Role Summary:
The Head of Addiction and Social Inclusion Services is a key senior strategic role within the Ana Liffey. The purpose of the role is to oversee the overall development and delivery of frontline services for the organization, in all regions of operation. The role is key in supporting and shaping the strategic direction and development of the Ana Liffey organisation and in ensuring that the organisation is at the forefront of delivering and developing new ‘Low threshold Harm reduction services’ to service users.
The Head of Addiction and Social Inclusion Services will lead a team of frontline senior managers and practitioners, including but not limited to Service Managers and SAOR practitioners, ensuring services are delivered to the highest quality and people are treated with dignity and respect. The role is key in promoting the positive ethos and culture of Ana Liffey and in promoting high performance team working across the organisation.

Key components of the role are as follows:

• Most senior leader of all frontline services in Ana Liffey’s Dublin, Midwest, Balbriggan and any future regions.
• Child Protection Officer for the organization.
• Most senior leader of Ana Liffey’s Poole Volunteer Programme.
• Key member of Ana Liffey’s Senior Management Team focused on development of new service delivery and service expansion.
• Driver of impact measurement using Theory or Change.
• Key role model to all staff in Ana Liffeys Low Threshold, Harm Reduction ethos.

Reports to: The Head of Addiction and Social Inclusion Services will report directly to the CEO and will be a key member of the Ana Liffey Senior Management Team (SMT).

Role responsibilities (include, but not limited to):

The following outlines some of the key responsibilities of the role, and these may be expanded or refined from time to time to meet the business needs of the organisation.

Service Delivery

• Oversee the efficient and effective delivery of Ana Liffey client services, providing guidance and direction to the Services Managers and the SAOR practitioners in all regions of operation.
• Oversee the development and delivery of the Poole Volunteer Programme ensuring high quality volunteerism and student placements across all frontline services nationally.
• Agree service performance metrics through the Senior Management team (SMT) and ensure that these metrics are delivered upon.
• Oversee the timely and quality development and implementation of all policy and procedures relating to the delivery of service user and associated services throughout the Ana Liffey Drug Project.
• Ensure effective impact measurement systems, such as Theory of Change, are implemented across all service delivery and reporting functions.
• Lead on preparation and submission of reports on service delivery to the SMT and funders, in collaboration with wider SMT and frontline teams.
• Ensure Service Managers maintain duty management rosters for all services and that management duties are assigned and reported on an ongoing basis.
• Assess the training and development needs of staff that report into this post and assist in developing training opportunities for them.
• Oversee the training of all staff through support from the Services Managers and Team Leaders.
• Carry out managers appraisals in accordance with the Ana Liffey’s policy and ensure appraisals are carried out for the entire services staff group in a timely and fair manner.
• Be willing to be telephoned out of hours or called in to address any crisis matters that may arise from time to time.
• Agree with Head of Quality and Strategic Programmes agreed standard for staff records.
• Ensure that Service Managers and Team Leaders maintain staff records in line with agreed standard.
• Promote and develop the use of professional skills within service delivery (e.g. Motivational Interviewing, Relapse Prevention, Solution Focused Brief Interventions)
• Oversee the performance and delivery of service level agreements objectives with funders and ensure quality, completeness and timeliness in the delivery of appropriate reports and documentation.
• Complete services oversight reports and performance management reporting in line with SMT requirements and present regularly to SMT, identifying good performance, areas for improvement and any gaps in service provision.
• Support and oversee the Services Managers and SAOR Practitioners in the delivery of group interventions in line with the work practice, standards and ethos of the ALDP.
• Oversee and ensure a consistent approach to devising and regularly reviewing care plans and case conferences for all people using ALDP services.
• Maintain all ALDP services policies and procedures up to date and aligned to best practice.
• Promote and ensure a safe and secure environment for staff and maintain high standards of care.
• Continually identify opportunities to enhance and or develop ALDP services and engage proactively with the SMT and other team members to achieve this.
• Coordinate the compilation of standard reports for the SMT on all statistics related to services delivery.
• Ensure that reports and statistics captured and reported by the Services Managers and Team Leaders are accurate and timely.

