Children’s Residential – Social Care Unit Manager

Our client is seeking a passionate and experienced Social Care Unit Manager to lead a residential service supporting young people in Lismore, Waterford. This is an opportunity to take on a key leadership role, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, child-centred care in a safe, nurturing environment.

Job Overview
As Unit Manager, you will oversee all aspects of care delivery, team leadership, compliance, and service development within the home. You will lead and support a multidisciplinary team while ensuring the highest standards of care and adherence to national regulations. The role reports to the Regional Manager.

What’s on Offer

• Competitive salary
• Flexible rostering to support work-life balance
• Ongoing professional training and development
• Education support opportunities
• Health and life insurance supports
• Incremental pay scale
• Employee Assistance Programme (for staff and families)
• Team-building activities and social events

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure care delivery meets regulatory standards and best practice
• Maintain a safe, homely, and developmentally appropriate environment
• Lead, supervise, and support Social Care staff and team leaders
• Oversee staff training, performance management, and team development
• Manage budgets and resources effectively
• Support referral processes and maintain accurate reporting
• Ensure compliance with inspection standards (e.g. Tusla)
• Build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders (e.g. Tusla, Gardaí, CAMHS)
• Participate in on-call rota as required
• Promote safeguarding, transparency, and a positive team culture
• Contribute to service development and continuous improvement

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum Level 7 qualification in Social Care (or equivalent relevant discipline)
• CORU registration (or eligibility)
• Significant experience in children’s residential care (typically 3–4 years post-qualification, depending on qualification level)
• Experience in leadership or management within a care setting
• Working knowledge of childcare legislation, national standards, and best practice

Relevant qualifications may include Social Care, Social Work, Psychology, Youth & Community Work, Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy, Counselling, Nursing, Teaching, or other related disciplines.

Essential Requirements

• Full, clean manual driving licence (valid in Ireland)
• Right to work in Ireland
• Strong leadership, communication, and organisational skills
• Experience in team management, conflict resolution, and crisis management
• Full Garda Vetting and police clearance (where applicable)

This is a rewarding opportunity for a motivated professional to lead a service that makes a real difference in the lives of young people.

Reasonable Adjustments:

If you consider yourself to have a disability or require any reasonable adjustment during the recruitment process or within the workplace, please highlight this at the earliest opportunity by contacting our team.

We are unable to support or accept applications from candidates who are residents within the Red or Amber list of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Workforce Support and Safeguard List.

BH - 198027
GH - 34544