Barnados: Project Leader

Post title : Project Leader,
Specific purpose contract to cover maternity leave
TESO, Finglas, Dublin 11.

To Apply please forward:
Application Form
Garda Enquiry Form

To : Joan Dunne
Barnardos
Main Street
Mulhuddart
Dublin 15
Tel: 01 8204033
Email : joan.dunne@barnardos.ie

Closing Date : 10th February 2010

Name of the Project: TESO (Traveller Education Support Options)
Address/Location: Finglas West, Dublin 11
Contact Details: Tel (01) 8362955
Information Note Last Updated: January 2010

What is Barnardos?
Barnardos supports children whose well being is under threat, by working with them, their families and communities and by campaigning for the rights of children. Barnardos was established in Ireland in 1962 and is Irelands leading Children’s charity.

What does the TESO Project do?
The Barnardos Traveller Education Support Options (TESO) project is in it’s twelfth year of operation and is located in a Dublin City Council premises in Avila, Traveller only housing estate in Finglas West, Dublin 11.

Overall Aim
The TESO project aims to enrich the lives of Traveller children in Finglas through education and healthy development for the children, through family support for their parents and through valuing diversity.

TESO Strategic Plan
TESO launched a seven year strategic plan in October 2007. The plan highlights five key strategic priorities for TESO over the next seven years.

The strategic priorities for 2007- 2014:

• To increase the social and emotional development of Traveller children living in the Finglas area
• To increase the education, learning and development of Traveller children in Finglas so as to enhance achievement, retention and progression in education
• To support the development of Traveller parents, with a particular focus on the development and growth of the parents of those children who are participating in TESO’s pre-school and after-school programmes
• To promote an intercultural approach that enables all (children, parents, staff, other agencies) to develop the ability to recognise inequality, injustice, racism, prejudice and bias and the skills to change these manifestations when they encounter them
• To measure progress in each of the strategic objectives to allow for improved effectiveness and achievement over time Target groups

TESO services target Traveller children and their parents in the 0-15 year old category from the Finglas area. School based groups work with children from the traveller and settled communities. Service users are at level 2, 3, or 4 of the Hardiker Model1.

Services provided

• Early Years Preschool Service
• Parent support work
• Education and Development work
• Individual and Group Work with School Age Children
• Interagency work- collaborative and Networking activities

Early Years Service TESO Project
There are 16 places for children in the Early Years Preschool Service in TESO. Children are aged between 2 years 10 months and 5 years, i.e. school going age. The children attend the Preschool Monday to Thursday from 9.15 am until 1pm. Primary reasons for referral are developmental delay, speech and language delay, social skills development, preparation for school, domestic and community violence and living conditions. Referrals come from families themselves and professionals including the PHNs for Travellers and the Visiting Teachers for Travellers.

Where we work
Geographical area and Finglas Traveller Population served by the project The project lies within the Finglas Rapid and local Drugs Task Force boundaries in Finglas West, Dublin North. There are 219 Traveller families in the Finglas area, with a total of 455 children who are aged 18 and under. The geographical areas for the TESO project are: Avila Traveller Housing Estate, Cappagh - St. Mary’s and St. Christopher’s sites, Dunsink Lane - St. Josephs, St. Mary’s, Bill Shelley and unofficial sites off laneway, Meakstown- Traveller housing development and Travellers living in standard housing in the Finglas Community.

1 Note that: Needs assessed using Barnardos Stage 1 Assessment Framework.
The Hardiker Model is used to identify the level of need.

Who do we work with?
Referrals
Referrals are accepted from parents, HSE Public Health Nurses/ Social Work Department, DES: Visiting Teachers for Travellers Services, Schools and other community based services.

Who are we?
TESO Staffing
Project Leader
Project Worker – education
Project Worker – family support
4 Child and Family Development Workers
Programme Assistant
Project Administrator
Driver
Cleaner

Where can I find out more?
For more information please see www.barnardos.ie

Project Leader
Job Description

Post: Project Leader
Location: TESO (Traveller Education Support Options), Greater Finglas Area
Responsible to: Assistant Director of Children’s Services
Area of Responsibility: Greater Finglas Area
Works with: National & Regional Offices, other Managers in Region, service users & staff and other agencies

Job Purpose
To ensure the development, management, delivery and review of Barnardos Services within your area of responsibility within the strategic direction of Barnardos and participate in the overall development of the region and organisation.

