Day Services Manager (Social Care)

Orchard Residential; Sligo, Roscommon; Remote; EUR 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

25 days annual leave

Company pension

Paid training

EAP Scheme

Bike to Work

Job summary

Orchard Community Care in Ireland is recruiting a Day Services Manager to lead our day services for adults with intellectual disability and autism. The role focuses on person-centred programmes, team leadership, and compliance with HSE New Directions and HIQA standards.

You will mentor Team Leads and Programme Facilitators, deliver accredited learning frameworks, and manage budgets while building strong links with families and local partners.

Qualifications

• Experience in adult day services or special education teaching.
• Ability to design and deliver individual programmes and guide others.
• Strong knowledge of HSE New Directions and person-centred planning.

Responsibilities

• Lead teams across centres to deliver a structured day programme using accredited frameworks.
• Support Team Leads in building individual programmes with clear, measurable goals.
• Train and coach staff in programme delivery and identify training needs.
• Line manage Team Leads, Programme Facilitators and Social Care Workers with competency sign-off.
• Ensure compliance with HSE New Directions and HIQA standards; manage safeguarding and risk.

Skills

Leadership

TEACCH

Positive Behaviour Support

Person-centred planning

Programme delivery

Budget management

Education

Level 8 degree (SEN/related)

Job description

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.

IND

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.