for coordinatingall visitsto young people areensuretheyarescheduledappropriatelyandrecordedaccuratelywithinthecarefolder.
EFFECTIVE CARE AND SUPPORT Suitable Placement and Admissions The SCL will contribute to the setting up of young peoples care folders prior to their admission and ensuring that they have knowledge of the referral information.
The SCL will participate in the transition and admission process for all new young people and will ensure that this process is recorded appropriately.
Statutory Care Plans / Care Plan Reviews / Placement Plans The SCL will prepare relevant reports for Child in Care Reviews and may attend such meetings with the DPIC and or PIC.
The SCL may be accountable for recording factually accurate minutes from such meetings.
The SCL will contribute to the development of a comprehensive and achievable Placement Plan in conjunction with the DPIC / PIC.
The SCL will consult with SCWs in order to delegate agreed assessed needs from the placement plan.
These will be taken from the Weekly Plans and Individual Work Schedules, from which the SCL will have contributed regarding the development of these.
Schedules will be devised at the beginning of each week/month, without exception, and will be SMART and form part of the daily practice.
The SCL will contribute to the monitoring and review of the Placement Plan; through Weekly/monthly Reports, through the monthly Supervision process and also at the end of the six-month period in preparing for the next Child in Care Review.
Race, Culture, Religion, Gender and Disability The SCL will take guidance from the DPIC / PIC to ensure that a creative and proactive approach is taken to address these key areas of young peoples Placement Plans.
This may be through the forum of keywork, individual work and Young Peoples House Meetings.
Accommodation The SCL will be responsible for ensuring that a safe, caring environment within awarm,homelyatmosphereiscreatedforyoungpeople.
TheSCLwillensurethehighestpresentationofthecentreatalltimes.TheSCLwillbe expected to delegate the cleaning schedule and ensure that the grounds aremaintainedatalltimes.
The SCL will prepare for visitors and ensure that they liaise with the SCWs to ensure the full implementation of the organisational hospitality policy within the centre at all times.
Fire Safety TheSCLwillschedulemonthlyFireDrillsandthenco-ordinatethesewhilstreviewingstaffhandlingofthesesituations.
TheSCLmustreviewtheFireRegistertoensureitiskeptuptodateandisalwaysofthehighestquality.
The SCL will have a role in ensuring that all fire safety equipment is maintained throughout the centre.
The SCL must report any inadequacies to the DPIC / PIC.
Childrens Case and Care Records The SCL will be accountable for the day-to-day quality assurance of care records and care folders.
This will entail ensuring records are completed, printed and signed and the SCL will countersign all records completed during their shift.
The SCL must provide feedback to staff on the quality and presentation of records and provide direction in relation to Placement Plan relevance.
This will be guided by the DPIC / PIC.
The SCL will be accountable for the completion of Weekly/Monthly Reports for all young people within the centre.
These must be collated at the end of every week/Month.
The SCL will ensure that the centres Daily Update is forwarded to all relevant persons each morning and evening and that this is accurate in detail and presented to a professional standard.
Preparation for Leaving Care The SCL will oversee young peoples aftercare progression.
They will hold responsibility to ensure that they liaise appropriately with all external professionals on the case.
The SCL must delegate tasks so that the after-care programme is a fundamental element in the relevant young persons care.
The SCL must ensure that all progression is tracked, recorded and evident for Registration and inspection as in line with all legislation.
Discharges The SCL will participate in reflective practice following the discharge of all youngpeoplefromthecentreinordertodeterminethelearningdistilledfromtheplacementoverall.
SAFE CARE AND SUPPORT The SCL will be responsible for adherence to Child Protection Policy and for the prompt notification of Child Protection and Welfare Concerns, in conjunction with the DPIC / PIC.
All SCL are mandated persons as in line with 2017 Children First legislation.
The SCL is responsible for ensuring that all Child Protection and Welfare Reporting Forms (CPWRF) completed on their shift are factually accurate and in line with legislation and Solis MMC Childrens Services policies.
Managing Behaviour The SCL will be accountable for ensuring that Placement Support Plans are studied at all Shift Handover processes, understood, verified and implemented by staff.
Any practice which is in breach of the Placement Support Plan content should be identified by the SCL and immediately addressed; such concerns will be communicated efficiently to the DPIC / PIC.
Restraint The SCL will hold oversight for ensuring that Physical Intervention Reports are efficiently recorded, accurate in detail and presented to a high standard.
They will be responsible for forwarding all Physical Intervention Reports to the DPIC / PIC who will be accountable for the final approval, management comment and notification.
The SCL will be responsible for the filing of Physical Intervention Reports, the associated correspondence and the upkeep of the Physical Intervention Register.
Absence without Authority The SCL will be accountable for ensuring that all policy relating to Absence without Authority is adhered to in all circumstances and that the young peoples Absent Management Plans are implemented.
Notification of Significant Events The SCL will ensure that Significant Event Notifications (SEN) are efficiently recorded,accurate in detail and presented to a high standard.
They will be responsible forforwarding these to the Person In Charge who will be accountable for the finalapproval,managementcommentandnotification.
TheSCLwillensurethefilingofSEN,theassociatedcorrespondenceandcontributetotheupkeepoftheSENRegister.
TheSCLunderinstructionoftheDPICorPICwillcontributetothecentresdatabases which encompass relevant criteria that endeavors to demonstrate a highlevel of governance and accountability.
The SCL may responsible to ensure that this issenttotherelevantdepartmentsatthebeginningofeverymonth.
