Children’s Residential – Social Care Unit Manager

Children’s Residential – Social Care Unit Manager

Our client is seeking a passionate and experienced Social Care Unit Manager to lead a residential service supporting young people in Lismore, Waterford. This is an opportunity to take on a key leadership role, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, child-centred care in a safe, nurturing environment.

Job Overview As Unit Manager, you will oversee all aspects of care delivery, team leadership, compliance, and service development within the home. You will lead and support a multidisciplinary team while ensuring the highest standards of care and adherence to national regulations. The role reports to the Regional Manager.

What’s on Offer

• Competitive salary

• Flexible rostering to support work-life balance

• Ongoing professional training and development

• Education support opportunities

• Health and life insurance supports

• Incremental pay scale

• Employee Assistance Programme (for staff and families)

• Team-building activities and social events

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure care delivery meets regulatory standards and best practice

• Maintain a safe, homely, and developmentally appropriate environment

• Lead, supervise, and support Social Care staff and team leaders

• Oversee staff training, performance management, and team development

• Manage budgets and resources effectively

• Support referral processes and maintain accurate reporting

• Ensure compliance with inspection standards (e.g. Tusla)

• Build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders (e.g. Tusla, Gardaí, CAMHS)

• Participate in on-call rota as required

• Promote safeguarding, transparency, and a positive team culture

• Contribute to service development and continuous improvement

• Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum Level 7 qualification in Social Care (or equivalent relevant discipline)

• CORU registration (or eligibility)

• Significant experience in children’s residential care (typically 3–4 years post-qualification, depending on qualification level)

• Experience in leadership or management within a care setting

• Working knowledge of childcare legislation, national standards, and best practice

• Relevant qualifications may include Social Care, Social Work, Psychology, Youth & Community Work, Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy, Counselling, Nursing, Teaching, or other related disciplines.

• Essential Requirements

• Full, clean manual driving licence (valid in Ireland)

• Right to work in Ireland

• Strong leadership, communication, and organisational skills

• Experience in team management, conflict resolution, and crisis management

• Full Garda Vetting and police clearance (where applicable)

• This is a rewarding opportunity for a motivated professional to lead a service that makes a real difference in the lives of young people.

Reasonable Adjustments:

• If you consider yourself to have a disability or require any reasonable adjustment during the recruitment process or within the workplace, please highlight this at the earliest opportunity by contacting our team.

• We are unable to support or accept applications from candidates who are residents within the Red or Amber list of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Workforce Support and Safeguard List.

• BH - 198027

• GH - 34544