Core Job Requirements

Management

• Responsible for the delivery, management, development and review of Barnardos work with children and families within your area of responsibility.
• To propose a budget for the service, participate in budget planning and manage an approved budget(s) for your area of responsibility in line with Barnardos financial procedures.
• To pursue funding opportunities to support the work and to prepare and submit funding proposals in consultation with the Assistant director of Childen’s Services.
• To undertake the duties of Designated Person for the project under the Children First National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children
• To prepare reports on the work as required and to maintain effective working relationships with funders as appropriate.
• To ensure all case, financial and administrative records and files are maintained to a high standard and case records are accessible to Service Users, seeking permission from third parties as appropriate.
• To ensure an up to date health and safety statement is accessible and available and is adhered to and any health and safety concerns are dealt with effectively and efficiently.
• To ensure the information for the data base is gathered and imputed within the required time scale.
• To develop and facilitate a culture of Service Users consultation and involvement in all aspects of the work.

Staff and Supervision

• To ensure all staff, students and volunteers receive regular and professional supervision, appraisal
• To ensure training needs are identified and addressed to ensure learning is promoted within your area of responsibility.
• To manage the recruitment process for staff to the service.

Delivery of Services

• To ensure effective referral, assessment, planning and review processes are in place to meet the needs of children and families participating in the service
• To ensure quality and best standards are adhered to in all aspects of the work
• To maintain appropriate relationships with external agencies in order to ensure that the needs of children and families are met in an integrated and co-ordinated manner.
• To ensure that legislation and statutory guidelines, organisational policy and corporate plan are fully implemented within your area of responsibility.
• To ensure programmes are planned, delivered and evaluated in response to the needs of children and families attending the service.
• Identify the needs of children and families attending the service that are not being met and to advocate at an individual, service and organisational level for them to be met.
• To ensure that regular contact is maintained with referrers and other relevant agencies to ensure an integrated response to the needs of children and families.
• To ensure the service participates in case conferences and other meetings in relation to the welfare of children and families.
• To undertake direct practice as appropriate.

Development of the Service

• To develop appropriate relationships with external agencies in order to ensure that the needs of children and families are met in an integrated and co-ordinated manner.
• To pro-actively pursue the development of services to meet the needs of children and families within the catchments area of your responsibility through appropriate participation in community and interagency structures.
• Identify recruitment needs for the service, review and propose job descriptions and person specifications.
• To participate in the overall development of good practice models within the organisation.

Organisational Role

• To participate in the development of organisational policy and plans to ensure they are implemented within the work of the project.
• To ensure that the service operates in a cohesive way within the region and organisation and to participate in service development for a within the organisation.
• To participate at regional management level and other appropriate groups to contribute to the development of strategies and policies within the organisation.
• To represent Barnardos as appropriate at local / regional or national level, which may involve media and advocacy work.
• To undertake specific regional / organisational tasks in agreement with the line manager.

Requirements Specific to this Post

• To ensure that the service is very accessible to the local residents and community
• To provide and support individual case advocacy for children and families
• To work with TESO advisory committee
• To provide cover for the other managers in the Dublin North Area

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 Health & Safety

Representative

• 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.

The salary scale is €59,500  - €70,006

Note: this Job Description will be reviewed and updated in line with the needs of the work.

Project Leader

Person Specification
Personal attributes

• Ability to work with vulnerable children and families
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage in a dynamic and busy environment
• Teamwork required and the ability to work in collaboration with others
• Ability to lead and manage the staff team
• Ability to prioritise competing demand.
• Ability to work autonomously but see advice as appropriate.
• Ability to manage complexity and diversity.
• Ability to develop, manage and maintain complex internal and external relationships with a range of stakeholders.
• Ability to assess needs and identify appropriate service responses.
• Ability to work to standards and work within policy framework and legislation.
• Ability to demonstrate high level dynamic skills of responsiveness, flexibility, creativity and problem solving.
• Ability to be analytical and critical.
• Flexibility and adaptability is essential for this post.
• Full current driving licence and access to a car essential.

Experience

A minimum of five years post qualification experience and demonstrate competencies in terms of management ability essential. Prior management experience highly desirable.

Qualifications

Relevant professional 3rd level qualification essential, for example: Social Work, Social Care, Child Care, Education, Youth and Community Work, Psychology or equivalent. Management training highly desirable.