Quality Assurance Coordinator - Orchard Community Care (Social Care)

Orchard Residential; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 50,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Orchard Community Care is seeking a Quality Assurance Coordinator to support quality systems across residential, respite and day services in Ireland. The role involves audits, data analysis, reporting, and driving continuous improvement while traveling within the designated region.

You will collaborate with service leaders to ensure safe, high‑quality care and compliance with HIQA standards. A third level qualification and Garda clearance are required; a full driving licence is essential.

Qualifications

• Third level qualification in health, social care or quality management.
• At least 1 year experience in a social care setting, preferably disability residential services.
• Experience implementing a quality system in a care environment.
• Knowledge of HIQA regulations and inspections.
• Excellent communication, report writing and records management skills.
• Must have Garda Clearance and Overseas Clearance if applicable.
• Full Driver's licence with eligibility to drive in Ireland and access to a vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Support implementation and ongoing development of quality assurance systems across residential, respite and day services.
• Participate in the annual audit programme, including on-site audits, thematic reviews and quality assurance visits; produce audit reports and support corrective actions.
• Collaborate with Persons in Charge, Service Managers and Regional Directors to support safe, effective and high-quality services.
• Collect, analyse and monitor quality data, KPIs, incidents, risks and trends; present findings in quality reports and governance meetings.
• Prepare monthly quality assurance reports highlighting compliance, quality improvement initiatives and risks.
• Support review and development of policies, procedures and governance documents with proper document control.
• Promote stakeholder engagement by gathering feedback from children, young people, adults, families and staff.
• Support advocacy, rights-based practice and continuous improvement across services.
• Assist in electronic quality management system development and maintenance.
• Support regulatory inspections, registrations and quality improvement initiatives.
• Contribute to annual quality, governance and organisational reports.
• Undertake duties related to quality, risk management, safeguarding and incident management.

Skills

Quality assurance

Audit

Report writing

Interpersonal skills

Risk management

Garda clearance

Electronic records management

Education

Third level qualification in health, social care or quality management

Tools

Electronic quality management systems

Job description

Quality Assurance Coordinator - Orchard Community Care (Social Care)

Roscommon, Mayo, Sligo, Westmeath

Full-time

50,000 - 66,000 € per year

About the Role

Orchard Community Care is a leading provider of residential, respite and shared care services for children, young people and adults across Ireland. As a Quality Assurance Coordinator, you will play a key role in supporting our teams to deliver safe, effective and person-centred care that enables the people we support to live fulfilling lives and achieve positive outcomes. Operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, our services are committed to the highest standards of quality, safety and continuous improvement.
Reporting to the Quality Manager, this full-time hybrid role will be based from either our Sligo or Dublin office, depending on the successful candidate's location. The role offers flexibility to work from home while maintaining a base within one of our offices and attending meetings as required.
The successful candidate will travel regularly to residential services within their designated region to undertake audits, quality assurance visits, service reviews and other quality-related activities. As Orchard Community Care operates services nationwide, occasional travel outside the assigned region may also be required.
We are seeking a self-driven, focused and highly motivated individual with excellent interpersonal skills and a genuine passion for improving outcomes for the children and young people we support. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with operational teams to promote a culture of quality, safety and continuous improvement, ensuring that the care and support provided consistently meets the needs of those using our services while safeguarding their wellbeing at all times.

Role Objectives

• Support the implementation and ongoing development of quality assurance systems across residential, respite and day services, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, regulations, standards and organisational policies.
• Participate in the annual audit programme, including on-site audits, thematic reviews and quality assurance visits. Produce detailed audit reports, support managers in developing corrective actions and monitor progress through quality improvement plans.
• Work collaboratively with Persons in Charge, Service Managers and Regional Directors to support the delivery of safe, effective and high-quality services.
• Collect, analyse and monitor quality assurance data, key performance indicators (KPIs), incidents, risks and emerging trends, and present findings through regular quality reports and governance meetings.
• Prepare monthly quality assurance reports, highlighting compliance, quality improvement initiatives, key risks and areas of good practice.
• Support the review, development and implementation of policies, procedures and governance documents, ensuring effective document control processes are maintained.
• Promote stakeholder engagement by seeking feedback from children, young people, adults, families, staff and other relevant stakeholders, ensuring their views inform service improvement initiatives.
• Support and promote advocacy, rights-based practice and a culture of continuous quality improvement across all services.
• Assist in the implementation, maintenance and ongoing development of electronic quality management systems.
• Support services during regulatory inspections, registration processes and quality improvement initiatives.
• Contribute to the preparation of annual quality, governance and organisational reports.
• Support the implementation of organisational initiatives relating to quality, risk management, safeguarding, incident management and compliance.
• Undertake any other duties appropriate to the role as requested by the Managing Director, Group Quality Director or Quality Manager.

Please note:This is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities. The post holder may be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the role. This job description may be reviewed and amended from time to time in consultation with the post holder.
The ideal candidate will:

• Have a third level qualification in health, social care or quality management.
• Have at least one year experience working with in a social care setting, preferably in disability residential services
• Have experience implementing a quality system in a care environment.
• Have a good knowledge of risk management and incident management & review.
• Have knowledge and experience in HIQA regulations, standards and inspections.
• Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, report writing skills and be proficient at managing records in electronic format and hard copy
• Must have valid Garda Clearance and valid Overseas Clearance (if applicant lived abroad for more than 6 months).
• Full Drivers licence with eligibility to drive in Ireland & access to a vehicle.
• Be eligible to work in Ireland without restriction.

IND

Benefits to working with Company

• Extensive training programme
• On-going mentoring and support
• Competitive salary with increments
• Refer a friend initiative
• Orchard Values Champion Award
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Internal career progression opportunities
• Bike to work scheme
• Education Assistance grants

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.