CoAction West Cork provides quality services to support children and adults with an intellectual disability, and children with autism. This is achieved by helping each service user reach their full potential, working in partnership with their families and carers, within the community.

Area Manager,

Castletownbere

Permanent Contract - 35 hours per week

Closing date: Friday, 23rd May 2025

The following description is intended to give a broad outline of the post only. It is neither exhaustive nor definitive. Duties may be altered or amended by the organisation to suit the changing needs of the people we support.  As much notice as possible will be given regarding any such changes. It is our policy to review job descriptions on an on-going basis. 

Responsible to:     Director of Services

Base:    Castletownbere

Overall Purpose of Position:

The Area Manager has overall responsibility for the operation of services in their area of responsibility, including day services, home support, day and residential respite, supported living, and any other services that may be developed in the area of assignment in the future.  In line with the ethos and policies of CoAction, relevant legislation and in particular New Directions and HIQA Regulations, the Area Manager will lead and motivate the staff team to deliver the best possible service to the people we support. In particular, the Area Manager will be responsible for ensuring staff work in partnership with each individual's circle of support to identify the needs and wishes of each person.  

The Area Manager will work with their local management team, Director of Services and relevant colleagues in reviewing and reconfiguring current services and developing new services in response to identified needs, best practice and national policy in line with available funding and resources.   

The Area Manager will be required to prepare and submit reports / updates at regular intervals. 

Hours of work will by 35 hours per week. 

The Area Manager will participate in the On Call Rota. 

Main Responsibilities:

• Service Provision 

  • Ensure that the individual needs of each person enrolled in the service are regularly reviewed and assessed using an agreed person centred planning tool and in conjunction with the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) as appropriate.  

  • Guide and motivate staff in the implementation of goals identified in each individual’s plan and in the delivery of programmes. 

  • Directly line manage the Person In Charge of the residential services, and the line manager in the day service area.  

  • Oversee the management of all services in the area of responsibility. 

  • Provide presence and oversight across all service settings. 

  • In liaison with the person in charge ensure compliance with HIQA Regulations for services registered with HIQA. 

  • Ensure Day services are operating in line with HSE New Directions Policy and Standards. 

  • Guide staff, in ensuring compliance with legal and accreditation requirements, and promote a culture of best practice in all areas of the service’. 

  • Attend case review meetings, case conferences and Referral & Enrolment meetings as required. 

  • Maintain appropriate records and documentation in line with organisational policies, Salesforce, ESS, NASS, and any other such systems that may be introduced from time to time. 

  • Ensure that all safeguarding concerns, incidents and allegations of abuse are reported and responded to in line with organisational policy and procedures, HSE and HIQA requirements.  

  • As part of a team, participate in the review, reconfiguration and development of services based upon identified needs in individual plans and as necessitated based on available funding and resources. 

  • Promote a culture of active listening and engagement with families / significant others of the people we support to ensure any issues of concern, or formal complaints, are responded to appropriately and in a timely manner. 

  • Liaise with the multi-disciplinary team to ensure all referrals are managed and prioritised appropriately. 

  • Ensure that people’s options for support are explored, referrals are passed to the appropriate channels, and acted on, by the most relevant person within the service, and work collaboratively to ensure this happens.  

  • Participate in the On-Call system. 

  • Submit reports as requested by the Director of Services and attend regular meetings as required. 

   

  HR Responsibilities 

  • Carry out line management duties including regular communication and engagement with front line managers and ‘leads’, formal supervision, appraisals, development performance reviews, team building and retention/motivation initiatives. 

  • Ensure effective planning of staff rosters in the area of responsibility with particular regard to ensuring the staffing levels and skill mix are appropriate to the support needs and the number of the people being supported.    

  • Work with the Director of Services and HR in the recruitment, selection, induction, training and ongoing professional development of staff. 

  • Maintain and monitor appropriate staff records and documentation, including annual leave records, OWT’s, rosters, timesheets via ESS and any other systems that may be introduced from time to time. 

  • Support and encourage clear, regular and effective communication amongst staff and in particular staff who are supporting people across several settings. 

   

  Health, Safety & Risk Management Responsibilities 

  • Be the responsible person for the Health & Safety for the Hub or Hubs of responsibility as set out in the Safety Statement.  

  • Ensure the Health, Safety and Risk management requirements, as per relevant organisational policies and procedures and legislation are in place, managed and regularly reviewed within the area  (s) of assignment.  

  • Ensure compliance with GDPR standards.   

   

  Financial Management Responsibilities 

  • Manage the overall budgets for the area of responsibility as a whole and approve purchase orders and invoices as per the organisations policies and Standard Operating Procedures as they are developed and implemented. 

  • With the support and guidance of the Director of Services and Finance Manager ensure there are appropriate financial management systems in place to manage the income and expenditure of the area of responsibility.  

  • Ensure there is a lead person in each service area to ensure all maintenance and repair issues are dealt with in a timely manner, ensuring buildings and transport are always maintained to a high standard and that issues are reported in line with organisational policy.  

  • Ensure that resources for the delivery of services are planned, sourced, deployed and managed with value for money in mind in agreement with the Director of Services and in line with organisational policy. 

  • Manage and approve expenditure in line with CoAction’s Procurement Policy, including purchase orders, invoices, expensive claims, petty cash etc. 

  • Manage and approve staff timesheets, Working Time forms etc. in conjunction with the policy, current systems or systems that may be introduced in the future 

   

  Strategic Planning and Community Networking 

  • Contribute to the development and delivery of service plans, to policy reviews and working groups that may be created from time to time. 

  • Submit reports as requested by the CEO and Director of Services, and attend regular meetings as required. 

  • Continuously stay abreast of national and international developments and best practice in the provision of services to adults with intellectual disabilities and autism. 

  • Represent CoAction at local area level, developing relationships and strong links with families, local communities and similar organisations   

  • Attend training and development courses that support the postholder in their role, as identified and agreed with the Director of Services. 

  • Undertake any other duties commensurate with this position. Duties may be altered or amended by the organisation to suit the changing needs of the people we support 

 General Particulars:

• This is a 35 hour per week post

• Annual Leave – 25 days per annum

• Pension scheme

• Paid maternity and paternity leave

• Sick Leave

• Income Protection

• Healthy Bunny

• Long service days

• Staff Savings scheme
  

 Other Requirements:

• Each candidate must have their own means of transport and a full driving licence.

• Located in or able to travel to areas around West Cork.

Please note: We do not offer sponsorships/visas and only accept candidates who are based within the EU and are eligible to work in the Republic of Ireland.

For full position details and job description or for details on submitting an application please visit our website www.coaction.ie or you can email HRgen@coaction.ie

CoAction West Cork is an equal opportunity employer.