Day Services Manager (Social Care)

Orchard Community Care is recruiting a Day Services Manager to lead our current services, supporting adults with intellectual disability and autism. The service delivers a structured, programme-based day service with accredited learning, individualised plans and measurable outcomes. Working Monday to Friday you will have a background in Day Services or Special Education and will lead the teams to deliver the programme, support Team Leads / Programme Facilitators in building and delivering individual person centred programmes, and ensure the service is delivered in line with HSE New Directions.

Key responsibilities

• Manage and lead the teams across our current centres to deliver a structured day programme, using TEACCH structured teaching, ASDAN accredited learning and Total Communication ( or similar accredited an structured frameworks.
• Support Team Leads / Programme Facilitators in building and delivering individual programmes for each person, with clear goals reviewed regularly and evidenced through outcome measures, in line with HSE New Directions.
• Train and coach staff in programme delivery, identifying training needs and building skills across the teams.
• Line manage and supervise Team Leads / Programme Facilitators and, through them, the Social Care Workers, including competency sign-off and performance development.
• Lead the teams in applying Positive Behaviour Support and the Low Arousal Approach, working with behaviour, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy colleagues.
• Manage the day services budget and resources.
• Maintain compliance with HSE New Directions and HIQA standards, including safeguarding, incident management, risk management and audit.
• Build relationships with families, HSE disability services, community partners and local education and training providers.

Essential Criteria

• Experience working in adult day services or special education teaching, supporting people with intellectual disability and/or autism.
• The ability to design and deliver individual programmes, and to guide and train others to do so.
• A Level 8 degree in education (SEN), psychology, behaviour analysis, occupational therapy, social care or a related discipline.
• At least 3 years in a leadership or supervisory role.
• Working knowledge of HSE New Directions and its application in day services, along with person-centred planning and adult safeguarding.
• Training in Positive Behaviour Support.
• Full clean driving licence and access to a car.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience delivering ASDAN or a similar accredited, programme-based curriculum in a day service.
• Experience facilitating using a structured framework like TEACCH.
• Specialist postgraduate training in autism, special education, behaviour analysis or Positive Behaviour Support.
• Professional registration with CORU, the Teaching Council or a relevant professional body.
• Experience of budget management and service development.

Benefits to working with Company

• Competitive salary and incremental pay scale
• Supernumerary role
• Attracts allowance and bonus option
• Company Pension
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (increases with service)
• Orchard Values Champion Awards
• Paid training on commencement
• Enhanced Maternity Allowance
• Higher Education Bursary
• Dedicated team and access to a knowledgeable Multidisciplinary team.
• EAP Scheme
• Excellent training opportunities and clear focus on career progression
• Bike to Work Scheme

About us

The Orchard Care Group is 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.
Our Vision at Orchard Care Group is that the people we support live meaningful lives through, our high-quality model of excellent care, within our positive, collaborative, values-based culture. Our Values are Advocacy, Integrity, Excellence, Collaboration & Human Rights.