Advertised role location: Downshire Hospital
Official document: Job /Person Specification (docx)
Homecare
Area Manager
Band 5
Homecare
Area Manager
Band 5


JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Homecare Area Manager

BAND: 5

DIRECTORATE: Primary Care and Older People Service

INITIAL LOCATION: Downshire Hospital, Downpatrick

REPORTS TO: Registered Manager

ACCOUNTABLE TO: Director of Primary Care, Older People /
Executive Director of Nursing

JOB SUMMARY

The Directorate of Primary Care, Older People’s Services and Nursing provides a range of home care services designed to enable service users to remain at home and to live as independently as possible. Practical care service provision is achieved through empowering service users and carers to build on existing support networks. The focus of Homecare Service is the provision of high quality services in line with regulation and minimum required standards.

The Area Manager role is crucial in the provision of a safe and effective Homecare Service. They will promote person centred reablement for service users and ensure that both the service users and their carer’s views are reflected in the manner in which services are delivered.

As an integral member of the team the Area Manager will be expected to provide support for and to work in partnership with the Team Coordinators and the Registered Manager. The Area Manager will be responsible for the management and support of a locality team of Homecare Workers and for the monitoring of services provided to support service users living within the community in accordance with the aims and philosophy of South Eastern H&SC Trust.

KEY DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES

1 To participate in selection and recruitment of Homecare staff in accordance with South Eastern H&SC Trust policies and procedures.

2 To support the design and delivery of induction training for newly appointed staff in line with Regulations, NISCC and Trust requirements.

3 To organise, monitor, engage, supervise and appraise Homecare Workers in line with South Eastern H&SC Trust policies and procedures.

4 To use the electronic management systems to record staff hours worked and to ensure these hours are consistently filled.

5 To monitor Homecare workers performance through spot checks and with monitoring with service users and their families.

6 To ensure that Homecare workers are fully compliant with mandatory training and registration requirements.

7 To record, report and investigate all complaints incidents accidents serious adverse incidents and malpractice as per South Eastern H&SC Trust policy and procedure. To cascade the outcomes and learning from these to improve standards and practice.

8 To arrange and chair team meetings for Homecare workers.

9 To monitor and record all absenteeism in accordance with South Eastern H&SC Trust procedures.

10 To oversee new referrals and existing services to ensure that the Homecare team can deliver a safe and effective service.

11 To visit with service users and to complete risk assessments in line with protocol.

12 To liaise with community based staff in relation to any changes in service user circumstances which may impinge on safe delivery of the Homecare Service.

13 To contribute to formal reviews of service user care plans.

14 To maintain own professional registration with NISCC or other professional bodies.

15 To actively participate in own supervision, appraisal and peer meetings.

16 To participate in provision of on call service outside of service hours.

17 To support all colleagues through changes in service delivery or structures.
18 To share innovative ideas and be aware of examples of good practice.

19 To be professional in dealings with service users, their families and anyone else seeking advice or guidance from the Homecare Service.

20 To carry out any other duties as requested by Registered Manager or Senior Management.

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

The Trust supports and promotes a culture of collective leadership where those who have responsibility for managing other staff:

1 Establish and promote a supportive, fair and open culture that encourages and enables all parts of the team to have clearly aligned goals and objectives, to meet the required performance standards and to achieve continuous improvement in the services they deliver.

2 Ensure access to skills and personal development through appropriate training and support.

3 Promote a culture of openness and honesty to enable shared learning.

4 Encourage and empower others in their team to achieve their goals and reach their full potential through regular supportive conversation and shared decision making.

5 Adhere to and promote Trust policy and procedure in all staffing matters, participating as appropriate in a way which underpins Trust values.

GENERAL MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

6 The post holder will promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency. The post holder will ensure that they take all concerns raised with them seriously and act in accordance with the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust’s Raising Concerns Policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

The post holder will be required to:

7 Ensure the Trust’s policy on equality of opportunity is promoted through his /her own actions and those of any staff for whom he /she has responsibility.

8 Co-operate fully with the implementation of the Trust's Health and Safety arrangements, reporting any accidents /incidents /equipment defects to his / her manager, and maintaining a clean, uncluttered and safe environment for service users, members of the public and staff.

9 Adhere at all times to all Trust policies/codes of conduct, including for example:
Smoke Free Policy
IT Security Policy and Code of Conduct
Standards of attendance, appearance and behaviour

10 Contribute to ensuring the highest standards of environmental cleanliness within your designated area of work.

11 Co-operate fully with regard to Trust policies and procedures relating to infection prevention and control.

12 All employees of the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust are legally responsible for all records held, created or used as part of their business within the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust including service users , corporate and administrative records whether paper-based or electronic and also including emails. All such records are public records and are accessible to the general public, with limited exceptions, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the Environmental Information Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Employees are required to be conversant with the South Eastern Trust policy and procedures on records management and to seek advice if in doubt.

