Who we are:
Childhood Matters is a not-for-profit organisation aimed at improving developmental and life outcomes for children 0-18 years old. We also work directly with parents and foster carers to support and develop parenting in challenging contexts. As an organisation we strive to positive impact the wider professional network we operate within through external training, research and professional development opportunities.
We are committed to embedding an evidence-based culture of trauma-informed care and therapeutic practice and hold ourselves to high standards in all engagement with service users, colleagues and stakeholders alike. We are committed to research and evaluation and continually assess the effectiveness of our service through independent research and partnership with third level institutions. We strive to be a positive place to work, providing staff with reflective practice, regular supervision and a training budget.
With current offices and services in Blackrock, Blackpool, Clonakilty and Farranree we employ 130 staff across all departments. We offer competitive salary packages as well as benefits including enhanced maternity leave; pension contribution scheme; health care plans; flexible working hours; internal and externally provided training opportunities, and competitive annual leave entitlement.
Job Title: Deputy Manager, Young Persons and Adult Service – Estuary Way.
Department: Estuary Way
Applications considered Via:
Please note, only completed application forms will be accepted.
Please forward your completed application form by post to: HR Department, Childhood Matters, Blackrock, Cork or email [email protected]
Opening date for Applications: 15.07.2026
Closing Date for Applications: 27.07.2026
Proposed Interview date(s): TBD
Location of Post: Childhood Matters, Estuary Way, Mahon
Working Pattern:
Whole Time Equivalent: 1.0 WTE (roster includes weekend duty and participation in the management on-call rota)
Details of Services:
Childhood Matters is a not-for-profit organisation that provides child and family services aimed at supporting positive childhood outcomes, developing parenting capacity, strengthening family resilience, and contributing to healthier, more sustainable communities.
· Parent and Infant Unit: Nationwide parenting capacity-building and assessment residential service for complex parents and infant situations where distinct child protection concerns.
· CHIPPS: CHIPPS is a specialist attachment-focused, trauma-informed mental health service for children and young people in care.
· Young Parents Support Programme: The Young Parents Support Programme (YPSP for short) is the only targeted community-based support service for young parents in Ireland.
· The Limetree Project: Therapeutic community-based family support and family contact project, in partnership with South Lee & West Cork Social Work Department to include out of hours service.
· Supervised Contact: Contact Service provides structured supports and interventions for children who are in the care of TUSLA to have contact with their parents, siblings and other family members.
· Placement Support Project: This project is aimed at stabilizing at-risk foster placements, and supporting family reunification through intensive multidisciplinary support over a 12-week period, and the provision of a stability roadmap specifically tailored to the family. Emergency place of safety respite is incorporated into this project. We are expanding this service into County Kerry and are recruiting for this MDT.
· Crèche & Preschool: Award-winning Community Crèche and Childcare facility to include afterschool programme with a current capacity of 124 children.
· Secondary School One Year Leaving Certificate programme in partnerships with Cork Education and Training Board, providing parents opportunity to advance education when using clinical family services
· Employment Support Service: Vocational training for long term unemployed individuals within therapeutic and trauma-informed environment.
· Estuary Way: A new trauma-informed supported accommodation service providing integrated housing and wraparound supports for young adults transitioning to independent living.
· Child Court Advocate: Independent advocacy and court accompaniment service supporting children and young people to navigate legal proceedings in a safe, child-centered, and trauma-informed manner.
Purpose of Role:
To deputise for the Service Manager and to lead the day-to-day operational management of Estuary Way, including the social care team and the 24/7 staffing roster. The post holder will additionally lead the coordination of education, training and employment pathways for residents, holding management responsibility within Childhood Matters for its young people and adult services, including the One-Year Leaving Certificate Completion Programme and the Community Employment Scheme, ensuring a single point of accountability for each resident's education, training and employment plan.
Reporting Relationship:
The successful candidate will report to the Service Manager
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Deputise fully for the Service Manager in their absence, including clinical escalation.
- Share, with the Service Manager, a rolling seven-day managerial roster ensuring on-site management presence every day of the week; when not rostered on duty, provide out-of-hours on-call management cover on a rotational basis.
- Manage the social care worker and key worker team, including rostering of the 24/7 staffing model, supervision, performance management and professional development.
- Lead the coordination of resident education, training and employment pathways, including referral, attendance monitoring and progression planning across the Leaving Certificate Completion Programme and Community Employment Scheme.
- Provide line management oversight to the Pathways Co-ordinator and act as the principal liaison between Estuary Way and Childhood Matters' young people and adult services.
- Liaise with Cork ETB, the Department of Social Protection and adult education providers in respect of programme planning, eligibility and progression routes.
- Oversee individual support planning, key working standards and case file management (including PASS-format support plans).
- Chair weekly team meetings and contribute to multidisciplinary case reviews and reflective practice.
- Manage incidents, complaints and safeguarding concerns in line with policy, escalating as appropriate.
- Contribute to KPI reporting, including annual reporting on resident progression to education and employment programmes.
- Promote a psychologically informed, restorative and youth co-designed service culture.
- Undertake such other duties as may reasonably be assigned, consistent with the grade and purpose of the post. This job description will be reviewed during the pilot phase as the service develops
Eligibility Criteria / Qualifications:
Applicants must, by the closing date for applications, possess:
Essential Criteria
- Recognised qualification in social care (minimum Level 7, ideally Level 8) or equivalent relevant professional qualification; eligibility for CORU social care worker registration.
- Minimum of five years' relevant experience, including at least two years in a supervisory or management role in residential, homeless, aftercare or youth services.
- Demonstrated experience of managing staff teams and 24/7 rosters.
- Knowledge of further education, training and employment pathways for early school leavers and young adults (e.g. QQI, Leaving Certificate provision, Community Employment, apprenticeships).
- Strong case management, safeguarding and risk assessment skills.
- Excellent organisational, interpersonal and written communication skills.
- Availability to work a seven-day managerial roster (shared with the Service Manager) and to participate in the out-of-hours on-call rota.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience of interagency working with ETBs, the Department of Social Protection, Tusla or the HSE.
- Management or supervision qualification.
- Experience in trauma-informed or PIE services.
Tenure : The current vacancy available is a permanent, Full-Time post 1.0WTE
Remuneration: The Salary scale for the whole time equivalent of this post is aligned to HSE Consolidated Pay Scale – Social Care Manager 3
Working Week: The standard working week applying to this post is: 37.5 hours.
Annual Leave: Annual leave entitlement is 25 days
Probation: A probationary period of 6 months will apply
Additional Benefits:
- Defined contribution pension scheme.
- Enhanced maternity and paternity benefit
- Additional Annual leave days
- Comprehensive annual CPD schedule
- Financial support for further education
Pay: €60,159.00 per year
Benefits:
- Bike to work scheme
- Company pension
- Employee assistance program
- On-site parking
- Private dental insurance
- Private medical insurance
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
