Project Worker –Midlands – Edenderry
Edenderry Family Support Project, Co. Offaly
General Information
Why work at Barnardos?
At Barnardos we seek to ensure that we have the best people working with us to support our work with children and families. The benefits of working with Barnardos are designed to promote continual professional development and a work-life balance for the most rewarding working experience.
- Barnardos offers a competitive salary – recognising the experience you bring to the role
- Generous annual leave entitlements plus discretionary Company days
- Positive working environment with family friendly ethos and work – life balance policy
- Tax saver and bike to work schemes in operation
- Employee pension scheme with employer contribution
- Company sick leave scheme
- An opportunity to help improve outcomes for vulnerable children and families by working in a trauma informed way
- Access to regular trauma informed support and supervision
- Ongoing support and access to training and professional development opportunities
- An opportunity to be part of a supportive team
- Access to the Employee Assistance Program for employees and their immediate family members
- Regular Breath, Body and mind sessions to support staff well-being
Barnardos Family Support Service, Business Park, Edenderry, Co. Offaly.
What does our Edenderry Project do?
The service offers a range of supports for families, which include individual therapeutic support for children through therapeutic play, group-based therapeutic support for children, parenting support focusing on strengthening and modelling core-parenting skills, and structured parent-child support which aim to enhance and strengthen the parent-child relationship. Parents may be seen with their children and/ or on their own depending on the presenting need. The service operates Monday to Friday.
Job Description
Post: Project Worker
Location: Edenderry
Responsible to: Project Leader
Works with: Barnardos internal and external stakeholders including staff, service users and other agencies.
Job purpose
To develop and implement programmes that respond to the needs of children and families referred to the service working in partnership with families and other organisational, community and voluntary bodies.
Core Job Requirements
- To assess the needs of the children and the families engaging with the project.
- To plan, implement and review programmes for children/young people/carers/families based on an assessment of their individual and group needs.
- To work with children/young people/carers/families in a variety of ways, including group work, individual work and family work, centre based and outreach work.
- To key work individual children/young people/carers/families in order to meet their needs and to advocate on their behalf.
- To liaise effectively with families and other statutory, community and voluntary bodies and to attend and contribute to reviews and case conferences as required.
- To work in partnership with other Barnardos services to best meet the needs of children and families by collaborating resources with planned interventions targeting groups/families of shared need.
- To keep regular records in relation to all aspects of work and prepare reports as required.
- To gather information statistics and prepare reports as required, including administration of databases as appropriate to the role.
- To identify and document to the line manager any unmet needs of children/young people/carers/families within the service and to participate in the advocacy work of the agency.
Requirements Specific to this Post
- Provide family support to children and families living in Offaly.
- You are initially assigned to work in the Edenderry project but may be required in the future to work in other projects in the Midlands region in line with Organisational needs.
Requirements of all Barnardos staff
- Commitment to the purpose of Barnardos and to work within the values, policies and procedures of the organisation and in the context of current legislation and regulations.
- To participate in regular supervision with your line manager.
- To actively participate in team and staff meetings and service reviews/ evaluations and to contribute to the development of policy and practice with your area of work and within Barnardos as a whole.
- To report any area of concern to your line manager in a timely manner.
- To show reasonable flexibility in relation to hours of attendance to meet the needs of the work. Work during unsocial hours may be required.
- Have a flexible approach to the work in response to organisational change, development and review of best practice.
- Participate in and engage with a performance management programme.
- Identify training needs with your line manager and participate in training opportunities appropriate to the role.
- To be vigilant to any Health, Safety and Welfare risks in the workplace and bring any concerns to the attention of your line manager or local Health & Safety Officer.
- To be vigilant to any concerns regarding the protection and welfare of children and to bring them to the attention of a Barnardos Designated Person in a timely manner, in keeping with the Barnardos Child Protection policies.
- To participate in the efficient flow of information within the organisation by sharing and seeking information as appropriate.
- To undertake other duties as may be requested by the line manager from time to time.
- To undertake your work in a manner that is friendly, flexible and informal.
Note: This Job Description will be reviewed and updated in line with the needs of the work.
Person Specification
Personal Attributes
- Commitment to the delivery of quality services to children, young people, families and carers.
- Ability to act on own initiative and consult where appropriate.
- Ability to work under pressure, make decisions in consultation with the line manager when appropriate.
- To be committed to adhering to best practice in the work and be innovative and open to change.
- Flexibility and adaptability are essential for this post.
- Ability to form objective relationships with children, young people, families/carers, colleagues and other agencies.
Experience
- Post qualification experience of working with vulnerable children and families specifically within a child welfare context.
- Experience of working in partnership with families and carers.
- Experience of planning, implementing and reviewing programmes with children and/or families.
Qualification
A recognised third level practice qualification[1] (minimum Level 7 on the QQI) in one of the following:
- Social Care
- Education
- Social Work
- Youth Work
- Early Childhood Care and Education
- Or related discipline (Nursing, Psychology, Early Years’ Education).
Full driving licence and access to the use of a suitably insured vehicle essential.
The post-holder is initially assigned to work in the Edenderry family support project but may be required in the future to work in other locations in the Midlands in line with Organisational needs.
[1] Course content should include relevant student placements
Barnardos is an equal opportunity employer.
We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all
Application Procedure
Download your application form
Shortlisting will apply (please note, CVs are not accepted on their own, candidates must complete and submit our application form through Barnardos website).
Candidates who are moved to the 2nd stage of our Recruitment process are required to complete a medical questionnaire and the E-Vetting process. References will also be taken up at this stage.
Vacancy Details
LOCATION
Edenderry Family Support Project, Co. Offaly
Employment Type
Fulltime (37 hours per week) and Fixed Term Contract for 2 years
Salary
€34,212- €52,882 Depending on experience
Contact Person
Bernadette McCormack on 046 9732463
Closing Date
Interview Date
To be Advised