At Western Care we aim to provide the most appropriate care, in the most appropriate setting for the people we support.
And right now, we are looking to grow and support our team across County Mayo.Why not be part of a progressive team, that's delivering for its community.Western Care - Supporting People To Live Their Lives.Head of Quality Safety & Service ImprovementCastlebar, Co. MayoPermanent 35 per week Reference Number 2025-143Closing date: June 23rd, 2025Application Details Please apply using current C.V.Further information available from Anne Chambers Head of Operations Tel: 087-2256694Please note a Panel may be formed as a result of this competition for similar posts within the Organisation Job BriefThe Head of Quality, Safety and Service Improvement will play a pivotal leadership role in ensuring the highest standards of quality, safety and continuous improvement across all services.
This role is responsible for developing and embedding a culture of excellence, person-centred care, and evidence-based practice within the organisation.
The post-holder will lead on regulatory compliance, clinical and non-clinical governance, risk management, incident reporting, and quality improvement initiatives, ensuring services are safe, effective, and continually improving. Main ResponsibilitiesThe primary objectives of this role includeEnsure the quality of service provision and the safety of people we support as the highest priority for Western Care Association while meeting all necessary regulations and standards.Provide appropriate leadership, ensuring quality and safety is integrated within the work of Western Care Association.Establish and maintain rigorous and systematic oversight and monitoring of the quality and safety elements of the Western Care Association operational and strategic plans.Lead and manage the development of the Quality, Risk and Safety function which supports managers in the task of delivering quality and safe services. This will include line management of Quality, Risk and Health & Safety staff.Lead and manage the development of the Health, Social and Clinical services in response to the changing health care needs of the people we support in Western Care Association.Identify and support Quality Improvement priorities for Western Care Association.Support operational change processes for staff teams.Please see full details of all key duties & responsibilities in Job Description below Applicant RequirementsEducation Qualifications 1. A relevant third level qualification in Quality, Safety, Risk Management or Clinical Governance in Healthcare at level 8 (or higher) on the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) framework or equivalentOr 2. A Social Care Qualification at Level 8 or higher and also have a relevant qualification in Quality, Safety, Risk Management or Clinical Governance.Or 3. Be a registered nurse on the live Register of Nurses kept by Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).Or4. Be registered in the Intellectual Disability Division of the Register of Nurses kept by NMBI/be registered in the Mental Health Division of the Register of Nurses kept RNID/RGN/RMHN qualification is desirable.5. Have the clinical and administrative capacity to properly discharge the functions of the role.Note: Post holders must maintain annual registration with the relevant Professional regulator. Please note that appointment to and continuation in posts that require statutory registration is dependent upon the post holder maintaining annual registration in the professional register. Key CompetenciesManagement experience at a senior level in a healthcare setting for a minimum of three years.Excellent understanding of clinical governance, service planning, service provision and resource management.Robust understanding Regulation and HIQA framework.Experience of working in a post that has involved safety, risk management, quality improvement and regulatory compliance.Experience of leading change at a senior organisational level.Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to facilitate working in a collegial way a wide range of individuals and groups.Ability to communicate with impact and be able to convince through personal and professional credibility rather than managerial authority.Excellent written and presentation skills with the ability to present complex information in an easily understood and accessible format.Strong Leadership and Management skills.Strong Analytical and problem-solving skills.Ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and stakeholders.Excellent IT Skills.Ability to develop, lead and present Training events. Other necessary criteriaReliability and flexibility are essential for this position.Ability to conduct oneself in a professional manner throughout the course of one's duties.Adherence to Western Care Association policies and procedures at all times.Participate in the on-call system for senior management as required.Full Clean Drivers licence with access to their own transport.Recruitment RequirementsAll applicants will be subject to Irish Garda Vetting & Reference checksAll applicants from Countries outside the E.U.
will be required to provide relevant work authorization to take up employment in Republic of Ireland. This must be submitted along with ApplicationAll applicants will be required to access Overseas Police Clearance if they have lived outside of the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland more than 6 months since the age of 18 yearsEmployment BenefitsCompetitive salaryPension and Life Insurance Scheme Annual leave in excess of statutory entitlementDedicated learning and development Flexible working opportunitiesStaff initiatives e.g.
