Childhood Matters is based in Cork City. We are a trauma-informed and equal opportunity employer. With over 120 staff we provide a wide range of child and family services, mostly funded by the Child and Family Agency. We offer a competitive salary package as well as benefits to include, enhanced maternity leave, pension contribution scheme, flexible working hours, regular internal and externally-provided training opportunities and competitive annual leave entitlement.
Estuary Way is a unique pilot project that offers young people between 18 years and 24 years of age quality, affordable accommodation, education and training as well as therapeutic interventions. Estuary Way will aim to provide safe, supportive, and fully serviced residential accommodation for young people exiting homelessness.
Estuary Way will strive to develop independent living skills through integrated training programmes, clear-cut support plans, empowering young adults to build independent and sustainable lives through integrated care, tenancy support and realise their full potential and take their rightful place in the community in line with Sláintecare principles and the National Youth Homelessness Action Plan.
Post: Head of Young Person & Adult Services (Principal Social Worker Grade)
Whole Time Equivalent: 0.8 WTE (roster includes weekend duty and participation in the management on-call rota)
Reporting to: Chief Executive / Director of Services of Childhood Matters; accountable to the Estuary Way Oversight Group through quarterly reporting
Salary: Aligned to HSE Consolidated Pay Scale – Principal Social Worker
Purpose of the Post
To provide overall leadership, clinical oversight and operational management of Estuary Way, a 38-unit supported transitional accommodation service for 64 young adults (18–24) exiting homelessness, delivered in partnership with Cork City Council, Tusla and the HSE. The Service Manager will hold responsibility for the safety, quality and effectiveness of the therapeutic service, the performance of the multidisciplinary team, and the delivery of all obligations under the Service Level Agreement.
Key Duties and Responsibilities
- Provide clinical and operational leadership to a multidisciplinary team of approximately 22 WTE across social care, clinical, vocational and campus support functions.
- Share, with the Deputy 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.
- Hold overall responsibility for clinical governance, including weekly multidisciplinary review meetings, structured supervision, reflective practice and oversight of safeguarding, risk management and care progression planning.
- Ensure the service operates in line with trauma-informed care, Psychologically Informed Environments (PIE) and restorative practice frameworks.
- Lead the implementation of the referral, assessment, admission and discharge processes in conjunction with the interagency Admissions & Discharge Panel.
- Manage the service budget in line with the approved Business Case; prepare quarterly activity and financial management accounts for the Oversight Group.
- Lead, with the AHB partner, the integration of tenancy management and therapeutic support functions.
- Build and maintain effective working relationships with Cork City Council, Tusla, HSE Southwest, the AHB and community stakeholders.
- Oversee impact measurement, data collection (including PASS reporting), KPI performance and the year-one evaluation.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, regulation and policy, including Children First (2015), National Vetting Bureau Acts, safeguarding of vulnerable adults, GDPR, and health and safety obligations.
- Recruit, induct, develop and retain staff; foster a culture of reflective practice, staff wellbeing and continuous quality improvement.
- 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.
Person Specification – Essential
- CORU-registered Social Worker with a recognised professional qualification in social work.
- Minimum of seven years' post-qualification experience, including significant experience at senior/team leader level in homelessness, aftercare, youth or therapeutic residential services.
- Demonstrated experience of clinical governance, safeguarding and risk management in a complex service environment.
- Proven budget management and reporting experience, ideally within SLA or grant-funded structures.
- Strong understanding of the Irish policy landscape: Youth Homelessness Strategy 2023–2025, Housing for All, Sláintecare, aftercare policy and the Revised Protocol on Young People Leaving State Care (20/2025).
- Excellent interagency, communication and leadership skills.
- Availability to work a seven-day managerial roster (shared with the Deputy Manager) and to participate in the out-of-hours on-call rota.
Person Specification – Desirable
- Post-graduate qualification in management, clinical supervision or a therapeutic discipline.
- Experience of establishing or commissioning a new service.
- Experience working within trauma-informed or PIE-accredited services.
Person Requirement:
The successful candidates will be compassionate, empathetic individuals with an appreciation of self-care and team-working. A clean full driving licence.
Please submit a CV and cover letter by post to: HR Department, Childhood Matters, Blackrock or email [email protected] by 5pm, Monday the 29th of June, 2026.
Pay: From €77,945.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Employee assistance program
- On-site parking
- Private dental insurance
- Private medical insurance
- Sick pay
Education:
- Advanced/Higher Certificate (required)
Work Location: In person
