Now Hiring - Manager
Maxfield Park Children’s Home is looking to recruit a Manager for the residential care facility. The Home provides care for 96 children birth to 18 years old with varying needs. .
The core responsibility of the Manager is to ensure that the proper care and protection for the children in the care of the Home are delivered within the standards of the Child Care and Protection Act (CCPA).
In addition to managing the institution effectively and efficiently, the incumbent is also required to manage the educational component of the children, based on each child’s unique educational need and capacity. This includes having oversight for the onsite school facility and providing guidance for the staff of the school. The incumbent is also expected to establish and foster working relationships with the relevant learning institutions where the children are placed.
REQUIRED EDUCATION
Minimum Education and Experience:
OR
Knowledge Required:
● In-depth knowledge of the Child Care and Protection Act and the Children (Adoption of) Act
● Computer literate with proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
● Familiarity with basic accounting principles
● Familiarity with inventory management and procurement procedures
● Familiarity with human resources policies and procedures
Please send your application and resume to manager.mpchja@gmail.com or deliver it to 89 Maxfield Avenue, Kingston 13 no later 24th February 2021.
The core responsibility of the Manager is to ensure that the proper care and protection for the children in the care of the Home are delivered within the standards of the Child Care and Protection Act (CCPA).
In addition to managing the institution effectively and efficiently, the incumbent is also required to manage the educational component of the children, based on each child’s unique educational need and capacity. This includes having oversight for the onsite school facility and providing guidance for the staff of the school. The incumbent is also expected to establish and foster working relationships with the relevant learning institutions where the children are placed.
REQUIRED EDUCATION
Minimum Education and Experience:
- BSc. or B.Ed. Degree in the Social Sciences (Social Work, Management Studies, Public Administration)
OR
- At least three years’ experience in managing a large corporate entity
Knowledge Required:
● In-depth knowledge of the Child Care and Protection Act and the Children (Adoption of) Act
● Computer literate with proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
● Familiarity with basic accounting principles
● Familiarity with inventory management and procurement procedures
● Familiarity with human resources policies and procedures
Please send your application and resume to manager.mpchja@gmail.com or deliver it to 89 Maxfield Avenue, Kingston 13 no later 24th February 2021.
JOB DESCRIPTION
POSITION: Manager
REPORTS TO: Board of Directors
DIRECT REPORTS
Operations Officer
Programmes Officer
Accountant
Procurement & Inventory Officer
Administrative Assistant
Senior Teacher (School)
INDIRECT REPORTS
All staff employed to the Home
1. PURPOSE OF JOB
To offer care and protection for children brought into the Home enabling them to achieve a high level of social functioning through the provision of a physically safe, emotionally secure and healthy home substitute environment.
NATURE AND SCOPE
The position functions within a dynamic environment because of the population and the need to care for and respond to unscheduled and varied needs of the children.
There is a unique requirement that must be met if the Manager of the Home is to be effective. The jobholder must not only manage the institution, consistent with the requirements of the Child Care and Protection Act (CCPA) – but must also be able to manage the educational component, based on each child’s unique educational needs. In addition to liaising with primary, special needs, vocational and high schools where the children are placed, this requires managing the teaching and learning component, which is provided on-site by six employees who are employed under terms and conditions applicable to employees of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, but must be managed by the Home to deliver maximum effectiveness within such terms and conditions. Currently, these employees are early education teachers, special needs teachers, and guidance counsellors.
Against this background, the ideal job holder must possess strong management competencies, be an effective team leader, and be able to provide direction to all who will have responsibility for managing the educational component, which will include academic preparation as well as vocational skills development, in preparing Wards for their transition.
2. KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Reporting to the Board of Directors the duties and responsibilities of the Manager will include:
● Providing care for needs (parenting, emotional, educational, health, social-spiritual) of Wards ages 0-18 requires dedication, love, patience and emotional resilience from Caregivers. Creative types of training and recognition programmes is needed not only for the Wards but also for Caregivers
● A mindset of being creative/positive in the utilization of limited resources and engaging in more best practice research on comparative methods needs to be encouraged/developed at the management-leadership level
Direct Responsibilities
● To manage the Maxfield Park Children’s Home and ensure the efficient operation of the service in accordance with the relevant legislation, procedures, policies and the Vision and Mission Statements for the home.
