Matt Talbot Adolescent Services Ltd are delighted to launch their new website.  We provide a free and confidential counselling, residential & training service to young people involved in the misuse of drugs and alcohol.

The Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, Cork presented a cheque to Matt Talbot Adolescent Services, Youth Enterprise Scheme to support the development of a new fully fitted training kitchen to provide FETAC Level 4 Catering Award to the young people attending the training centre at Tramore Road, Cork.  Proposed works are due to commence in Spring 2016.

Following months of planning, fundraising & waiting patiently for the build to be complete, Matt Talbot Adolescent Services Ltd officially opened the new teaching facility at Cara Lodge Residential Centre.  Many of our funders, supporters & friends of MTAS attended the official opening on the 17th June 2015 & we would like to especially thank the National Lottery for their generous grant, HSE support & the charitable works of the Bishopstown Rotary Club who contributed towards the kit out of the new facility.  Afternoon tea was hosted by the staff of Cara Lodge & a tree was planted to commemorate the opening on a glorious June afternoon. 

In 2014 the Bishopstown Rotary Club held a theatre night performed by the Haulbowline Players at the Cobh Heritage Centre in support of Matt Talbot Adolescent Services Ltd. On 27th May 2015 a lunch was attended at The River Lee Hotel, Cork for the presentation of a cheque for €5,209 towards new teaching equipment for the new education facility at Cara Lodge. Chairperson Finbarr Cotter, departing CEO John Beasley & new CEO Patrick Relihan accepted the cheque from Mary O’Mahoney, President, Bishopstown Rotary Club.

CEO of Matt Talbot Services (MTS)

Full time position

Duties of the Post

The CEO of MTS will lead, enable, and manage staff in providing best practice treatment, education and support for adolescents, and their families, who are working to overcome substance misuse and the affects it has.  The CEO, reporting to the Board of Directors, will be required to work with staff and Board in the funding and strategic development and deployment of MTS. They will be required to network, participate and engage with relevant committees in allied services.

Role Description
The role of CEO is to lead and manage the staff team to achieve the objectives/goals of MTS services. The successful candidate will be expected to promote quality, access and diversity, and inclusive practice within MTS. The role will be accountable for, but not necessarily limited to, the following responsibilities.

Leadership and Management of Service
1. Lead the development of a strategic vision for Board approval and deploy same throughout the company;
2. Develop annual budgets for Board Approval;
3. Provide facilities and human resources appropriate to agreed budgets;
4. Build, manage and motivate a senior management team to achieve key performance indicators (KPI’s);
5. Develop a cost management structure towards achieving the vision and goals of MTS;
6. Plan Board meetings to communicate variances of performance to budgets and progress to achieving agreed strategic vision;
7. Engage with outside agencies, companies and allied services in the provision of funding and service enhancement;
8. Mentor, support and advise MTS colleagues and promote career development;
9. Act with creativity and flexibility, and be willing, as necessary, to become involved in the detailed management of MTS;
10. Have full oversight of clinical practice within MTS and appropriate development of same;
11. Be familiar with the role of national and international bodies relevant to addiction treatment services in Ireland.
12. Oversee networking opportunities and foster relevant relationships to the benefit of MTS
13. Support and develop a strategic research portfolio within MTS realising research collaborations where appropriate and dissemination of research to staff and service users.
14. Promote excellence in research-inspired best practice treatment and assessment and encourage the application of innovation within MTS as appropriate;
15. Ensure appropriate supervision is accessible for all staff, volunteers and placement students.
16. Treat all persons within the company with respect and dignity at all times

Selection Criteria
The successful candidate will be expected to have or demonstrate:

Qualifications
1. A University level degree and / or a recognised professional qualification
2. A significant record of managing a multi-disciplinary team;
3. Evidence of excellence in understanding best practice in terms of service provision for adolescents and their families;
4. Evidence of having attracted, and managed, a strong portfolio of funding; 
5. A strategic view of the unique contribution of MTS.

Leadership and management
6. Evidence of leadership within a collegiate setting;
7. Evidence of the ability to provide vision, management and leadership which would promote the development of MTS within a clear strategic framework in Cork, Ireland and beyond;
8. Excellence in communication and interpersonal skills commensurate with leading,  supporting and supervising a multi-disciplinary team of committed colleagues together with the demonstrated ability and willingness to work in a collaborative environment;
9. Proven ability in creative thinking and problem solving.
10. Evidence of commitment to excellence in research-led treatment
11. A willingness to contribute to, lead and innovate in the development of the treatment and support programmes offered by MTS;
12. A sound understanding of relevant policies, procedures, human resources and legal documentation appropriate to effective and sound management of MTS;
13. The ability to inspire staff and volunteers or placement students, and to communicate ideas and concepts in a clear, thorough and timely manner.

