Orphanage Manager at Accelerate Leadership

Our client is a non-profit Organisation that provide orphans and vulnerable children – and their caregivers – with a source of hope through the provision of services that aid their development and growth and enable them to attain their potential. They provide welfare services to vulnerable persons in the society thus rescuing them from a deleterious future.
Job Role: Orphanage Manager
Reports to: Managing Director
Location: Lekki
Working Hours: Monday to Friday with surprise visits twice a month

Core Purpose of the role

The Orphanage Manager will be in-charge of the running of the Orphanage. She will coordinate the administrative and operational activities of the home, supervise the staff and most importantly, oversee the welfare of the children. The Manager will also liaise externally with stakeholders, the concerned departments, and other individuals on matters related to the home, ensuring compliance to the organization’s policies and guidelines by all.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (Orphanage Manager)

Admittance of children

The Manager will supervise receiving children into the home and ensuring that the children undergo all admittance processes.

Meetings & Events Planning

Organize monthly meetings with the Management for the purpose of monitoring the progress of each child, review Individual Care Plan, all matters and issues related to the functioning of the home and provision of services to children.
Organise and coordinate in –house events and meetings.

Supervision of staff

Understand and supervise all the staff/volunteers working in the home and provide instructions/directions approved by the Management for smooth and effective functioning of the home.
Ensure prompt, firm and considerate handling of all disciplinary matters.
Mentor and support staff in the discharge of their duties.
Escalate matters to the management for support and direction.
Use technology, to stay in regular contact, provide/receive useful information and directions on a real time basis and track movement.
Convene weekly staff meetings to discuss routine matters and resolve problems raised by the staff.
Ensure that performance review is undertaken for all staff in the home.
Sanction and approve staff leave and expenses.

Capacity Building of staff
The Manager will be responsible to ensure capacity building of staff in the following areas:

Skill Development: Right approaches and skills to help working with children, counselling and psychological therapy, recreation activities, communication and negotiation with children, positive reinforcement and conditioning to inculcate good behaviour.
Personal Development: Addressing burn out, stress management, team building and conflict resolution.

Finance and Administration

Approve expenses of the Orphanage staff and liaise with management for matters related to financing the home.
Be the custodian and ensure the safety of important confidential documents, personal files of children, valuable articles of children, etc.
Generate regular monthly reports.
Reconcile expenses and float with Management at the end of the month.
Ensure all records of visitors are kept and visitors experience best-in-class service.
Ensure thank you calls/messages are sent out within 48 hours of donation.
Ensure proper filing of reports, documents, invoices, letters, forms, etc.
Ensure donations are properly recorded and acknowledged.

Nurturing environment for children in the Orphanage

Ensure the maintenance and upkeep of the home through proper supervision and inspection.
Ensure that the home is a nurturing and safe environment, and children receive robust care, interact well with all caregivers and also with one another as a family.
Ensure meals are nutritious and balanced.
Ensure the rights and entitlements of children are exercised.
Ensure that staff are respectful, caring and nurturing in their attitude towards the children.
Supervise and monitor discipline in the home and ensure that staff and children are nurtured using positive methods of eliciting good behaviour.
Monitor hospital visits, court visits and any other visits.
Ensure that national holidays and birthdays are celebrated through organization of special events in which all children get to participate.

Education

Ensure that the educator is punctual, works according to individual plan and delivers quality service.
Liaise frequently with educator and regularly monitor educational progress of children.
Bridge educational gaps to enable children to get to a level where they can be admitted into the formal schools.
Ensure support and reinforcement is given by caregivers outside the home-schooling hours.

Health of the children/staff

The Manager will oversee the nurse in carrying out the following responsibilities:

Arrangements to private or government hospital for treatment of children if need arises.
Weekly health check- ups & height and weight checks.
Up to date immunizations.
Hospitalization if necessary.
Ensure adequate stock of medicine/medical consumables.
Ensure prescriptions and medication are administered within the home accordingly.
Enforce handwashing policy.
Ensure staff and volunteers are medically fit to care for the children.

Daily routine

The Manager must ensure that the daily routine is prominently displayed in key areas and followed by the caregivers
Ensure that the children are kept occupied with activities a not neglected or restricted to a particular place throughout the day.
Be responsible for incorporating inputs of staff in developing a roster for staff and daily schedule for children.

Facility Inspection

The Manager will inspect the facility once daily at the minimum.
Resolve any irregular observations
Update management of problems of urgent issues that may arise
The Manager will interact with children, observe and obtain feedback

Emergency preparedness

The Manager will ensure that staff are prepared, trained, and each one can function at the time of emergency. She will take prompt action to ensure preparedness of the home and the staff to deal with emergencies.
Ensure a risk mitigation plan is put in place so that children are safe in situations of emergency.
Ensure all staff have knowledge of emergency signs, actions and the need for access routes to always be kept clear of obstructions at all time.
Ensure linkages with emergency services including hospitals, police, ambulance, and fire brigade services.

Safety and Security

Be responsible for the safety and security of the home.
Ensure that the security guards are punctual, efficient and professional.
Ensure child and staff movement out of the home are monitored and recorded.
Be confidential regarding matters concerning children in conflict with the law and not disclose any information or identity of children or give out any information which is confidential.
Protect the image of the Orphanage at all times.

Skills and Knowledge (Orphanage Manager)

Excellent interpersonal, communication, administrative, people management and computer skills.
Excellent organization, time management, problem-solving and analytical skills.
Compassion, stability, flexibility, passion, and patience.
Knowledge of general accounting processes and budget managing
Facility Management
Maintaining office policies and managing health and safety procedures.
Record keeping and report writing
Meeting and event planning.