Employee Assistance Programme, Bike-to-Work Scheme Sick pay schemeSalary ScaleHead of QSSI Grade VIII Pay Scale (Scale Range €74,944 to €91,847 per annum)this is based on full time working hours i.e.
35 per weekHealth Applicants must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to this post and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________JOB DESCRIPTIONReporting RelationshipThe post holder will report to the Chief Executive Officer and will be part of the Senior Management Team.Overview & Purpose of the RoleThe Head of Quality, Safety and Service Improvement will play a pivotal leadership role in ensuring the highest standards of quality, safety and continuous improvement across all services.
This role is responsible for developing and embedding a culture of excellence, person-centred care, and evidence-based practice within the organisation.
The post-holder will lead on regulatory compliance, clinical and non-clinical governance, risk management, incident reporting, and quality improvement initiatives, ensuring services are safe, effective, and continually improving.The primary objectives of the role are to:Ensure the quality of service provision and the safety of people we support as the highest priority for Western Care Association while meeting all necessary regulations and standards.Provide appropriate leadership, ensuring quality and safety is integrated within the work of Western Care Association.Establish and maintain rigorous and systematic oversight and monitoring of the quality and safety elements of the Western Care Association operational and strategic plans.Lead and manage the development of the Quality, Risk and Safety function which supports managers in the task of delivering quality and safe services. This will include line management of Quality, Risk and Health & Safety staff.Lead and manage the development of the Health, Social and Clinical services in response to the changing health care needs of the people we support in Western Care Association.Identify and support Quality Improvement priorities for Western Care Association.Support operational change processes for staff teams. Key Working RelationshipsHead of Operations, Head of Finance, Head of Human Resources, other Department Heads, Service Managers, Social Care Workers and Social Care Assistants.In addition to the above, the role forms part of the management structure and the post holder will participate as a team member with their peer group by way of a regular meeting process and ongoing collaborative work.Department/LocationThe role will be based in the Head Office building at John Moore Rd, Castlebar, Co. Mayo with some travel to other locations in accordance with service and business needs.Authority LevelsResponsibility for the management and effectiveness of the Quality, Safety and Service Improvement Team and Health and Social Care services.Duties and ResponsibilitiesThe ongoing development of the Quality, Safety and Service Improvement Team, development of an integrated quality and safety management system, in line with the National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare, and all service-related regulatory requirements of Western Care Association across all areas of the Organisation.Support an organisational culture that embraces positive risk taking within a person-centred and self-directed model of service in line with people we support's priorities, rights, will and preference.Ensure the overarching Quality, Safety and Service Improvement Management System is in line with best practice incorporating:Development and implementation of the Organisations Quality, safety and compliance strategy.Implementation of an effective Organisational policy and procedure management system.Oversight of the Organisations safety and risk processes.Utilisation of regulatory frameworks to embed quality of care and demonstrate compliance. Empower and support local ownership to support the highest levels of quality and safety in service provision.Coordination of an Organisational audit program while supporting staff to undertake ongoing audits.Supporting Senior and Line Managers to meet their regulatory requirements with HIQA, the HSA and other regulatory bodies. Ensure oversight and monitoring of the progression of all actions plans to ensure they are completed within the relevant timeframes, with learning opportunities communicated and acted upon.Supporting the development and implementation of quality improvements initiatives to ensure continuous improvement in the quality of service provided to people we support.Identification of appropriate education and training for staff to support their involvement in quality and compliance processes, in partnership with other relevant stakeholders.Provide assurance to the Senior Management Team and the Board in relation to all organisational aspects of quality, safety and regulatory compliance.Provide direction for the development and advancement of services which results in the delivery of effective, efficient, cost-effective, quality assured and client centred care.Provide appropriate leadership, ensuring quality and the safety of people we support is integrated within the work of Western Care Association. To engage with all relevant stakeholders as required. Develop collaborative working in the area of quality and safety with relevant internal and external stakeholders.Strategy Provide input to the Organisational strategy to ensure the quality and safety agenda is forefront in the delivery of services, and to enhance the culture of the organisation.Develop an annual Quality and Safety Management programme defining key structures, activities and outcomes linked to Organisational strategy on an annual basis.Governance Develop and support the governance structure responsible for the oversight of safe effective Health and Social care provided to people we support within Western Care Association.The post holder is responsible for providing advice and support to all managers/staff in relation to quality and safety models and methods to ensure the Organisation's achievement and performance with the internal and external requirements. Policies and Procedures Maintain a centralised register and / or repository of Western Care Association policies and procedures.Monitor the development, review and approval of policies and procedures to ensure they are in line with the Western Care Association related policy and procedure process.Ensure there is an approved template for the development of policies and procedures.Provide support to Senior and frontline Managers and other relevant staff on the development, review, approval and communication of policies and procedures.
