Addiction Outreach Worker (Good Shepherd Cork/HSE Social Inclusion)

Applications are invited for this post based in Edel House (emergency shelter for women and children) a service of Good Shepherd Cork (GSC). Good Shepherd Cork provides a range of services for women, children and families who are homeless and vulnerable to homelessness.

The postholder will provide support in Edel House and across other GSC services and will work as part of a multidisciplinary team within GSC with the aim of improving the health and social gain of those experiencing addiction and mental health by offering support, advice and help.

The Outreach Worker will report to the Manager, Edel House and will have a clinical reporting line to the HSE Senior Addiction Counsellor or other designated person in HSE. This is currently funded as a 12-month post.

Summary of key role and responsibilities (please request and view full job spec - available from Allison Aldred  - aaldred@goodshepherdcork.ie- prior to application):

• Offer professional advice and promote a sense of hope, dignity and empowerment, while working to provide effective support to individuals with addiction and mental health support needs, proactively engaging with individuals and linking them into relevant support services.
• Respect and maintain the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of service users.
• Assess how the service can assist the service user and prioritise their support needs including crisis interventions as identified.
• Provide education, information, advice and support as required, including overdose prevention.
• Develop and facilitate group work for those engaged in this service.
• Working as a member of the GSC team, specific tasks will include: contributing to care planning and care reviews, coordinating the provision of addiction supports to service users, conducting assessments, planning and delivering appropriate interventions and advocating with other agencies on behalf of service users.

The candidate will require the following:

• A qualification at Level 7 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) maintained by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) in a Health or Social Care profession, or be registered, or eligible for registration, in the Register of Nurses and Midwives maintained by Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland.
• Depth and breadth of experience around recovery from addiction, social inclusion and community development processes to include key working, care planning and case management as relevant to the role.
• Depth and breadth of experience in the provision of addiction services, as relevant to the role.
• Capacity to work with a high degree of professional autonomy to meet service user needs.
• Full clean driver’s license and access to appropriate transport to fulfil requirements of the role.
• Commitment to the vision, mission and values of Good Shepherd Cork and HSE Social Inclusion. Informal enquiries can be made to Cathy Murray, Manager, Edel House – cmurray@goodshepherdcork.ie

Full job specification and GSC application form are available from Allison Aldred - aaldred@goodshepherdcork.ie

Application for the role can be made by sending a completed GSC application form to Cathy Murray. 

Closing date is Monday 22nd September 2025. Interviews are expected to take place the following week.