Positive Behaviour Support jobs

Position Description

Disability Services Manager -Donegal - (NEW CENTRE)

Reporting to

Area Manager

Location

Muff, Inishowen, Donegal

Contract

Permanent full-time

Direct reports

Team Leaders, Social Care Workers, Administrator and/or designated staff, as applicable

Regulatory status

Will be appointed as Person in Charge of a designated centre, subject to organisational structure and HIQA requirements

Role purpose

The Disability Services Manager provides operational, clinical and regulatory leadership across services for adults with learning/intellectual disabilities, including people with complex support needs, behaviours of concern and co-occurring health or mental health needs. The postholder is accountable for safe, person-centred and rights-based service delivery; effective staff leadership; robust governance; and compliance with HIQA, HSE, safeguarding and organisational requirements.

The role works closely with people using the service, families and representatives, the Registered Provider, Persons in Charge, HSE commissioners and funders, multidisciplinary teams and external professionals. Where formally appointed as Person in Charge, the postholder will discharge the statutory duties associated with that appointment.

Key accountabilities

1. Leadership and service management

- Lead the day-to-day operation and development of high-quality residential, supported living, respite and/or community-based disability services within the assigned remit.

- Translate organisational strategy, service agreements and individual support needs into clear operational plans, objectives and standards.

- Provide visible, accountable leadership and promote a culture of dignity, respect, inclusion, learning, openness and continuous improvement.

- Ensure appropriate management cover, on-call arrangements, staffing levels, skill mix and deployment based on assessed need and changing risk.

- Manage delegated budgets, resources, procurement and expenditure responsibly, escalating material pressures or variances.

- Prepare operational, quality and performance reports for senior management, governance forums, funders and regulators as required.

2. HIQA compliance and quality governance

- Maintain services in compliance with the Health Act 2007, applicable regulations, HIQA standards and guidance, and all conditions attached to the registration of designated centres.

- Where appointed as Person in Charge, ensure the centre is effectively governed and operated and fulfil all statutory duties associated with the role.

- Maintain a clear evidence base for regulatory compliance, including the statement of purpose, directory of residents, policies, records, staffing information, audits and notifications.

- Lead preparation for announced and unannounced HIQA inspections, coordinate accurate regulatory responses and deliver time-bound compliance plans.

- Complete or oversee scheduled audits, provider-level reviews, quality improvement plans and trend analysis, ensuring that actions are owned, tracked and verified.

- Ensure all required incidents, adverse events and notifiable matters are reported accurately and within the required timeframe.

3. Person-centred practice and rights

- Ensure each person has a current, accessible and outcomes-focused assessment, personal plan and support plan developed with the person and, where appropriate, their family or representative.

- Promote choice, control, communication, privacy, relationships, community participation and meaningful daily activity.

- Embed supported decision-making, informed consent and the least restrictive approach in day-to-day practice.

- Ensure restrictions are individually justified, proportionate, time limited, regularly reviewed and reduced wherever possible through appropriate governance.

- Maintain effective systems for advocacy, complaints, feedback and consultation, and demonstrate that learning leads to service improvement.

- Support planned admissions, transitions and discharges, ensuring continuity of care and clear communication between all parties.

4. Complex needs, behaviour support and restrictive practices

- Provide leadership for services supporting people with behaviours of concern, communication needs, autism, sensory needs, trauma histories, mental health needs and other complex presentations.

- Ensure functional assessment and Positive Behaviour Support plans are developed, implemented and reviewed with appropriately qualified practitioners and the multidisciplinary team.

- Promote proactive, trauma-informed and low-arousal approaches, focusing on quality of life, environmental fit, communication and prevention.

- Ensure staff are trained, competent and supported to respond safely to distressed behaviour and crisis situations, including approved de-escalation and physical intervention approaches where applicable.

- Review behavioural incidents, antecedents, interventions, injuries and restrictive practices to identify patterns and reduce recurrence.

- Ensure debriefing, post-incident support, learning reviews and required safeguarding or regulatory notifications are completed.

5. Health, medication and clinical governance

- Ensure each person's health needs are assessed, monitored and addressed through timely access to primary care, specialist services and allied health professionals.

- Maintain safe medication management systems covering prescribing, ordering, receipt, storage, administration, recording, review, disposal and medication incidents.

- Ensure medication is administered only by trained and assessed staff, with competency records, audits and clear escalation arrangements in place.

- Promote regular medication review, including psychotropic medication, PRN protocols and consideration of side effects, consent and restrictive-practice implications.

- Ensure robust systems for epilepsy, dysphagia, diabetes, nutrition, falls, infection prevention, skin integrity and other relevant health risks according to the needs of each person.

- Coordinate responses to health deterioration and emergencies and ensure accurate transfer information accompanies the person between services.

6. HSE, MDT and stakeholder working

- Develop constructive working relationships with the HSE, HIQA, safeguarding teams, disability managers, case managers and other commissioning or oversight bodies.

- Coordinate effective multidisciplinary working with psychology, psychiatry, nursing, behaviour support, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, social work, dietetics, GPs and other professionals.

- Ensure MDT recommendations are translated into clear, resourced actions within individual plans and everyday staff practice.

- Chair or contribute to care reviews, MDT meetings, safeguarding meetings, transition planning and complex case conferences.

- Maintain appropriate communication with families and representatives while respecting each person's wishes, privacy, consent and confidentiality.

- Escalate unmet need, service gaps and material risks through the appropriate clinical, operational, funding and governance channels.

