Policy Officer

Job Title: Policy Officer
Location: Reach Deaf Services
Contract duration: Permanent
Reports to: Practice Culture & Development Manager
Salary: €45,000 – €50,000 per annum, depending on experience

Purpose
Reach Deaf Services provides services to the Deaf Community, including a supported living service, and a boarding campus for Deaf children attending the Holy Family School for the Deaf.

A Policy Officer is being recruited in a full-time permanent capacity. The main purpose of the role is to support the organisation in the promotion of good practice in the area of social care. The Policy Officer will ensure the appropriate Policy, Procedures, Protocols and Guidelines (PPPG’S) are in place to guide staff in their practice. To take the lead on developing and revising policy and procedure, ensuring compliance with legislation, regulations and best practice

The Policy Officer will have a strong focus on developing operational policies and procedures in compliance with current legislation, with an emphasis on the delivery of social care to people living in the supported living service and the boarding campus for Deaf Children.

Why work for us:

• We offer a competitive salary
• Flexible working
• Generous employer pension
• 22 Days Annual Leave per Annum
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Maternity Leave
• Learning and Development opportunities with a focus on personal and professional progression
• Free Parking
• A job with purpose, working as part of a diverse and inclusive team
• Paid Sick Leave

Below are the main areas of responsibility;

• To take the lead on the timely and accurate creation, updating and review of policies for the Supported Living Service, boarding campus services, and any other additional services/projects which may become part of service practice.
• Follow the internal system Of reviewing and updating policies.
• Monitor the HSE National Framework on Policy, Procedures, Protocols and Guidelines to ensure the service is compliant with their Service Level Agreements
• In collaboration with the Compliance and Standards Manager monitor the HSE National Quality Improvement Team developments and publications to implement practices as relevant to Reach deaf services
• Monitor legislation and policy development on a national and international level with relevance to the work of Reach Deaf Services
• Develop and hold Policy Tool talks to engage with staff on practice and ensure polices are adhered to via processes such as policy audits. Offer guidance to managers in the organisation and issue communication to all staff regarding policy developments and other related information.
• Lead and collaborate with other departments to ensure all National Policies and Legislation is accessible to people who use our service.
• Review all policies and support plans to ensure potential requirements/best practice under HSE, HIQA, Social Role Valorisation Model, Boarding/Community Models of Care, other relevant organisations and government bodies, and other relevant guidelines are met
• Develop the operational policies and procedures in compliance with current legislation, regulations and standards on an ongoing basis
• Engage with service users and boarders for their feedback and input into policies
• Monitor and update the service when relevant government consultations are available for feedback.
• Encourage service users to use their voice in government consultations.
• Represent Reach Deaf Services at stakeholder events and meetings.
• Support services users and colleagues when advocacy cases arise that require policy expertise.

Key Requirements:

• Social care level 8, health care management, social policy, health policy or other relevant qualification
• Risk management quality assurance or willingness to gain within 12-24 months
• Knowledge of HIQA standards
• Prior experience of report writing
• Prior experience of creating and writing policies
• HSE National Framework of Policy Procedure Protocols and Guidelines (PPPG)
• Excellent communication skills

Desirable:

• Prior experience of working within a residential or community setting
• Fluency in ISL, another signed language or a willingness to achieve within 2 years – this will be funded by the organization
• Knowledge and experience of working within the Deaf community
• Prior experience of working with external agencies and multi-disciplinary teams
• Presentation Skills Experience of planning and hosting events

Key Behaviours:

1. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills essential
2. Evidence of on-going professional development
3. Excellent time management and organisational skills to include to meeting deadlines
4. Ability to work on own initiative and adaptable
5. Attention to detail
6. If no previous knowledge of Irish Sign Language, willingness to learn quickly
7. If no previous of working within the Deaf community, willingness to attend Deaf Awareness course and be open and learn from cultural differences

Do you not meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and members of underrepresented groups are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet all qualification criteria.

At Reach Deaf Services, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

For a full copy of the job specification, please email Kristina Harris at kharris@reachdeafservices.ie

Any interested applicants should forward their CV and a short covering letter stating their suitability for the role. Please email recruitment@reachdeafservices.ie by close of business on 31st December 2024.

If you require further details on this role, please contact Mary Stringer, CEO at mary@reachdeafservices.ie

Kristina Harris
HR Generalist
Reach Deaf Services