The posting
About the Role
Orchard Residential Care is a leading provider of children’s residential services in Ireland and this key role of Quality Assurance Coordinator will assist our teams in ensuring the best possible care and outcomes for children and young people we support is provided 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Reporting to the Quality Director, this full-time hybrid role will be based from either our Sligo or Dublin office, depending on the successful candidate's location. The role offers flexibility to work from home while maintaining a base within one of our offices and attending meetings as required. The successful candidate will travel regularly to residential services within their designated region to undertake audits, quality assurance visits, service reviews and other quality-related activities. As Orchard Residential Care operates services nationwide, occasional travel outside the assigned region may also be required. We are seeking a self-driven, focused and highly motivated individual with excellent interpersonal skills and a genuine passion for improving outcomes for the children and young people we support. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with operational teams to promote a culture of quality, safety and continuous improvement, ensuring that the care and support provided consistently meets the needs of those using our services while safeguarding their wellbeing at all times. Role Objectives
- Support the implementation and ongoing development of quality assurance systems across Orchard Residential Care services to ensure compliance with relevant legislation, regulations, national standards, and organisational policies, while promoting positive outcomes for children and young people.
- Participate in the annual quality audit programme, including both desktop and on-site audits, producing high-quality reports, supporting managers in the development of Quality Improvement Plans (QIPs), and monitoring the timely implementation of corrective actions.
- Work collaboratively with Persons in Charge (PICs), Regional Directors, and operational teams to promote a culture of quality, continuous improvement, accountability, and learning.
- Collect, analyse, interpret, and monitor quality assurance data, key performance indicators (KPIs), incidents, complaints, compliments, safeguarding concerns, regulatory notifications, and emerging trends, providing meaningful analysis and recommendations to support service improvement.
- Prepare and contribute to monthly, quarterly, and annual quality reports, highlighting areas of assurance, risk, trends, and opportunities for improvement.
- Support regulatory readiness and compliance activities, including inspection preparation, review of inspection findings, monitoring of regulatory actions, and oversight of service improvement plans.
- Support the review, development, implementation, and governance of policies, procedures, guidance documents, and document control systems to ensure consistency and compliance across services.
- Seek, analyse, and promote feedback from children and young people, families where appropriate, staff, advocates, and external stakeholders, ensuring lived experience informs service development and quality improvement initiatives.
- Promote children's rights, participation, advocacy, and least restrictive practices through quality assurance activities, supporting services to adopt rights-based and child-centred approaches.
- Support the implementation, development, and optimisation of electronic quality assurance, governance, and reporting systems.
- Contribute to the identification, monitoring, and escalation of quality, compliance, safeguarding, and operational risks through established governance structures.
- Coordinate and support shared learning initiatives arising from audits, inspections, incidents, complaints, safeguarding reviews, and quality improvement activities across the division.
- Assist in the preparation and completion of the Annual Review of the Quality and Safety of Care and Support and other organisational governance reports as required.
- Maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to support quality outcomes and organisational objectives.
- Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role as reasonably requested by the Director of Quality or Quality Manager. This job description is not exhaustive and may be reviewed and amended following consultation with the post holder.
The ideal candidate will:
- Have a third level qualification in health, social care or quality management.
- Have at least one year experience working with in a social care setting, preferably in mainstream residential services
- Have experience implementing a quality system in a care environment.
- Have a good knowledge of risk management and incident management & review.
- Have knowledge and experience in Túsla, standards and inspections.
- Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, reporting writing skills and be proficient at managing records in electronic format and hard copy
- Must have valid Garda Clearance and valid Overseas Clearance (if applicant lived abroad for more than 6 months).
- Full Drivers licence with eligibility to drive in Ireland & access to a vehicle.
- Be eligible to working in Ireland without restriction.
BOTH PERMANENT AND TEMPORARY ROLES AVAILABLE IND
Benefits to working with Company
- Comprehensive induction process
- Extensive training programme
- On-going mentoring and support
- Competitive salary with increments
- Refer a friend initiative
- Orchard Values Champion Award
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
- Internal career progression opportunities
- Bike to work scheme
- Education Assistance grants