13 Take responsibility for his / her own ongoing learning and development, in order to maximise his / her potential and continue to meet the demands of the post.

14 Represent the Trust’s commitment to providing the highest possible standard of service to patients / clients and members of the public, by treating all those with whom he /she comes into contact in the course of work, in a pleasant, courteous and respectful manner.

This Job Description will be subject to review in the light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time.

It is a standard condition that all Trust staff may be required to serve at any location within the Trust's area, as needs of the service demand.

eHealth
The South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust has invested in eHealth to deliver better, faster, safer care to our community and is committed to supporting staff to utilise associated information systems that directly and indirectly inform care.  Trust staff are therefore required to commit sufficient time to ensure that they acquire and/or retain the core technology skills required to support their role.

Personal and Public Involvement (PPI)

Staff members are expected to involve patients, clients, carers and the wider community were relevant, in developing, planning and delivering our services in a meaningful and effective way, as part of the Trust’s ongoing commitment to Personal and Public Involvement (PPI).

Please use the link below to access the PPI standards leaflet for further information. PPI_leaflet.pdf (hscni.net)

August 2026



PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION

JOB TITLE Homecare Area Manager

DEPARTMENT / DIRECTORATE Primary Care and Older People’s Services

SALARY Band 5

HOURS 30

Ref No: 55885350
August 2026

Notes to applicants:
You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria.
Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form. Please note the Trust reserves the right to use any desirable criteria outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form how you meet the desirable criteria.
Proof of qualifications and / or professional registration will be required if an offer of employment is made – if you are unable to provide this, the offer may be withdrawn.

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA


SECTION 1: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will initially be measured at shortlisting stage although may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form whether or not you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is stated below.

Factor
Criteria

Method of Assessment

Qualifications/ Experience

Level 3 qualification in Care or a related subject or equivalent or higher qualification and a minimum of twelve months experience supervising social care staff or services

OR

A minimum of four years relevant experience working in social care at Band 3 level or above and a minimum of twelve months experience supervising social care staff or services.

To either be registered or be eligible to register with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council or other Health and Social Care Professional Body.

Relevant experience to include working within a formal setting providing care for service users or supervising the delivering of care.
Shortlisting by Application Form

Other

Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment. This criteria will be waived in the case of applicants whose disability prohibits driving but who have access to a form of transport approved by the Trust which will permit them to carry out the duties of the post.


Shortlisting by Application Form

SECTION 2: The following are ESSENTIAL criteria which will be measured during the interview/ selection stage:

Skills / Abilities
Ability to lead and manage health and social care teams and services.

Excellent organisational skills with the ability to prioritise work load

A range of communication skills to meet the needs of the post

Ability to work in a changing environment

Ability to identify problems and recommend appropriate solutions.

Ability to work in a confidential manner

Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.

Administration skills and the ability to effectively use computerised systems to manage and communicate information.

Interview / Test

Knowledge

Knowledge of legislation and policies relating to Homecare services

Knowledge of RQIA and Domiciliary Care Minimum Standards.

Knowledge of NISCC and workforce registration and standards of conduct.

An understanding of the current challenges and future opportunities for Homecare services


Interview / Test

To access a copy of the Access NI Code of Practice, please Click here

The South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust has guidance on the Recruitment of People with Criminal Convictions. To access a copy of this guidance, please Click Here

Protecting and using your information
To access a copy of the Trust’s Data Protection Policy Statement,
Click Here

As part of the Recruitment & Selection process it may be necessary for The Organisation to carry out an Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI before any appointment to this post can be confirmed.

THE ORGANISATION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

Successful applicants:
may be required to attend for a Health Assessment
can expect to be placed at the minimum point of the pay scale, although a higher starting salary, within the range  of the pay band may be available if the person appointed has experience relevant & equivalent to the post.  Request for recognition of previous service with non-direct NHS/HSC organisations towards starting salary and incremental credit must be made via the Retained Recruitment team within 3 months from commencement of employment. Requests made after 3 months will not be considered. If the successful candidate is an existing HSC employee moving to a higher band, AfC Pay on Promotion will apply.
are able to request Flexible Working from the 1st day of their employment.  A number of flexible working provisions are offered by all HSC Organisations including Full-time working, Fixed working patterns, Part-time working, Flexi-time, Compressed/elongated hours, Average hours working patterns, Term-time working, Job-share or Homeworking for some or all of the working pattern, depending on the role being undertaken. Successful applicants are encouraged to discuss with their manager what Flexible Working provisions may be available in the role they are taking up, prior to commencing employment, to help them achieve a positive Work/Life Balance

All staff are expected to display the HSC Values at all times
All staff are expected to display the HSC Values at all times