Social Care Team Leader
Separated Children Seeking International Protection
Location: Rathmines, Dublin
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Hours: 36-48 hours per week
Starting rate: €19.50 per hour (Negotiable DOE)
At Avonbridge Care, we believe every child deserves safety, stability and the opportunity to thrive. We are developing high-quality residential services for Separated Children Seeking International Protection, providing trauma-informed, culturally responsive care that promotes healing, belonging and positive futures.
We are seeking an experienced Social Care Team Leader who is passionate about safeguarding children, leading teams and delivering outstanding residential care.
If you are an experienced practitioner ready to lead by example and help shape a service built on quality, compassion and accountability, we would love to hear from you.
About the Role
As a Social Care Team Leader, you will provide day-to-day leadership within the residential service, ensuring children receive safe, nurturing and child-centred care in line with national legislation, HIQA standards and organisational policies.
You will coach and support social care staff, promote reflective practice, oversee quality documentation and contribute to a positive, therapeutic environment where children can recover from trauma and achieve positive outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
● Lead shifts and provide professional leadership to the staff team.
● Promote a child-centred, rights-based and trauma-informed culture.
● Ensure safeguarding remains central to all practice.
● Support the implementation of individual Placement Plans and Care Plans.
● Supervise, coach and mentor Social Care Workers.
● Monitor the quality of daily recordings and documentation.
● Complete and review risk assessments and safety planning.
● Participate in admissions,
● compatibility assessments and transition planning.
● Promote children's participation in decisions affecting their lives.
● Build effective partnerships with Tusla Social Workers, education providers, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders.
● Support continuous quality improvement and inspection readiness.
● Ensure compliance with HIQA standards, Children's First and organisational policies.
● Participate in the on-call management rota where required.
Essential Requirements
Applicants must have:
● A recognised Social Care qualification or a qualification in a related and relevant discipline recognised
● CORU registered
● 2 years’ experience Minimum
● Applicants must also demonstrate:
- Strong leadership and decision-making skills.
- Excellent knowledge of safeguarding and child protection.
- Experience supervising, mentoring and developing staff.
- Excellent communication and report-writing skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
- A commitment to child-centred, rights-based and trauma-informed practice.
● Eligibility to work in Ireland.
● Satisfactory Garda Vetting.
Desirable Experience
Experience working with:
● Separated Children Seeking International Protection/Unaccompanied minors.
● Trauma-informed care.
● Cross-cultural practice.
● Residential childcare.
● Behaviour support and de-escalation.
● Inspection preparation and quality assurance.
What We Offer
● Opportunity to shape a specialist residential service from the outset.
● Supportive leadership and regular reflective supervision.
● Continuous professional development and specialist training. ( TCI….etc)
● Career progression opportunities.
● Competitive salary
● Employee Assistance Programme.
● Generous annual leave 23 days per annum
● Bike to work scheme
● TaxSaver for public transport
● Team building
Our Values
At Avonbridge Care we are committed to: Child-centred practice, Compassion, Respect, Integrity, Accountability, Professional excellence, Equality, diversity and inclusion.
We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
Selection Process
Candidates who are shortlisted will be invited to attend a competency-based interview. The interview will assess candidates against the key competencies required for the Social Care Team Leader role, including:
● Professional knowledge and legislation
● Leadership and staff management
● Safeguarding and child protection
● Governance and quality assurance
● Care planning and positive outcomes
● Reflective practice
● Child-centred and trauma-informed practice
Applicants should be prepared to provide examples from their own professional practice demonstrating how they have applied these competencies in previous roles.
Pre-Employment Checks
Appointment to this position will be subject to satisfactory completion of pre-employment checks, including Garda Vetting, qualification verification, reference checks and eligibility to work in Ireland.
Pay: From €19.50 per hour
Licence/Certification:
- Social care worker CORU Certificate (required)
Work Location: In person
