Job Purpose
1. Ensure the effective daily management of the Oatlands Montessori and Afterschool in accordance with the requirements of the Policies and Procedures of the Service, the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations, 2016 and the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) [Registration of School Age Services] Regulations, 2018 and any other relevant legislation and good practice requirements and be accountable to the Directors
2. Ensure the safety, security and well being of all children attending Oatlands Montessori and Afterschool
3. Be responsible, in consultation with the directors for recruitment, management, training, motivation and performance of all Oatlands Montessori and Afterschool staff.
4. Ensure a dynamic curriculum is delivered, as per the ethos of the service, to meet the individual needs of children attending Oatlands Montessori and Afterschool.
5. Monitor and ensure that all agreed quality and safety standards are always maintained in Oatlands Montessori and Afterschool.
6. Monitor day-to-day financial operations within Oatlands Montessori and Afterschool.
7. Respond to childcare policy at local and national level
Service (Operational)
8. Review and monitor occupancy levels, to ensure they are maintained to maximum capacity levels in line with service ethos and objectives and to ensure financial sustainability.
9. Proactively market Oatlands Montessori and Afterschool to potential users and to partner organisations to meet these objectives.
10. To manage Oatlands Montessori and Afterschool and ensure that the facilities are fully utilized in line with policies and procedures of Oatlands Montessori and Afterschool.
11. Review Policies and Procedures on a regular basis to ensure they are kept up-to-date and reflect best practice.
12. Ensure that required standards, ratios and conditions Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations, 2016 and the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) [Registration of School Age Services] Regulations, 2018 are maintained at all times
13. Meet parents as necessary to discuss childrens progress.
14. Be responsible for the health, wellbeing and the safety of both children and employees always in line with legislation.
15. Monitor all child protection issues; parents issues; complaints, near-misses, incidents, and accidents to ensure that any necessary remedial action is taken immediately. Ensure all issues and actions are recorded. Report Child Safeguarding concerns to Tusla using the Children First Guidelines
16. Carry out the role of Designated Child Protection Person for Oatlands Montessori and Afterschool.
17. Develop the Service to its full potential grasping all opportunities in sourcing additional funding.
18. Keep up to date on early education.
19. Establish, develop, and maintain professional working relationships with all external agencies.
Early Education Responsibilities
20. Plan, implement and evaluate varied programmes of activities appropriate to the age ranges of the children.
21. Work directly with children, when necessary
22. Develop the programme of activities using the principles of Siolta, the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Aistear, the National Curriculum Framework
23. Ensure policies are developed in line with the relevant Tusla Quality Regulatory Framework
24. Plan, implement and evaluate the observation, assessment, and monitoring of each childs developmental progress against the developmental norms for the childs age.
25. Ensure Observations are recorded using the appropriate materials.
26. Organise schedules of regular review meetings for key workers to discuss childs developmental progress with parents.
27. Organise and attend regular parents meetings and open days.
28. Ensure all weekly / monthly returns and reports are made to the appropriate bodies as agreed and appropriate.
29. Ensure the care, maintenance and security of equipment and toys in the Childcare Service.
Staff (Personnel Responsibilities)
30. Manage up staff on day-to-day basis.
31. Develop a staff training schedule.
32. Consult with the directors around recruitment and training of staff. Conduct all appropriate checks for new employees, trainees and cover staff including reference checks and Garda vetting.
33. Ensure that Oatlands Montessori and Afterschool is one of excellence by ensuring staff are trained motivated, directed, and appraised and developed in a positive and effective manner, taking account of statutory requirements to ensure that they fulfil the provisions of their job description or training plan.
34. Undertake regular review meetings with all Oatlands Montessori and Afterschool staff and monitor their performance.
35. In consultation with the directors, to be responsible for the well being of staff ensuring that disciplinary and grievance procedures as devised by the directors are adhered to in line with legislation.
36. Monitor staffing levels, ensuring Oatlands Montessori and Afterschool is appropriately staffed daily. Maintain a list of appropriate cover staff.
37. Manage staff annual leave requests to ensure the Oatlands Montessori and Afterschool is adequately always staffed.
38. Ensure all payroll returns are both accurate and timely, including the reporting of absence through sickness and holidays
39. Maintain accurate personnel records for all Oatlands Montessori and Afterschool employees, cover staff and trainees in line with legislative requirements at all times.
40. Support staff in delivering quality childcare service with a strong emphasis on child development.
Health & Safety
41. To always ensure the highest standards of cleanliness and hygiene of Oatlands Montessori and Afterschool.
42. Be responsible for security systems and maintenance of the facilities and that staff effectively use them
43. Ensure Oatlands Montessori and Afterschool is checked daily for potential risks to children (both indoors and outdoors) in line with Health and Safety Authority regulations
44. Maintain an accident, incident, and near-miss logbook, in accordance with Service Policy and legislative requirements.
45. Ensure all relevant reports are submitted to the Health and Safety Authority.
46. Establish monitor and record appropriate emergency procedures.
47. Supervise the administration and recording of all medication administered within the Childcare Service.
48. Undertake and maintain records of regular Risk Assessments
Financial Responsibilities (shared with Board of Management)
49. Operate Oatlands Montessori and Afterschool within the given financial budget and to liaise with administrator re: finances etc
50. Be fully conversant with the childcare business concerning maximising effectiveness of funding received and ensuring equitable fee income.
51. Monitor all staff costs including cover staff costs, training, and travel closely to ensure they do not exceed budgetary provisions.
52. Maintain accurate accounts, including fee registers, collection, and management of debt.
53. Provide a timely monthly financial summary for Oatlands Montessori and Afterschool.
Reports
54. Submit quarterly written progress and financial reports to the director and to funding agencies when requested
55. To undertake evaluation of the project under the direction of the directors. This evaluation should inform future strategic planning in Oatlands Montessori and Afterschool.
Other
56. Represent Oatlands Montessori and Afterschool at conferences, in local partnerships and on committees where relevant.
57. Support the ongoing development of the parent group which meets periodically, and which provides feedback to the Manager and to the directors.
The successful candidate must have
QQI Level 7 or above desirable.
Hours 40 Salary 21.63 - 26.44 per hour Job Location Stillorgan Qualification Level Minimum QQI/Fetac Level 7