This opportunity has arisen due to an interval move and is a significant leadership opportunity for an experienced health and social care/clinical professional to play a key role in the continued development, quality and delivery of Caregivers Ireland’s services, including Home Support and Meals-on-Wheels. 

Joining Caregivers Ireland at an important stage in its development, the Head of Operations will play a central role in shaping the future delivery of its services, influencing service quality, operational performance, workforce development and new service models. 

Working closely with the CEO, Senior Management Team and Board, this role offers an experienced health and social care/clinical professional the opportunity to combine their professional expertise with broader organisational leadership and make a meaningful contribution to the organisation and the people it supports.

ABOUT CAREGIVERS IRELAND

Caregivers Ireland is committed to supporting people to live with dignity, independence and choice in their own homes and communities. Through the delivery of high-quality services, including Home Support and Meals-on-Wheels, the organisation plays an important role in supporting individuals and families and responding to the changing needs of the communities it serves.

As Caregivers Ireland continues to develop its services and strengthen its operational infrastructure, it is now seeking to appoint an experienced and values-driven Head of operations to provide strong operational, quality and clinical leadership across its services.

THE ROLE

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Senior Management Team, the Head of Operations will have overall responsibility for the effective delivery, governance and continuous improvement of Caregivers Ireland’s operational services, including Home Support, Meals-on-Wheels and the development of new service models.

The successful candidate will provide strong operational and clinical oversight, ensuring that services are safe, person-centred, evidence-based and delivered to the highest possible standards. They will ensure that the organisation continues to meet all relevant regulatory, contractual and internal requirements, while supporting a culture of quality, accountability, innovation and continuous improvement.

This is a senior leadership role for someone who combines a strong health and social care/clinical background with proven operational leadership experience and who is comfortable working across service delivery, people management, quality, governance and organisational development.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Operational, Clinical & Quality Leadership

• Lead, manage and develop operational teams to achieve high standards of service delivery, performance, quality and compliance.
• Provide clinical oversight and professional leadership, ensuring safe, high-quality and evidence-based care in line with relevant HSE, HIQA and Department of Health regulations, standards and requirements.
• Ensure the effective management, review and escalation of service delivery issues, including complex and clinical cases.
• Monitor service quality and outcomes, identifying areas for improvement and ensuring appropriate action is taken.
• Promote a positive, accountable and collaborative ethos across all operational teams, fostering a values-driven culture across the organisation.
• Deputise for the CEO and other members of the Senior Management Team as required, ensuring continuity of leadership and effective decision-making.

Service Delivery, Development & Growth

• Take ownership of operational performance, service quality and outcomes across all services.
• Ensure services meet regulatory, contractual, funding and internal performance requirements.
• Lead the ongoing development and continuous improvement of operational services.
• Identify opportunities for service innovation and the development of new service models in response to changing client and community needs.
• Support the organisation’s growth while ensuring that service quality, safety and client experience remain central to all development.

People, Workforce & Resource Management

• Lead operational workforce planning, scheduling and resource allocation to ensure services are delivered effectively and sustainably.
• Work closely with HR to build workforce capacity, capability and resilience.
• Support effective recruitment, induction and probation processes across operational teams.
• Promote appropriate learning and development, supervision, performance management and continuing professional development.
• Ensure managers are appropriately supported and held accountable for the performance and development of their teams.

Stakeholder & Partnership Engagement

• Build and maintain effective working relationships with the HSE, community partners, healthcare professionals, referral agencies and other key stakeholders.
• Develop strong relationships with relevant statutory and community organisations to support effective service delivery and development.
• Ensure effective referral pathways and coordinated access, transfers and discharge.
• Ensure that a consistently person-centred approach is embedded across all client interactions and engagement.

Risk, Safeguarding & Governance

• Lead the operational management of complaints, compliments, incidents and safeguarding and Children First concerns.
• Ensure concerns are responded to promptly and appropriately, with effective escalation, reporting and learning.
• Act as Designated Officer for Complaints, Safeguarding and Children First, as required.
• Maintain effective operational risk management, GDPR, governance and compliance processes.
• Ensure appropriate systems are in place to identify, monitor and mitigate operational and clinical risks.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting to internal and external stakeholders and relevant statutory bodies, including external and funding-related reporting in line with Service Arrangements, HIQA and contractual obligations.

Strategic Contribution

• Contribute to the development and delivery of Caregivers Ireland’s organisational strategy and operational plans.
• Provide strong operational insight and advice to the CEO, Senior Management Team and Board.
• Provide accurate and timely operational reporting, analysis and recommendations.
• Use data, service performance information and client outcomes to inform operational decision-making and service development. 
• Identify, evaluate and implement opportunities to improve service outcomes, efficiency, quality and innovation.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

We are seeking an experienced senior care professional who combines clinical credibility with strong operational leadership capability.

The successful candidate will ideally be a qualified nurse, registered or eligible for registration with NMBI, with significant experience within community, home care, home support or a related regulated care environment.

You will bring:

• A relevant clinical qualification, ideally nursing, registered or with eligibility for registration with NMBI, with experience in community, home care services. 
• Significant experience leading day-to-day service delivery across multidisciplinary teams within a regulated care environment, or an environment transitioning towards regulation.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of safe, high-quality and person-centred care.
• Experience managing complex and clinical cases and providing appropriate professional oversight and escalation.
• Demonstrable experience of workforce planning, rostering, scheduling and resource allocation.
• A strong working knowledge and understanding of relevant HIQA and HSE requirements, safeguarding and Children First.
• Experience managing quality, risk, incidents, complaints and compliance within a care environment.
• Strong people leadership skills, with the ability to motivate, develop and hold teams accountable.
• Experience managing performance and supporting a positive, transparent and collaborative organisational culture.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent organisational, analytical and reporting skills.
• A practical understanding of service development, continuous improvement and operational change.

The successful candidate will be decisive, calm and solutions-focused, with the judgement and resilience required to respond effectively to complex operational and clinical situations. They will bring credibility, professionalism and compassion to their leadership and have a genuine commitment to dignity, safety, quality and positive outcomes for the people using Caregivers Ireland’s services.

Location

• Walkinstown Avenue, Walkinstown, Dublin 12, D12 PY68

Salary

• €80,000 per annum

Benefits

• 26 days annual leave
• Employer pension contribution to PRSA scheme
• 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday
• Working from home, as agreed from time to time
• Employee Assistance Scheme 
• Cycle to Work Schemes available