(PPPG).Monitor the review dates of policies and procedures and ensure relevant Senior and frontline Managers are aware when policies and procedures are due for review.Collate and prepare data relating to the status of policies and procedures for analysis and oversight by the Management Teams and policy holders.Audit Management Develop a programme of audit for Western Care Association.
This should address all relevant clinical and non-clinical aspects of the services.Support with the implementation of Audit Programmes as required.
This may include communication of the schedule of audits; liaising with auditors; ensuring audits are undertaken as per the Audit Schedule; supporting auditors to collate findings; ensuring audit findings are closed out; and ensuring the audit is closed out.Provide relevant training and support to the Auditors to undertake audit.
This may include support to plan the audit, and/or support to identify and document relevant actions or quality improvement plans arising from the audit.Proactively monitor all identified actions / quality improvement plans to ensure they are acted upon by the relevant senior or frontline Managers.Maintain a centralised register of the status of audits undertaken and corresponding findings.On a regular basis, prepare a summary of the implementation of the audit schedule, for review and analysis by the Management Teams.Regulatory Compliance Develop and implement a programme to assist with the process of compliance preparedness required in relation to regulations and standards.Support Senior and frontline Managers in understanding the legislation and standards that are applicable to their service, the assessment process undertaken by HIQA, the HSA and other regulatory bodies, and their obligations to communicate with / report to same.Ensure all Line Managers are familiar with the process for reporting notifiable events to HIQA, the HSA and other regulatory bodies, and the process for following up such incidents internally, in line with the Western Care Association policy and procedure.Support Senior and frontline Managers to proactively evaluate their compliance with HIQA, the HSA and other regulatory bodies standards in advance of inspection, and to identify and implement any relevant quality improvement plans.Stay up to date with best practice developments from HIQA, the HSA and other regulatory bodies.
Communicate significant developments and best practice updates within the Organisation.Support services in improving performance with the compliance requirements of regulatory standards.Maintain a centralised register of HIQA, the HSA and other regulatory bodies inspection reports, with a focus on any actions to be followed up by Senior and frontline Managers.
Actively monitor the register to ensure all actions are implemented and reports completed as per required timeframes.Oversee the provision of defined outcome measurements which determine the ongoing level of safety, risk, and quality of care, inclusive of complaints incident and risk management, in partnership with the line management structure.Analyse and summarise performance improvement data and report on findings and outcomes to the Senior Management team.Ensure Implementation of Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc.
Quality Improvement Plans Support Line Managers to identify areas for quality improvement.
