Person In Charge

Job Title: Person in Charge (PIC) L’Arche Cork

L’Arche Ireland is part of a global network of communities where people with and without intellectual disabilities live and share in life together. L’Arche is a faith based community and welcomes people of all faiths and none.

There are 3 communities in Ireland, namely Cork, Kilkenny, Dublin. L’Arche Cork has six houses across two designated centres and is home to 20 people with intellectual disabilities (core members), who share life with approximately 20 volunteers from around the world. Each house is supported by a committed team of volunteers and staff.

Job Specification

The Person in Charge will inspire and lead one of our two designated centres throughfulfilling the role of Person In Charge (PIC) as described in the Health Act Health Act 2007 (Care And Support Of Residents In Designated Centres For Persons (Children And Adults) With Disabilities) Regulations 2013. Together with the PIC of L’Arche Cork’s second designated centre, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring continued compliance with HIQA standards and balancing same with our life-sharing and community focused model of care. In general you will:-

• Take an active part in the life of the L’Arche Cork community and support and develop the community
• Lead out on the ongoing upskilling of L’Arche Cork to ensure that we are meeting the changing needs of core members.
• Assume day to day management responsibility for the delivery of the highest standards of care to core members in one of designated centres through effective support and supervision of House Leaders, Care Staff and Assistants
• Ensure that the physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs of the core members are identified and that strategies and care plans and practices are in place to reflect the response to needs identified.
• Ensure that the dignity, humanity, and value of each core member is a permanent feature of all practices.
• Assume the role of the Person in Charge (PIC) in all matters dealing with the regulator (HIQA)

Reports to: The Director (Community Leader) of L’Arche Cork

Supervisory Responsibility for: House Leaders, House Assistants (Live in), Care Assistants (Live out)

Key Responsibilities

To effectively manage all aspects of the houses which make up the designated centre, whilst supervising and supporting the House Leaders, Deputy House Leaders, care assistants and live in volunteers. You will ensure that the L’Arche values of trust, respect and mutuality are always maintained and that everyone is treated with dignity and empowered to be and do their best.

This includes managing:

• Volunteer Assistants and Care Assistants training, supervision and support.
• The standard and quality of care and support.
• Effective and secure record keeping.
• Compliance with internal and external policies, procedures, regulations and best practice recommendations.

Standard and Quality of Care and Support

• To be the person responsible (PIC) to maintain compliance with all statutory requirements relevant to providing care and support in the home e.g. Health and Safety, HIQA Care Standards, as well as L’Arche policies and procedures.
• Supervise, monitor and evaluate the care delivered to Core Members, ensuring that support is personalised and that statutory requirements are met
• Promote a caring, loving and professional environment that provides Core Members with a high standard of person centred care that meets individual needs
• Ensure that everyone is treated with respect and dignity and their rights to privacy, independence and choice are met.
• To develop and maintain in consultation with core members, families, Care Team and significant others, care plans and care practices that are responsive to the needs of the core members, which promote dignity and independence
• To assess risks, promote choice and manage them in a way that enhances rather than limits people’s lives and the possibilities they see for themselves.
• To ensure that the highest level of physical, social, medical, emotional and personal care and support and attention are offered to Core Members in line with their individual care plans.
• To monitor the administration of prescribed medication to Core Members and accurately maintain appropriate systems and records to ensure effective medication controls in consultation with medical and associated personnel.
• Advocate for the core member in relation to the core member’s lifestyle choices
• To work with the PIC’s in the other L’Arche Ireland communities on topics of mutual interest.