● Ensure that the proper assessment, counselling and psycho-social support is within the required timeframe for the appropriate referrals to be done
● To co-ordinate and monitor casework and administrative functions of the Home and evaluate standards of performance.
● To assist and supervise in the continual assessment of the needs of the children and to identify and prepare specific development plans to ensure the most appropriate service provision.
● Encourage and maintain links with the community, service clubs, etc. and ensure adherence to guidelines for the work of volunteers
● Be willing to advocate that the rights of the children are upheld
● To be accountable and take responsibility for liaising with regulatory organizations in relation to the way the Home is managed.
● Ensure timely preparation of required reports for court, medical and psychiatric referrals, and annual report on the institution
● Ensure efficient use of government funds, equipment and other goods allocated to the institution
● Ensure that all staff members are aware of and sign the necessary Code of Conduct; and that all rules, guidelines, and protocol governing operations in the Home are available to staff
● Creating and safeguarding an environment for promoting individual rights, providing good quality care, which is free from oppression and abuse, and where differences are respected and valued.
● To ensure, always, that professional ethics and behaviour are demonstrated by all staff. Actively co-ordinate the service provision and be a focal point for support, advice and coaching to all staff within the Home.
● To contribute to a comprehensive staff training and development programme to enable the service to have available all necessary skills and levels of expertise to meet the needs of the children.
● To chair meetings, reviews and discussions as necessary.
Child Care Duties
● Facilitate contact between children and their biological family
● Provide transportation, as needed, for the children for clinic/hospital visits when they are ill
● Provide support to the children by attending PTA meetings and liaising with teachers when required, on matters to improve the wellbeing of the children
Documentation Management
Staff/People Management
● Ensure that safe working practices are always employed by all staff in accordance with legislation.
● To contribute to the development of appropriate relationships with and between staff, children and other stakeholders.
Financial Management
Any other such duties as may be required from time to time by the Board of Directors.
3. EDUCATION, SKILLS AND SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUES
Minimum Education and Experience:
● BSc. Degree in the Social Sciences (Social Work, Management Studies, Public Administration, etc)
● Minimum of five years’ experience in the area of child welfare, three (3) of which should be at a senior level
OR
● At least three years of experience in managing a residential childcare institution
[Any equivalent combination of education and experience in the related field will be considered]
Knowledge Required:
● In-depth knowledge of the Child Care and Protection Act and the Children (Adoption of) Act
● Computer literate with proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
● Familiarity with accounting principles
● Familiarity with inventory management and procurement procedures
● Familiarity with human resources policies and procedures
Desired Skills/Competencies:
● Leadership – a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction
● Integrity – being honest and ethical
● Initiative – Willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges
● Teamwork – able to work with all levels of team members in such a manner as to achieve MPCH goals and objectives
● Ability to work under pressure and within deadlines
● Excellent interpersonal skills – to interact with a variety of persons with sensitivity, and a co-operative attitude; being a role model for desired behaviours – to children, family members and fellow staff members
● Excellent listening and communication skills (oral and written)
4. PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
The job is successfully performed when:
● Programmes and activities of the children in the Home are properly coordinated and implemented in the best interest of the children
● Children display improved social behaviour
● Children in care are successfully being reintegrated into the community
● The property and other resources are effectively utilized and maintained
● Timely monthly and quarterly reports are submitted (CPFSA, Board of Directors)
● Strategic goals are achieved
● Performance appraisals are conducted promptly within the administrative year
5. WORK RELATIONSHIPS
Summary of main contacts to be developed and maintained:
Internal
▪ Children
▪ Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA):
▪ (i) Children’s Officers
▪ (ii) Monitoring Officers
▪ (iii) Institution Officers
External
▪ Children’s families/relatives
▪ Schools
▪ Health Care Providers
▪ Security Providers
▪ Suppliers/Potential Suppliers
▪ CISOCA
▪ Donors/Donor Agencies
▪ Volunteers
▪ Government Agencies
6. DIMENSIONS, AUTHORITY AND DECISION MAKING
The incumbent is empowered to:
● Provide recommendations to the Juvenile/family court concerning each child
● Financial authority – to authorize payments for cheque preparation.
