Ireland’s leading children’s charity is recruiting:

Project Worker, Special Needs Service

Location: Chamber House, Tallaght, Dublin 24

Contract: Part-Time & Specific Purpose Contract - Maternity Cover until July 2026

Salary: €30,514.07 - €47,165.66 (This salary is pro-rated for 33 hours)

Why work at Barnardos?

Are you a purpose driven individual who is passionate about making a difference and helping some of society’s most vulnerable children? At Barnardos, we pride ourselves on delivering impactful services that make a difference to the lives of children and families across Ireland.

We believe that childhood lasts a lifetime. As trauma informed specialists our core purpose is to provide the necessary support for children to overcome childhood adversity, embedding a trauma informed ethos and practice into every service we provide.

What we can offer you?

As a Project Worker, we appreciate the value of your time when providing essential services, that’s why we have the necessary support structures and network in place that will allow you to make a real impact on the lives of children across Ireland. We also offer the following:

• Barnardos offers a competitive salary – recognising the experience you bring to the role
• Generous annual leave entitlements plus discretionary Company days
• Employee pension scheme with employer contribution/ Company Sick Pay Scheme
• Access to regular trauma informed support, supervision, training and many other professional development opportunities
• Tax saver and bike to work schemes in operation
• Access to the Employee Assistance/Wellbeing programme for employees and their immediate family members

What’s the role and service?

We are looking for an experienced Project Worker to join our Special Needs Services team in Bawnlea, Tallaght, Co. Dublin.

This service provides a specialist early years’ service, which is family focused and community based.

What will my day to day look like?

In this role, you will develop and implement programmes that respond to the needs of young children and their parents referred to the service working in partnership with families, H.S.E. Disability Network Team and other organisational, community and voluntary bodies. You will be responsible for the following:

• Assessing the needs of the children and the families engaging with the project.
• Planning, implementing and reviewing programmes for children/young people/carers/families based on an assessment of their individual and group needs.
• Liaising effectively with families and other statutory, community and voluntary bodies and to attend and contribute to reviews and case conferences as required.
• Delivering individual and group work programmes responding to the individual needs of young children with a range of additional needs who are referred to the service by HSE Disability Network Team
• Key working / working directly with the parents of referred children, via individual work or group work, supporting them to meet their children’s needs by providing practical support, parenting supports, advice, information, supporting access to educational placements and other appropriate interventions as necessary, or as agreed with the HSE Disability Network Team

What experience do I need?

• Experience of working with young children impacted by disability
• A minimum of 2 years post qualification experience of working with young children and their families
• Experience of implementing interventions for both young children with additional needs and their parents / families
• Experience of planning, implementing and reviewing programmes with children and/or families
• Experience of working in partnership with other agencies is highly desirable.

Do I need a qualification?

Yes, to be considered for this role you will hold a recognised third level practice qualification (minimum Level 7 on the NFQ) in one of the following:

• Early Childhood Care and Education / Social Care / Education / Social Work or related discipline (Nursing, Psychology, and Early Years Education).

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

Additional information:

Full clean driving licence and access to the use of a suitably insured vehicle essential.

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

Closing date: 12pm on Tuesday 22 July 2025
Interview date: TBC

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

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