Quality of community life and relationships

• To ensure that the vision, values, mission and practices of L’Arche are upheld and communicated so that the home is a place in which everyone’s belonging is fostered and where everyone can express and contribute their very best.
• To lead and manage in a way that acknowledges, encourages and empowers people and calls them to be present in an authentic way and to act with integrity.
• To coach, model and maintain effective communication and respectful relationships with Core Members, Team Members and other stakeholders such as family members, professionals, other community members, neighbours and friends.
• To work collaboratively and respectfully with core member’s families and/or significant others

Volunteer Assistants and Care/Support Assistants management, development, training and supervision

• To welcome all assistants and/or support staff into the household and team and ensure that they have the information and skills that they require to assume their roles effectively.
• To induct, train and supervise volunteer and care/support assistants in meeting the physical, social and emotional needs of the core members to the highest standards.
• To ensure that team schedules/rosters are planned and organised, ensuring that there is adequate cover for the houses at all times, while managing holidays and other leave.
• In liaison with the L’Arche Ireland personnel, ensure that the training needs for all the team members are identified and met and that all mandatory and recommended training is up to date.
• To lead team meetings and carry out regular supervision and appraisals and ensure that the home is a friendly and supportive environment for all team members.
• To lead exit interviews and record feedback as a basis for continuous improvement.

Compliance with internal and external policies, procedures, regulations and best practice recommendations

• In consultation with L’Arche Ireland personnel to act as the PIC to manage the service as required by Health Act 2007 (Care And Support Of Residents In Designated Centres For Persons (Children And Adults) With Disabilities) Regulations 2013
• In consultation with L’Arche Ireland to ensure that the service is working towards compliance with the HIQA standards
• Ensure that all other relevant policies, procedures and recommendations are up to date, available within the houses and all those involved with the houses are fully appraised of them
• To engage in Quality Monitoring and Assurance as part of the role
• To ensure that all Health and Safety statements and procedures are adhered to.

Effective Record Keeping:

• To maintain clear records pertaining to the Core and Team Members e.g.
• To comply with GDPR guidelines
• Reference/Review and Case Conferences Notes
• Team Meeting/Group Supervision Notes
• Complaints and Compliment Logs
• Medical and Medication Records
• Incident Reports
• Supervision and Appraisal Notes
• Core Member, Assistant and other stakeholder feedback.
• Person Centered Plans.
• Reports from internal and external inspections and quality audits.
• And any other appropriate records as required by regulatory standards, good practice or as advised by L’Arche Ireland personnel.

Person Specification

L’Arche Ireland expects its employees to:

• Engage positively with all of their colleagues, core members, family, advocates and all other stakeholders
• Take responsibility for their own development

Skills/Competence Requirements - Essential/Desirable

Essential Criteria:

Qualification (Essential)

• A minimum of 3 years in a management or supervisory role in the area of health or social care; and
• An appropriate qualification in health or social care management at an appropriate level

Desirable

• Full driving license and willingness to drive house vehicles

Skills

• Professional credibility
• High level of administration skills
• High level of IT skills (MS Office literate, email communication, etc.).
• Ability to manage uncertainty and ambiguity
• Problem solving approach
• Effective communication and engagement of all personnel
• Leadership and management style that can be adapted to meet the requirements of specific situations
• Building positive relationships/partnerships
• Judgment in difficult scenarios
• Troubleshooting complex issues

Experience (Desirable)

• Experience of working with people with intellectual disabilities in a practical capacity, who may have additional physical and mental health needs.
• Working familiarity with HIQA standards and best practice recommendations in relation to service provision for people with intellectual disabilities.
• Experience of managing service quality processes.
• Experience of risk management.
• Experience of developing responsive care plans that reflect the totality of the person and his/her needs.
• A willingness to commit to working in a way that does not create barriers, either personal or professional.
• A willingness to be part of a community and to embrace the ethos and mission of L’Arche.
• An openness to learning different ways of perceiving and meeting the needs of people with intellectual disabilities and a willingness to be creative and responsive.
• A commitment to ensuring that people with intellectual disabilities are central to the life of the houses.
• A commitment to being flexible in meeting the needs of the role.
• A willingness to participate in an ‘on call’ facility for which time off in lieu is available.

Other relevant information:

• The Role Description may change or be amended in response to suggestions from the post holders or to more accurately reflect the role or the evolving nature of the role.