Ireland’s leading children’s charity is recruiting:

Project Worker - County Wexford

Location: Enniscorthy, County Wexford

Contract: Part-Time (22.5 hours / 3 days per week) and 1 year Fixed Term Contract

Salary: €20,805- €32,158, D.O.E.

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
• Positive working environment with family friendly ethos and work - life balance policy
• Tax saver travel and bike to work schemes in operation
• Employee Pension scheme with employer contribution
• Training and Development
• Health and Wellbeing initiatives including Employee Assistance programme
• Company sick pay scheme

What does our Wexford service do?

Barnardos has been delivering services in County Wexford since 2002.

We offer trauma-informed Family Support services in the Wexford area, which includes a Parent’s Hub and a Young Parents’ Support Programme

The Young Parent Support Programme for pregnant /young parents is a national initiative. Referrals can come from a wide range of professionals as well as self-referrals.

Our family support service takes referrals from Tusla (PPFS) system, which are deemed suitable for a welfare response, as well as self-referrals, to help families meet the needs of children. There is a focus on using brief intervention approaches where possible.

Service interventions aim to stabilise the family situation, promote children’s development, reduce risk from harm and promote the best quality of care in the family, thereby reducing the likelihood of the family requiring intervention from the Social Work Child Protection System.

The interventions offered by the Project include:

• Assessment of the needs of the child and family
• Brief interventions
• Partnership with Parents- Barnardos one to one targeted programme for parents
• Practical Family Support
• Crisis Management
• Parent - child work: to enhance the parent / child relationship
• Family Work: to enhance positive interactions, problem solving strategies and communication as a family.
• Meitheal - full delivery of the Tusla PPFS Meitheal Programme.
• FWC - Barnardos can provide Family Welfare Conferences when requested by the Social Work Department.

In addition to the range of family support services outlined above, we also provide group work parenting support- focusing on the outcomes of improving parenting, reducing social isolation and specific needs-led groups for younger parents.

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. There will be a focus on implementing programmes of support with children and young people where there is a risk of the child not reaching their educational potential as well as family support referrals and a teen parent support service in Wexford.

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

• A minimum of 2 years’ post qualification experience of working with vulnerable children and families.
• Experience of working in partnership with families and carers.
• Experience of planning, implementing and reviewing programmes with children and/or families.
• Experience of working with teenage parents.
• Experience of working with children/ young people with school completion difficulties and their families.

Qualifications

• A recognised third level practice qualification [1] (minimum QQI Level 7) in one of the following:
  • Early Childhood Care and Education
  • Social Care
  • Education
  • Social Work
  • Youth Work
  • Or related discipline (Nursing, Psychology, Early Years Education).

Note: this list can be varied depending on the specific requests of the post.

Full driving licence and access to the use of a suitably insured car is essential.

The post-holder is initially assigned to work in the Wexford Family Support service, Enniscorthy but may be required in the future to work in other locations in the Wexford area in line with organisational needs.

Barnardos is an equal opportunity employer.
We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all.

For full job description and to apply please visit Current Job Vacancies – Barnardos

Closing date: 12pm on 3rd May 2024
Interview date: 08th May 2024

Shortlisting will apply (please note, CVs are not accepted on their own, candidates must complete and submit our application form through Barnardos website).

[1] Course content should include relevant student placements