Adult Day Service Manager - Tuam

Ability West; Tuam; On-site; EUR 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Ability West in Tuam, Co. Galway, Ireland, is seeking a Day Service Manager on a permanent basis to lead our adult day services and ensure person-centred supports for adults with intellectual disabilities.

The role reports to Assistant Director of Client Services and requires strong leadership. You will manage staff, supervise service delivery, monitor budgets, develop plans, and maintain links with training providers and external partners, ensuring compliance with standards and NQS.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years in a management or supervisory role in health or social care.
• Experience managing a Complex Needs Service and autism.
• Knowledge of New Directions Interim Standards.
• Proven budget management experience.
• Experience in report writing and rostering.

Responsibilities

• Guide and supervise staff in delivering programmes for adults with intellectual disabilities.
• Maintain person-centred planning processes aligned with policy and best practice.
• Establish and maintain relationships with service users, families, and advocates.
• Coordinate annual reviews and liaise with internal and external providers.
• Monitor budgets and expenditures within approved budgets.
• Organise meetings, case reviews, and progress reports.
• Ensure programmes meet accreditation requirements where applicable.
• Foster community integration and progression to education or employment.

Skills

People management

Budget management

Team leadership

Quality improvement

Education

Degree in health or social care management

Tools

IT systems

Job description

Location: On site / Tuam, Co. Galway, Ireland
job type: Permanent / Full-time
Sector and subsector: Medical & Healthcare | Social Care / Social Worker
Salary: Competitive salary

We are currently seeking expressions of interest for a Day Service Manager on a permanent contract basis based in Tuam, Co.Galway, If you have an interest in this role, we would be happy to meet with you and to discuss the role further.

Overview of Ability West

Ability West provides a wide range of high-quality services to children and adults with an intellectual disability and autism across Galway City and County. Services provided are: day, residential, short breaks, community supports, rehabilitative training and multi-disciplinary supports. The ethos of service provision is underpinned by our Vision, Mission, Core Values and Strategic Plan, which is to empower people with disabilities to live self-directed lives in an equal and inclusive society. Each person is supported and valued within an environment which promotes their overall autonomy, health and wellbeing and enables them to reach their potential.

Overview of Role

The post holder has responsibility for the effective provision and operation of person centred services to adults in specified Ability West day services. Sean Mulvoy New Directions services are delivered across a number of service locations.

The post holder will work closely with the Assistant Director of Client Services with regard to both planning and implementing the effective delivery of services.

Manage and monitor the annual budget, including staffing and all aspects of expenditure within the centre (central and service user based) and be responsible for operating within approved budgets.

Purpose of Role

The purpose of this job is to ensure that the day service is run in accordance with Ability West’s Strategic Plan, NQS and Ability West’s policies, procedures and guidelines, Safety Statement and New Directions Interim Standards providing a person centred service for the individuals availing of the service and reporting on a regular basis to the Assistant Director of Client Services.

Key Duties

• Guide and direct staff in the provision of the designated programmes and services for people with an intellectual disability operated at and through the adult day service including rehabilitative training programmes as required.
• Maintain a person centred planning process in line with Ability West policy and practice as a means of:
• Identifying with service users their abilities, preferences and needs
• Identifying and developing a range of services required by the service users and within approved budget
• To establish and maintain relationships with individuals that are based on respect and equality and that promotes their independence.
• Implementing person centred planning in agreement with the service user and as appropriate with their advocate.
• Ensure specified programmes meet FETAC accreditation requirements where required
• Ensure person centred plans contain realistic goals that can include opportunities for further education, training, personal development, community integration and progression for the individual.
• Ensure the active involvement of service users in personal, life skills, and social, leisure and community activities.
• Ensure the availability of structured occupational activities for service users as part of a comprehensive individual programme.
• Establish, develop and maintain links with internal and external training providers that can benefit service users.
• Establish, develop and maintain effective links for service users that have the interest and capacity to progress to training and/or supported employment or open employment.
• Co-ordinate annual reviews of service provision in line with changing requirements of new and existing service users.
• Organise and attend meetings, Case Reviews, Case Conferences, etc. in the relevant centres and in service user’s homes as required.
• Evaluating programmes, as appropriate.
• Ensure that the interests of all service users are represented by staff, service users themselves or their advocates.
• Liaise with multidisciplinary support service team members, other relevant Ability West staff and staff within other organisations, with regard to service users as required.
• Liaise with parents, carers and other family members as necessary.
• Ensure your line manager is fully briefed on relevant matters pertaining to service users and the centre.
• Use of person first language in verbal and written communication.
• Instruct and supervise staff where appropriate, in carrying out relevant programmes for service users.
• Provide advice, support and training for team members.
• Maintain all equipment in good working order, including relevant records, logs, etc.
• Provide training to staff and service users in the use of equipment as necessary.
• Manage and monitor the annual budget, including staffing and all aspects of expenditure within the centre (central and service user based) and be responsible for operating within approved budgets.
• Supervise, develop, motivate and support team members in their work, monitor and evaluate their performance, ensuring high standards of service are provided for our service users.
• Provide individual support for team members by implementing regular 1:1 meetings, Staff Support and Development and review/assess training requirements as part of this process.
• Fostering integration into the local community in line with Ability West’s policy and philosophy.
• Fostering parental involvement and encouraging parental visits to the centre.
• Provide statistical information for financial and administrative purposes, as necessary utilising all available information and technical systems.
• Oversee the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of programmes for all service users.

The list of key duties is not exhaustive.

Person Specification:

A minimum of 3 years in a management or supervisory role in the area of health or social care.

• A minimum of 3 years in a management or supervisory role in the area of health or social care.
• A proven track record of managing a Complex Needs Service catering for Service Users with behavior that challenge, autism and complex needs etc.
• Experience in the area of autism is essential with experience or working with individuals with sensory processing difficulties advantageous or sensory integrations programmes and their development.
• An appropriate qualification in health or social care management at an appropriate level.
• A proven track record of managing a day service which meet quality, regulatory/legislative requirements.
• Knowledge of New Directions Interim Standards
• A proven track record of budget management.
• Experience of report writing, personal support plans, people and roster management.
• Full current driving license with access to your own vehicle (mileage will be paid at the appropriate rate).
• Excellent working knowledge of legislative/regulatory requirements and responsibilities.

Experience in managing a service for individuals with Intellectual Disabilities.

The ability to plan for the future needs of service users within the service.

Genuine respect and empathy for diversity and individuality.

Flexible, Responsible and mature approach to work.

Creativity (e.g. in using community resources, problem solving, dealing with Service User needs).

Professional, accountable, good planning and time management skills.

Exceptional organisational and communication skills also required.

Excellent administrative, organisation and IT skills inclusive of IT based management systems.

Closing date for applications: October 23rd, 2026

INAW