Contributions
14. Proven ability to represent MTS as a professional specialism to service users, their families, funders and to society at large;
15. Evidence of participation in relevant professional associations and bodies as appropriate;
16. Track record of service on professional managerial and administrative committees;
17. Proven senior administrative experience and the capacity to act as the CEO of a multi-disciplinary treatment service.

Other Qualities
18. An understanding of, and empathy with, the concerns of clients and their family members;
19. Evidence of ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team;
20. A “long view” vision of the contribution of MTS not only to the development of substance abuse treatment programmes within Cork but also as a contribution to treatment programmes in general in Ireland. 

Job Vacancy: CEO of Matt Talbot Adolescent Services Ltd (MTS)

Matt Talbot Adolescent Services Ltd. is a voluntary organisation and a registered charity which is committed to providing substance abuse treatment services for young people and families in the Cork/Kerry region. It is based on the values of respect, human rights, integrity and clinical excellence within a holistic approach. MTS is seeking applications for the position of CEO.

Reporting to the Board of Directors, the successful candidate will be expected to have:
• A University level degree and / or a recognised professional qualification;
• Experience of managing a multi-disciplinary team;
• An understanding of best practice in service provision for adolescents and their families;
• A track record of applying for and managing funding opportunities;
• A strategic view of the unique contribution of MTS.

Please note that a Garda vetting clearance check will form part of the selection process.
Detailed CEO role description and further information on MTS can be accessed through www.mtas.ie  
To Apply:  Email a letter of application together with a detailed C.V. to: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 3rd April 2015

Tim Crean has volunteered to cycle from Mizen Head to Malin Head in aid of Matt Talbot Services.  The event is 4 days of cycling commencing on Monday 18th August with the following intinary:

Mon 18th - Mizen to Tralee - 150km
Tues 19th - Tralee to Oranmore - 180km
Wed 20th - Oranmore to Bundoran - 170km
Thur 21st - Bundoran to Malin - 160km

Donations to support Tim & MTS can be made using the following link:

http://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/31620_tim-crean-s-fundraising-page.html

We wish him all the best!!!

Kevin Murphy, the UCC PhD pharmacy student has now submitted his PhD and we congratulate him on his research work in Matt Talbot Services and for the information presentations that he provided to both our own staff and our partner external agencies.

As a result of his efforts there have been a number of academic publications and presentations;

 Murphy, K. D., et al., McCarthy, S., Byrne, S., Lambert, S., Sahm, L. (2014). “Benzodiazepine use amongst young attendees of an Irish substance treatment centre.” Journal of Addiction Medicine, In Press.
 Murphy, K. D., Byrne, S., Sahm, L., Lambert, S., McCarthy, S (2014). “Use of addiction treatment services by Irish youth: does place of residence matter?” Rural and Remote Health, In Press.

 Murphy, K., Sahm, L., McCarthy, S., Lambert, S., & Byrne, S. (2013). Substance use in young persons in Ireland, a systematic review. Addictive Behaviors, 38(8), 2392-2401.

 Association for Children and Adolescent Mental Health Research Day 2013
St James’s Hospital, Dublin, 17th May 2013 Poster: Adolescent benzodiazepine use and its health effects Murphy, K., Byrne, S., McCarthy, S., Sahm, L., Lambert, S.

The organisation facilitated placements again this year for 3 MA Applied Psychology students, their contribution to the team was valuable in a number of ways. They inputted data into out computerised data base which facilitated the analysis of trends and they delivered presentations on MTS in secondary schools. This is the third year of a formal collaboration and an unexpected positive outcome is that two of these students have gone on to work for the organisation beyond their placements as very respected team members.

The Matt Talbot Services, YES Project trainees developed their enterprise skills in Autumn/ Winter 2013 by making & selling crafts, Christmas Decorations, cakes and woodwork items. This gave the trainees valuable experience in budgeting, creativeness, responsibility, ownership, communication skills and work experience. The Centre targeted two Christmas Markets in Shanagarry and Douglas during December 2013 and the whole process proved to be a huge success with a complete sell out of all stock.  A great achievement for all their hard work.

Kevin Murphy presents his poster presentation for the second time at the School of Pharmacy Scientific Conference, UCC in September 2013 detailing his research whilst at Matt Talbot Adolescent Services on “Adolescent benzodiazepine use & its health effects”.