7. WORKING CONDITIONS
● Work hours: 8:00am - 4:30pm. Jobholder is on call.
● Irregular and long hours are sometimes required to meet the demands of the job and ensure objectives are met
● In-door atmosphere, semi-private desk area
● Requires local inter-parish travel for seminars, meetings, etc.
POSITION: Manager
REPORTS TO: Board of Directors
DIRECT REPORTS
Operations Officer
Programmes Officer
Accountant
Procurement & Inventory Officer
Administrative Assistant
Senior Teacher (School)
INDIRECT REPORTS
All staff employed to the Home
1. PURPOSE OF JOB
To offer care and protection for children brought into the Home enabling them to achieve a high level of social functioning through the provision of a physically safe, emotionally secure and healthy home substitute environment.
NATURE AND SCOPE
The position functions within a dynamic environment because of the population and the need to care for and respond to unscheduled and varied needs of the children.
There is a unique requirement that must be met if the Manager of the Home is to be effective. The jobholder must not only manage the institution, consistent with the requirements of the Child Care and Protection Act (CCPA) – but must also be able to manage the educational component, based on each child’s unique educational needs. In addition to liaising with primary, special needs, vocational and high schools where the children are placed, this requires managing the teaching and learning component, which is provided on-site by six employees who are employed under terms and conditions applicable to employees of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information, but must be managed by the Home to deliver maximum effectiveness within such terms and conditions. Currently, these employees are early education teachers, special needs teachers, and guidance counsellors.
Against this background, the ideal job holder must possess strong management competencies, be an effective team leader, and be able to provide direction to all who will have responsibility for managing the educational component, which will include academic preparation as well as vocational skills development, in preparing Wards for their transition.
2. KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Reporting to the Board of Directors the duties and responsibilities of the Manager will include:
● Providing care for needs (parenting, emotional, educational, health, social-spiritual) of Wards ages 0-18 requires dedication, love, patience and emotional resilience from Caregivers. Creative types of training and recognition programmes is needed not only for the Wards but also for Caregivers
● A mindset of being creative/positive in the utilization of limited resources and engaging in more best practice research on comparative methods needs to be encouraged/developed at the management-leadership level
Direct Responsibilities
● To manage the Maxfield Park Children’s Home and ensure the efficient operation of the service in accordance with the relevant legislation, procedures, policies and the Vision and Mission Statements for the home.
● Ensure that the proper assessment, counselling and psycho-social support is within the required timeframe for the appropriate referrals to be done
● To co-ordinate and monitor casework and administrative functions of the Home and evaluate standards of performance.
● To assist and supervise in the continual assessment of the needs of the children and to identify and prepare specific development plans to ensure the most appropriate service provision.
● Encourage and maintain links with the community, service clubs, etc. and ensure adherence to guidelines for the work of volunteers
● Be willing to advocate that the rights of the children are upheld
● To be accountable and take responsibility for liaising with regulatory organizations in relation to the way the Home is managed.
● Ensure timely preparation of required reports for court, medical and psychiatric referrals, and annual report on the institution
● Ensure efficient use of government funds, equipment and other goods allocated to the institution
● Ensure that all staff members are aware of and sign the necessary Code of Conduct; and that all rules, guidelines, and protocol governing operations in the Home are available to staff
● Creating and safeguarding an environment for promoting individual rights, providing good quality care, which is free from oppression and abuse, and where differences are respected and valued.
● To ensure, always, that professional ethics and behaviour are demonstrated by all staff. Actively co-ordinate the service provision and be a focal point for support, advice and coaching to all staff within the Home.
● To contribute to a comprehensive staff training and development programme to enable the service to have available all necessary skills and levels of expertise to meet the needs of the children.
● To chair meetings, reviews and discussions as necessary.
