The HSE has created six new health regions. Each region is responsible for providing both hospital and community care for the people in that area. Bringing community health services and hospitals together means we can take a more patient-centred approach to healthcare.

HSE Dublin and North East provides health and social care to North Dublin, Louth, Meath,

Monaghan and most areas of Cavan.

HSE Dublin and North East Region includes the following hospitals;

• Beaumont Hospital
• Cavan General Hospital
• Connolly Hospital
• Louth County Hospital
• National Orthopaedic Hospital Cappagh
• Monaghan General Hospital
• Mater Misericordiae University Hospital
• Our Ladys Hospital Navan
• Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital
• Rotunda Hospital

Reporting to the H&SCP Lead / Director of Operations

The Principal Social Worker is responsible for the effective delivery of a quality social work service responsive to the needs of service users and their families and that functions effectively as an integrated element of wider Health Services. The Principal Social Worker for CMH to provide clinical governance and oversite to the social work team. The post holder will have responsibility for supporting Assisted Decision-Making within CMH.

The post is permanent, whole-time & pensionable. 

A panel will be formed from which future vacancies may be filled.

Appointment as an employee of the Health Service Executive is governed by the Health Act 2004 and the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointment) Act 2004

1. Statutory Registration, Professional Qualifications, Experience, etc

Candidates for appointment must:

(i) Be registered, or be eligible for registration, on the Social Workers Register maintained  by the Social Workers Registration Board at CORU.

AND

(ii) Have 5 years full time (or an aggregate of 5 years full time) relevant post qualification experience.

AND

(iii) Have the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability, management and professional ability) for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.

(iv) Provide proof of Statutory Registration on the Social Workers Register maintained by the Social Workers Registration Board at CORU before a contract of employment can be issued.

2. Annual registration

(i) On appointment practitioners must maintain annual registration on the Social Workers Register maintained by the Social Workers Registration Board at CORU.

 AND

(ii) Practitioners must confirm annual registration with CORU to the HSE by way of the annual Patient Safety Assurance Certificate (PSAC).

3. Health

Candidates for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service. 4. Character Candidates for and any person holding the office must be of good character.

4. Character

Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character

Post Specific Requirements:

• Demonstrates understanding of governance within an acute hospital
• Demonstrates an understanding of the assisted decision making process.
• Demonstrates the ability to lead a team of people.

A ranking and or shortlisting exercise may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your curriculum vitae.  The criteria for ranking and or shortlisting are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of this job specification.  Therefore it is very important that you think about your experience in light of those requirements. 

Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not being called forward to the next stage of the selection process

Additional Campaign Information

Social Worker Principal Job Spec January 2026