HEALTH, WELLBEING AND DEVELOPMENT Provision of Food and Cooking Facilities The SCL will be responsible for overseeing the centre Weekly Meal Planner; ensuring that there is a suitable balance of health and nutrition.
Medical Care The SCL will be responsible for ensuring that young people are encouraged and facilitated to attend relevant medical appointments and that such visits are clearly evidenced within the care records.
The SCL will be responsible for certifying that there is sufficient supply of medication for young people and that this is securely stored within the centre.
They will also be responsible for delegating to the SCW that medication is dispensed appropriately and that this is clearly recorded within the care records.
The SCL will be accountable for ensuring that the First Aid box is adequately equipped at all times and that supplies are efficiently requested from the Health and Safety Committee.
Emotional and Specialist Support Within their shift the SCL must oversee that all necessary appointments are facilitated and correspondence between all specialist support agencies are recorded to a high quality.
Education The SCL will coordinate, facilitate and support educational activities and opportunities for young people.
The SCL will review and direct SCWs to guarantee that all young people are afforded the same Educational standards as all young people in Ireland.
LEADERSHIP GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT Legislation Adherence The SCL will keep abreast of the National Standards for Childrens Residential Centres (2018), the concomitant organisational Policies and Procedures and all associated national policy and legislation ensuring that they are competent and confident in adhering to this in daily practice.
The SCL will monitor and assess staff implementation of the above organisational and national policies.
The SCL will ensure that the centres Statement of Purpose is actualised in daily practice and that staff have a full working knowledge of the expectations of this statement.
The SCL will present themselves as a role model and mentor to staff at all times in reflecting the implementation of the Statement of Purpose.
Risk Assessing TheSCLwillberesponsibletoensurethatallstaffadheretotheguidancesetoutinallriskassessments.
The SCL will be responsible for ensuring the adequate supervision of all young peopleduring theirshifts.
The SCL will be responsible for adherence to Child Protection Policy and for theprompt notification of Child Protection and Welfare Concerns, in conjunction withtheDPIC/PIC.
The SCL will be responsible for ensuring that Accident Reports are promptly completed and notified where an accident has occurred on their shift.
They are also responsible for ensuring that the relevant Accident Register is updated and maintained.
Individual Care in Group Living / Model of Care The SCL will be responsible for working effectively with young people and developing positive developmental relationships.
Management In the absence of the DPIC and PIC the SCL will be responsible for the day-to-day overseeing of the residential centre.
This may entail being accountable for additional duties and reporting to the Regional Manager in the event that the PIC or DPIC is not contactable.
Quality The SCL will be responsible for participating in review meetings with the DPIC /PIC following receipt of all internal Quality Audit reports and External Monitoring and Inspection Reports.
This will entail a critical review of the report feedback and of the associated deficits / recommendations and a formal response will be expected where a SCL task or responsibility has been highlighted as negligent within such reports.
RESPONSIVE WORKFORCE Staffing The SCL will be responsible in ensuring that new staff members are welcomed andmadetofeel asthey arepart oftheteam.
The SCL will ensure that they support the DPIC / PIC in implementing a functioning induction process.
Supervision and Support TheSCLwillparticipateinmonthlysupervisionwiththePICwhichwillbepracticeandlearningbased.Therecordingofsupervisionminuteswillbeajointresponsibilitybetween theSCLand PIC.
The SCL will participate in fortnightly SCL meetings which will be chaired by theDPIC/PIC.TheSCLwillrecordtheminutes ofthesemeetings.
The SCL may be expected to undertake fortnightly Policy and Procedures focusedsupervision with all new employees during their initial three-month employmentperiod.
This will entail reviewing policies, assessing the employees understandingand adequately recording these minutes for the Supervision Folder.
The SCL willreporttheprogress ofthissupervisiontothePIC.
TheSCLwillmonitorthepracticeanddevelopmentoftheemployeesontheirshiftteam.Thiswillbe basedonguidancefromthePIC.
The SCL will attend Team Meetings fortnightly / Monthly and will have designated accountability for recording minutes promptly, ensuring that these are filed and signed by the staff team.
In the PIC / DPIC absences, the SCL will chair Team Meetings.
The SCL will be responsible for chairing Shift Handover meetings, ensuring that all information is appropriately and fully communicated and that the relevant handover proforma is fully complete.
USE OF RESOURCES The SCL will be responsible for the centres Petty Cash system.
This will entail effectively budgeting per shift and authorising all Petty Cash transactions.
The SCL will be accountable for any deficits in Petty Cash which occurred throughout their shift and will be required to respond to queries from Head Office and the DPIC/PIC in relation to Petty Cash.
Maintenance and Repairs The SCL will be responsible for ensuring that all maintenance work is undertakenpromptly; this requires a solution focused response whereby maintenance responsesareidentifiedonthesameshift.
The SCL will be accountable for ensuring the appropriate upkeep and maintenance of all centre vehicles.
Any repair work will be promptly identified by the SCL.
USE OF INFORMATION The SCL will be responsible to ensure that all records kept on the young people are up to date, relevant, accurate and of a high quality at all times.
The SCL will ensure that the Centre Register is updated upon the admission and discharge of all young people, ensuring that all pertinent information is concisely recorded.
The SCL must ensure that each young persons information is protected, and all personal information is treated with respect and confidential.
The SCL will be responsible for all young peoples information is shared and transferred in an efficient and timely manner to support decision-making.
The above Job Description is non-exhaustive and where necessary and by appointment of the PIC, DPIC or Regional Manager the SCL may be expected to take up other relevant duties and tasks.