Child Care Duties
- Ensure all clinical practices and medication processes within the home are conducted in line with legislation and proper health care guidelines.
- To promote appropriate and therapeutic relationships between staff and wards and their families, promoting the children’s involvement and participation in the day-to-day life of the Home.
- Ensure all clinical practices and medication processes within the home are conducted in line with legislation and proper health care guidelines.
- To organise duty rotas to ensure that the needs of the young people are always met.
● Facilitate contact between children and their biological family
● Provide transportation, as needed, for the children for clinic/hospital visits when they are ill
● Provide support to the children by attending PTA meetings and liaising with teachers when required, on matters to improve the wellbeing of the children
Documentation Management
- Ensure that all necessary documentation required by regulators or the Board of Directors is completed to a high standard and be available for inspections, checks or interviews as requested.
- Ensure preparation of various types of reports for court, medical and psychiatric referrals
- Encourage the utilization of technology in capturing data related to admissions, evaluations, records retention, and storage
Staff/People Management
- To be involved in recruitment of staff including vetting, interviewing and orientation of new employees.
- To promote appropriate and therapeutic relationships between staff and wards and their families, promoting the children’s involvement and participation in the day-to-day life of the Home.
● Ensure that safe working practices are always employed by all staff in accordance with legislation.
● To contribute to the development of appropriate relationships with and between staff, children and other stakeholders.
Financial Management
- To ensure that the Home's financial and administrative procedures are adhered to and to work within a set budget.
Any other such duties as may be required from time to time by the Board of Directors.
3. EDUCATION, SKILLS AND SPECIALIZED TECHNIQUES
Minimum Education and Experience:
● BSc. Degree in the Social Sciences (Social Work, Management Studies, Public Administration, etc)
● Minimum of five years’ experience in the area of child welfare, three (3) of which should be at a senior level
OR
● At least three years of experience in managing a residential childcare institution
[Any equivalent combination of education and experience in the related field will be considered]
Knowledge Required:
● In-depth knowledge of the Child Care and Protection Act and the Children (Adoption of) Act
● Computer literate with proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
● Familiarity with accounting principles
● Familiarity with inventory management and procurement procedures
● Familiarity with human resources policies and procedures
Desired Skills/Competencies:
● Leadership – a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction
● Integrity – being honest and ethical
● Initiative – Willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges
● Teamwork – able to work with all levels of team members in such a manner as to achieve MPCH goals and objectives
● Ability to work under pressure and within deadlines
● Excellent interpersonal skills – to interact with a variety of persons with sensitivity, and a co-operative attitude; being a role model for desired behaviours – to children, family members and fellow staff members
● Excellent listening and communication skills (oral and written)
4. PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
The job is successfully performed when:
● Programmes and activities of the children in the Home are properly coordinated and implemented in the best interest of the children
● Children display improved social behaviour
● Children in care are successfully being reintegrated into the community
● The property and other resources are effectively utilized and maintained
● Timely monthly and quarterly reports are submitted (CPFSA, Board of Directors)
● Strategic goals are achieved
● Performance appraisals are conducted promptly within the administrative year
5. WORK RELATIONSHIPS
Summary of main contacts to be developed and maintained:
Internal
▪ Children
▪ Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA):
▪ (i) Children’s Officers
▪ (ii) Monitoring Officers
▪ (iii) Institution Officers
External
▪ Children’s families/relatives
▪ Schools
▪ Health Care Providers
▪ Security Providers
▪ Suppliers/Potential Suppliers
▪ CISOCA
▪ Donors/Donor Agencies
▪ Volunteers
▪ Government Agencies
6. DIMENSIONS, AUTHORITY AND DECISION MAKING
The incumbent is empowered to:
● Provide recommendations to the Juvenile/family court concerning each child
● Financial authority – to authorize payments for cheque preparation.
7. WORKING CONDITIONS
● Work hours: 8:00am - 4:30pm. Jobholder is on call.
● Irregular and long hours are sometimes required to meet the demands of the job and ensure objectives are met
● In-door atmosphere, semi-private desk area
● Requires local inter-parish travel for seminars, meetings, etc.