Leadership & Resource Management

• Act as lead Child Protection Officer for Ana Liffey Drug Projects services nationally.
• Take a leadership role to develop and maintain excellent working relationships with national based drug services, prison services, probation services, homeless services, health services, and any other relevant agencies.
• Lead the development and maintenance of excellent working relationships with relevant and appropriate agencies in the community, voluntary, statutory and private sectors.
• As a key member of the SMT, support other team members and the CEO to run the ALDP organisation as effectively as possible, ensuring excellent communications across all levels of the organisation.
• Along with the senior management team, promote a culture that motivates employees and volunteers and enables them to work to the values and goals of ALDP.
• Provide strong leadership by fostering innovation, teamwork, and ongoing learning.
• Engage positively and constructively in the regular SMT meetings.
• Promote and support a positive team working environment across the Ana Liffey organisation.
• Manage individual managers performance through the agreed performance management process and procedures.
• Ensure that there is a culture of continuous improvement within your team and ensure that team members enhance their skillset and continue to remain effective, capable, and knowledgeable in their field.

General

• Oversee the control and management of petty cash/out of pocket expenses in line with agreed policies and procedures and liaise with the Head of Finance and Support Services on expenditure control.
• Work closely with the Head of Finance and Support Services and the CEO to set budgets and agree expenditure for the year.
• Promote the highest levels of Health and Safety and Fire Safety standards across the organisation and ensure staff are appropriately trained and to meet all the required regulations.
• Responsibility for Health & Safety as it relates to Service Delivery.
• Report Health & Safety matters to Head of Quality and Strategic Programmes and Office and Facilities Manager, relating to their respective responsibilities, as they arise.
• As part of the SMT feed into the overall Health & Safety report prepared by the Head of Quality and Strategic Programmes
• Devise and establish robust service quality procedures and ensure that all relevant standards and specifications for delivery of Ana Liffey services are in place and adhered to.
• Review and enhance existing service quality policies and quality procedures (including SOPs/Work Instructions), proposing changes and improvements to optimize efficiency and effectiveness.
• Champion the ALDP risk assessment process and the development and upkeep of ALDP risk registers for services delivery.
• Support the development of and promote compliance with ALDP’s quality management system and adherence to agreed policies and procedures.
• Ensure that agreed financial records are maintained to agreed policy guidelines and shared with the Finance & Facilities team.
• Other areas of responsibility may be assigned to the role to meet the changing needs of the organisation.

These duties are a general guide to the responsibilities of the Head of Addiction and Social Inclusion Services. They are indicative of the role and above should not be seen as either definitive or restrictive. The role may be required to undertake other duties commensurate with the post.

Person Requirements:

• Educated to Degree Level or significant relevant experience. (Essential)
• Recognised management qualification. (Desirable)
• Minimum 5 years proven experience in service operations. (Desirable)
• Have experience at a senior level managing and achieving targets in service delivery. (Essential)
• Minimum of 3-year staff management experience, including support and performance management of teams. (Desirable)
• Excellent IT/IS skills and working knowledge of Microsoft outlook, word, excel and database experience. (Essential)
• A candidate for and any person holding this position must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the position and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service. (Essential)

Knowledge, skills & competencies:

• Experience of managing an addiction service or similar is essential.
• Self-motivated person who is committed to ALDP vision and ethos of ‘Low Threshold- Harm Reduction’.
• Ability to meet deadlines.
• Ability to effectively delegate tasks whilst ensuring high levels of service.
• Ability to be a ‘go-to’ person, committed to resolving issues as they arise.
• Ability to design and deliver services for people experiencing addiction.
• Able to maintain the highest standards of confidentiality, discretion, and respect.
• High-level communication skills both written and verbal.
• Excellent communication skills, with experience in presenting information to a variety of stakeholders (internally and externally)
• Ability to network and negotiate effectively with individuals and groups, within Ana Liffey and outside.
• Given the nature of the work of ALDP, occasional evening and weekend work may be required.

Working Base:
The base location for this role will in one of ALDP established buildings in Dublin. The Head of Addiction and Social Inclusion Services will be expected to travel to other ALDP site locations for in person meetings and to regularly engage with other senior management team members, paying particular attention to regular presence in ALDPs regional offices.

Regarding requests for remote working, Ana Liffey works in line with the Work Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023.

Avoiding and managing aggression and violence:
Whilst the organisation takes every step possible to ensure the safety of its staff, it is important to be clear that due to the nature of the work carried out at the Ana Liffey Drug Project, it is possible that you will experience aggression in the work place from the people who use our services and there is a risk that you may be verbally or physically assaulted. You will receive training in how to avoid and manage these situations. However, in the unfortunate event of an assault taking place, the organisation will provide appropriate support to assist you to overcome this.

Terms:
HOURS: 35 hours per week Monday – Friday 7am to 7pm based on organizational needs.
SALARY: €64,268 per annum
CONTRACT: Contract of indefinite period.

Benefits:
As set out in contract
Note: All other terms and conditions of an internal candidate remains the same are as set out in the contract of employment.