Ireland’s leading children’s charity is recruiting:

Well-Being Worker Co. Waterford

Location: Barnardos Well-Being Project, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford

Contract: Part time 26.5 hours per week, 12 month contract

Salary: €23,561 - €36,418 depending on experience

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
• Paid sick leave
• Health and Wellbeing initiatives including Employee Assistance programme

The National Well-Being Project is an initiative by Barnardos to deliver a knowledge-based, bespoke, and integrated healing-response to community and individual needs; using evidence in relation to the impact of trauma and adversity on child development and well-being.

The overall aim of this model is to improve the mental health and well-being of children and their parents. This is facilitated by using a Trauma Informed approach when implementing programmes with children and families in the community, which embody and embed a heart, body, mind approach with the aim of building resilience within individuals and communities.

The Well-Being Project Worker for County Waterford in the South East will be working in collaboration and support with other Well-being sites and regions across Ireland including ;

• Midlands - Co. Westmeath  - Athlone
• South/ Munster region - Co.Tipperary – Thurles, Clonmel - Carrick-on-Suir
• Dublin regions with sites at Dublin 15 & 24.

What will the Well-being Worker do?

• Working in collaboration with and with guidance from our National Well-being Co-ordinator the post-holder will deliver the Barnardos Well-being evidence-based programmes to support healing and integration of the heart, body and mind for children and parents in the local community via body based group interventions. .
• This model will work with partner agencies in order to deliver services focused on healing through a heart, body mind approach.
• The Well-being worker will deliver evidence informed programmes to groups of children and their parents in the community and local schools/ centres which focus on Barnardos Heart, Body, Mind approach to healing (e.g. Breath, Body, Mind (BBM), Grow from Seeds and Wellness workshops etc.
• The Well-being Worker will be responsible for the promotion of the Well-being Model locally ensuring to keep key partner agencies, community stakeholders and members regularly up-to-date and to establish positive community engagement and the overall development of the project locally.
• Continuously connecting the development of wellbeing work locally into the Barnardos Organisation and its Trauma Informed Strategy at a national, regional and local level by providing regular feedback and progress reports to the National Well-being Coordinator and at times Barnardos staff and teams.

General operational hours are between 9am-5pm, Monday to Thursday, however the delivery of programmes will require flexibility to be responsive to community need, this means that programme delivery will need to reflect this in terms of operational days and an ability to offer service deliveries outside of 09:00 – 17:00 period, where necessary.

Job purpose

To deliver a wellbeing model, which provides a bespoke integrated healing response to local community and individual needs in each, identified area. This will be based on current knowledge and evidence in relation to the impact of trauma and adversity on child development and well-being.

To work in collaboration with the local schools, community leaders and members, and key partner agencies in the local implementation of this integrated Barnardos Well-being Model for children and families.

Personal attributes

• Commitment to the delivery of quality services to children, young people, families and carers.
• Ability to understand and assess the needs of children, parents and communities
• Demonstrates the embodiment of a Trauma Informed and body based approach to healing with particular reference to the connection between heart, body and mind.
• Clear understanding of social and emotional well-being.
• To be committed to adhering to best practice in the work and be innovative, open to change and able to manage uncertainty in a developing role.
• 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.
• A team player, highly motivated and well organised
• To be flexible and adaptable in all stages of the work, including an ability to manage varying degrees of uncertainty.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• To be comfortable working with a number of different groups of people, including local stakeholders, community members, parents and children to achieve a collective goal
• To have the ability to promote a concept within a community and engage people on its journey
• Demonstrate ongoing creativity, enthusiasm, adaptability and perseverance
• Ability to form objective relationships with children, young people, families/carers, colleagues and other agencies.
• Competence within digital communication

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 supporting individuals or groups that have experienced multi-generational disadvantage
• Good understanding of Child Protection Legislation and Guidelines
• Experience of working in the community or a community-based programme

Qualifications

A recognised third level practice qualification (minimum Level 7 on the QQI, Course content should include relevant student placements) 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).

A 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 Dungarvan/ West Waterford area, however may be required in the future to work in other projects in the region 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 Friday 29 September 2023
Interview date: Friday 6 October 2023