Ireland’s leading children’s charity is recruiting:

Project Worker – Finglas Family Support

Location: Finglas Family Support Project, Dublin 11
Contract: Permanent and Full-time (37 hours per week)
Salary: €32,987 - €50,849 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

Name of the Project: Barnardos Family Support Service Finglas
Address/Location: St. Josephs G.N.S, Barry Avenue, Finglas, Dublin 11
Contact Details: 01 8642433

Barnardos Family Support Service Finglas provides a combination of Family Support and Initial Child Protection Assessment work on behalf of our funders Tusla.

Project Workers undertake Initial Family Assessments in partnership with Tusla using the Signs of Safety Approach. Signs of Safety is the national child centered approach adopted by Tusla for child protection and welfare practice. Barnardos’ assessments are Trauma Informed and aligned with the Signs of Safety model, which is grounded in partnership and collaboration with children, families and their wider networks of support.

Project workers offer a variety of family support interventions often in response to the Initial Assessment work, as well as receiving referrals from Tusla, schools, Health Care Professionals, community organisations and self-referrals. These interventions include,

• Partnership with Parents (PwP):  An intensive, home based one-to-one parenting support programme for parents with multiple and complex needs. The programme focuses on parenting skills and child/parent relationships in order make positive changes in the home. 
• Individual Work, which is an evidence-based, tailored intervention working with children in conjunction with the important people in their lives. This work has a therapeutic focus and is based on the individual child's assessed needs. Its purpose is to build resilience and help children to understand and express their feelings and manage their own behaviour.
• Creative Mindfulness Groups- Aims to promote positive mental health and well-being for children whilst equipping them with valuable self-care tools that will last a lifetime.
• Friendship Group: An evidence-based group-work programme that supports children who are experiencing peer difficulties. It works with children aged between 6 to 8 years, and 9 to 11 years, to increase their positive peer relationships, emotional understanding, social problem solving, negotiation skills, social interaction and cooperation with other children.

Barnardos work is partnership based underpinned by Inter-agency and collaborative working, with Tusla, including participation in the delivery of Meitheal, schools and community organisations.

Job purpose

As part of the national service, delivery framework the primary purpose of this post is to conduct Initial Assessments on low –medium risk referrals received from Tusla social work department using the Signs of Safety approach to child protection and welfare concerns.

The post holder, as part of the family support team will also develop and implement programmes that respond to the needs of children and families referred to the service working in partnership with families and other organisations, community and voluntary bodies.

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 assessing children’s and families’ needs.
• Experience of planning, implementing and reviewing programmes with children and/or families.
• Experience of interagency working.
• Experience of preparing comprehensive needs led reports on children and families

Desirable Knowledge

• Up to date with evidenced informed thinking with regard to interventions for children and families on an individual and group level.
• Use of Signs of Safety as a tool for screening and assessing risk.
• Experience of Meitheal processes.
• Maintaining electronic records.

Qualifications

A recognised third level practice qualification (minimum Level 7 on the NFQ) in one of the following:

• Social Care        
• 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 Finglas service but may be required in the future to work in other project(s) in the Dublin North/City Region in line with Organisational needs.

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

Closing date: 12pm Thursday 28th September 2023
Interview date: TBA

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

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