This may arise from internal audit, HIQA, the HSA and other regulatory bodies inspection reports, incident reports, proactive identification of areas for improvement, etc.Support Line Managers to apply standard methodology to quality improvement initiatives.Lead on the communication of Quality Initiatives across Western Care Association to enable departments to learn from the quality initiatives of each other.Safety and Risk Management Ensure there is a robust system in place to manage all incidents and complaints received in line with best practice and policy.Ensure effective System Identification Analysis is undertaken on high-risk incidents and that the results are used to drive improvement.Ensure a robust risk management process that identifies incidents and risks and manages these risks to minimise impacts to people we support and staff .Lead on the development, review and management of the local and corporate risk register for Western Care Association.Accountability for the implementation of the organisations Health and Safety Programme in line with Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and associated Statutory Instruments.Integrate organisational incident management data as part of staff training.Complaints Management Oversee the implementation of the complaint's management process for people we support and families, in a manner that is accessible to them, e.g.
poster displays, notices etc.Ensure all complaints are logged in a centralised data base and relevant reporting is completed as required.Collate and prepare data relating to closed complaints for analysis and interrogation with the objective of identifying areas for improvement. The post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post, which may be assigned to them from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.
This job description will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances, this is a guide to the general range of duties assigned to the post holder.
It is not intended to be exhaustive but should be regarded as providing guideline within which individuals work.
neither definitive nor restrictive and is subject to periodic review with the employee concerned.Applicant RequirementsEducation Qualifications 1. A relevant third level qualification in Quality, Safety, Risk Management or Clinical Governance in Healthcare at level 8 (or higher) on the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) framework or equivalentOr 2. A Social Care Qualification at Level 8 or higher and also have a relevant qualification in Quality, Safety, Risk Management or Clinical Governance.Or 3. Be a registered nurse on the live Register of Nurses kept by Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI).Or4. Be registered in the Intellectual Disability Division of the Register of Nurses kept by NMBI/be registered in the Mental Health Division of the Register of Nurses kept RNID/RGN/RMHN qualification is desirable.5. Have the clinical and administrative capacity to properly discharge the functions of the role.Note: Post holders must maintain annual registration with the relevant Professional regulator. Please note that appointment to and continuation in posts that require statutory registration is dependent upon the post holder maintaining annual registration in the professional register. Key CompetenciesManagement experience at a senior level in a healthcare setting for a minimum of three years.Excellent understanding of clinical governance, service planning, service provision and resource management.Robust understanding Regulation and HIQA framework.Experience of working in a post that has involved safety, risk management, quality improvement and regulatory compliance.Experience of leading change at a senior organisational level.Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to facilitate working in a collegial way a wide range of individuals and groups.Ability to communicate with impact and be able to convince through personal and professional credibility rather than managerial authority.Excellent written and presentation skills with the ability to present complex information in an easily understood and accessible format.Strong Leadership and Management skills.Strong Analytical and problem-solving skills.Ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and stakeholders.Excellent IT Skills.Ability to develop, lead and present Training events. Other necessary criteriaReliability and flexibility are essential for this position.Ability to conduct oneself in a professional manner throughout the course of one's duties.Adherence to Western Care Association policies and procedures at all times.Participate in the on-call system for senior management as required.Full Clean Drivers licence with access to their own transport. Career DevelopmentAll employees of Western Care Association will be afforded Training and Development opportunities in regard to Career Development.In addition, there will be substantial training in legislative, Health & Safety and other job-related training provided on an on-going basis. Working Relationships and Communication:Understand and operate all relevant local and organisational procedure, directives and general information made available through the line manager.Develop and contribute to good working relationships in the Organisation and with all other relevant personnel.Report to and appraise line manager or designate of all work-related issues and difficulties.Follow the Association's Grievance and Disciplinary Procedure, available in the Association's Staff Handbook.Maintain strict confidentiality relating to matters regarding personnel and services.Attend and actively participate in staff meetings as required.Actively participate in supervisory support as per Organisation Procedure. General:Promote a positive image and name of the Association in the wider community.Be responsible for the staffing resource within the QSSI Department.Be accountable and responsible for input into service planning and delivery, together with job performance as per role within the Association.Promote dignity at work and show respect to people we support, colleagues and stakeholders in the course of duty. Act in a confidential manner when dealing with personal information relating to people we support, families and staff.You will receive support and supervision from your Team Leader regarding your day to day work through the Supervisory Support Process in place in the Association. The Association's Policies and Procedures form an integral part of the contract of employment. These are available on the staff intranet.