7. Safeguarding, incident management and risk

- Act promptly on any concern of abuse, neglect, exploitation or institutional practice and ensure compliance with national safeguarding policy and organisational procedures.

- Ensure individual, environmental, clinical, behavioural and organisational risks are identified, assessed, controlled, reviewed and escalated appropriately.

- Maintain a live service risk register and ensure risk decisions balance safety with autonomy, rights and positive risk-taking.

- Oversee incident reporting, preliminary assessment, investigation, family or representative communication, duty of candour and corrective action, as applicable.

- Analyse incident, safeguarding, medication, complaint, accident and near-miss data to identify themes and systemic improvements.

- Ensure emergency plans, business continuity arrangements, fire safety systems and drills are current, tested and understood.

8. Workforce leadership and development

- Recruit, induct, supervise and retain a skilled, values-led workforce with the qualifications and competencies required for the people supported.

- Set clear expectations through probation, supervision, performance review, team meetings and direct observation of practice.

- Maintain oversight of mandatory and role-specific training, including safeguarding, medication, behaviour support, manual handling, first aid, fire safety and infection prevention.

- Address capability, conduct, attendance and performance concerns fairly, promptly and in line with policy and employment requirements.

- Promote staff wellbeing, reflective practice and learning following incidents while maintaining accountability for safe practice.

- Ensure rosters and working-time arrangements are safe, compliant and responsive to assessed needs.

9. Records, information and continuous improvement

- Ensure records are accurate, contemporaneous, secure and retained in line with regulatory, data protection and organisational requirements.

- Use service data, audits, feedback, outcomes and incident trends to prioritise improvement and evaluate whether changes are effective.

- Lead policy implementation and contribute practical expertise to the development and review of organisational procedures.

- Promote learning from inspections, complaints, safeguarding matters, incidents and good practice across teams and locations.

- Undertake other duties consistent with the purpose and seniority of the role.

Decision-making authority

- Deploy staff and resources within approved budgets and organisational policy.

- Take immediate action to protect a person, including escalation, additional safeguards, temporary service changes or emergency response.

- Require corrective action where practice falls below regulatory, clinical or organisational standards.

- Escalate or pause unsafe admissions, transitions, activities or practices where risk cannot be adequately controlled.

- Recommend service, workforce, environmental and capital changes to the Registered Provider or senior leadership team.

Person specification:

Professional qualification

A relevant qualification at minimum Level 7 on the National Framework of Qualifications in social care, nursing, psychology, allied health, education or another discipline appropriate to disability services.

Essential

Management qualification

A recognised qualification in health or social care management, leadership or a related field, or a clear commitment to complete one within an agreed timeframe.

Desirable*

Disability experience

Substantial post-qualification experience supporting adults with learning/intellectual disabilities, including people with complex needs and behaviours of concern.

Essential

Management experience

At least three years' experience in a management or supervisory role within health or social care, with responsibility for staff, quality and service delivery.

Essential

HIQA experience

Demonstrable experience managing or holding responsibility within a HIQA-registered designated centre, including inspections, compliance plans and regulatory notifications.

Essential

PIC eligibility

Meets, or can demonstrate the ability to meet, the regulatory and organisational requirements for appointment as Person in Charge where the role includes that function.

Role dependent

Complex support

Strong working knowledge of Positive Behaviour Support, restrictive-practice reduction, crisis response, safeguarding, medication management and complex risk assessment.

Essential

Partnership working

Proven experience working with the HSE, multidisciplinary teams, families, advocates and external professionals.

Essential

Governance

Experience of audit, incident review, quality improvement, policy implementation, workforce planning and performance management.

Essential

Communication

Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal skills, including the ability to produce clear reports and manage sensitive or challenging discussions.

Essential

Practical requirements

Full driving licence and access to transport, subject to reasonable accommodation; flexibility to participate in an on-call rota and attend services outside normal hours when required.

Essential**

* May be treated as essential where required by the service structure or applicable regulatory requirements.

** Requirements should be applied subject to equality legislation and reasonable accommodation.

Core competencies

- Rights-based and person-centred leadership

- Regulatory judgement and accountability

- Clinical and operational risk management

- Positive Behaviour Support and reflective practice

- Decisive incident and crisis leadership

- Collaborative multidisciplinary working

- Clear communication and constructive challenge

- Staff development and performance management

- Analysis, planning and continuous improvement

- Integrity, resilience and professional boundaries

Performance measures

- Regulatory compliance and timely completion of inspection or quality-improvement actions.

- Quality-of-life, participation and personal outcome indicators for people supported.

- Safe and appropriate use of medication and measurable reduction in avoidable restrictive practices.

- Incident, safeguarding, complaint and risk trends, including timeliness and quality of follow-up.

- Completion and quality of assessments, personal plans, healthcare plans and behaviour support plans.

- Staffing stability, supervision, training compliance, competency and workforce performance.

- Budget control, resource use and delivery against agreed operational objectives.

- Feedback from people supported, families, staff, MDT partners, commissioners and regulators.

Additional provisions

The postholder must maintain professional registration where required, complete mandatory training, comply with organisational policies and codes of conduct, and participate in vetting and occupational health processes applicable to the role. This position description describes the principal responsibilities of the post and may be reviewed to reflect service development, regulatory change and organisational need following appropriate consultation.

Pay: €60,000.00-€70,000.00 per year

Experience:

• Disability Service management: 2 years (required)

Licence/Certification:

• Qualification(s) to act as a Person in Charge (required)

Work authorisation:

• Ireland (preferred)

Work Location: In person