Job Title:  Child & Youth Outreach Worker – Saoirse Domestic Violence Services

Reporting Relationship: Reports to the Child & Youth Services Manager.

Key Terms and Conditions

• Salary: HSE Social Care Worker Scale (March 2023). Point commensurate on experience.
• Hours of work: 39 hours per week, inclusive of lunchbreaks. (Monday – Friday)
• Location: Dublin
• Contract Type: Full time, permanent.
• Probation: 6 months

Purpose of the Job

The primary purpose of the job is to provide community-based supports to children, young people and mothers impacted by domestic violence.

To achieve this they will work in collaboration with the parent to address each child’s physical, educational, social and emotional needs. They will support the family to counteract the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) related to domestic violence and other complex issues within the home by developing a child-centred care plan – engaging them with relevant statutory and local services to support their holistic needs and trauma recovery.

The Child & Youth Outreach Worker will deliver group-based programmes within the community in collaboration with SDVS staff and external agencies.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Child, Youth and Family Support

• Work with an allocated caseload of families in the community through a case management system.
• Carry out a strengths and needs based assessment in partnership with the family and develop a care plan ensuring each child has tailored supports to reach their best potential. Carry out regular care plan reviews with family to highlight their progress.
• Make referrals to statutory, community and therapeutic supports to meet the goals of the care plan.
• Regularly communicate with each child and young persons’ support network ensuring everyone is working together to progress the care plan.
• •Deliver parenting support through the Parents Under Pressure Programme. (training and PUP Supervision provided). Provide emotional support and advice regarding domestic violence, including how to support their child’s needs, working in collaboration with allocated Outreach Worker and/or Court Accompaniment Worker.
• Deliver Theraplay with families to support parent-child attachment. (training provided)
• Deliver individual keywork with children and young people, providing a safe space for them to make sense of their experiences related to domestic violence and other complex issues. To support their social and emotional development and use the ‘one good adult’ approach to ensure their voice is heard in matters that impact them.
• Advocacy and support at vital health/developmental/educational appointments, where necessary. Supporting the parent to build their capacity in navigating these services.
• Provide court accompaniment to families where children are required to attend court hearings. Support parents to navigate childcare options or scheduling keywork during parent’s court hearings to reduce a child’s attendance at court.
• Support families during their transition to/from refuge – ensuring they have everything they need to settle into their new environment including practical and emotional support and liaising with key professionals to maintain health, social and educational services despite location change.

Group Work

• Deliver Healthy Relationships School Talks in local schools. Build relationships with local schools and creating a calendar of Healthy Relationship School Talks for each academic year.
• Design and deliver group programmes for children/parents in collaboration with other community agencies.
• Support children to engage in Childhood Domestic Violence and Abuse focused supports in collaboration with Barnardos i.e. Empower Kidz Project and TLC Kidz
• Delivering seasonal programmes for children i.e. summer project, Easter and Christmas Events.

Child Protection & Welfare:

• Keeping children’s safety and welfare at the forefront of all decisions and advocating for their needs.
• Follow SDVS Child Protection & Welfare policy and procedures in line with Children’s First 2015.
• •Carry out mandated person duties while maintaining relationships with parents and supporting them through the Child Protection Referral process.
• Engage with Tusla PPFS and Social Work departments on active cases including preparing reports and attending Meitheals, safety network meetings, child protection case conferences and court, as and when required.
• Engage in SDVS DDLP/DLP Meetings as per yearly schedule.

Networking & Interagency Work

• Build strong working relationships with statutory, voluntary and community services.
• Understanding services available within catchment area and creating referral pathways for children and young people.
• Collaborate on groupwork programmes with other agencies to share resources and build relationships.
• Attend relevant community and statutory network meetings as agreed with line manager.

Team Work

• Be an active member of the Child & Youth Services team – liaising regularly with team members, providing peer support and ideas and input into the development of the service.
• Work collaboratively with the staff on Refuge and Outreach, Prevention and Training teams to ensure a family’s journey through SDVS services are seamless and continuum of care is achieved.
• Actively participate in Child & Youth Service team meetings, review days and wider organisational team meetings as required.

Administration

• Maintain accurate and up to date records of all case files using service database.
• Liaise with and inform the Manager and/or other designated persons, on a regular basis, of issues arising from work
• Prepare administration duties as agreed with line manager i.e. departmental statistics, travel and subsistence etc.

Other

• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with clients and colleagues.
• Attend court hearings and give evidence as required.
• Perform duties appropriate to post and work under the direction and guide of the Manager or other Designated Officer to ensure the highest possible level care is maintained at all times
• Ensure standards are maintained and adhered to in line with policy, procedure and legislation.
• Engage in line management and supervision sessions on a regular basis.
• Undergo training and professional development as required and directed.
• Have a commitment to SDVS vision and mission and support the implementation of our strategic plan.

Qualification, Knowledge and skills required

Qualification & Work Experience:

• Third level Qualification at degree level in Social Care, Social Work, Community/Family Development with minimum of 1 years’ post-graduate experience in a social care field, with experience working directly with children, young people or families with complex needs. (with desired qualification)
  Or
• A related degree i.e. Early Childhood Studies with minimum 3 years post-graduate experience working directly with children, young people or families with complex needs in a community-based setting.

Knowledge & Skills:

• Knowledge and insight into the issues affecting women and children of domestic violence and the impact on their physical, emotional and psychological well-being.
• Knowledge of child development and the potential long-term impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences.
• Knowledge of procedures and practices relating to child protection and the safeguarding of children and young people.
• Knowledge of national policies that influence our work with children, young people and families.
• Strong independent risk management, problem solving and decision-making skills, this role will involve lone working in the community.
• Ability to work with complex need client groups with creative ideas for successful engagement.
• Ability to work safely on an individual basis with children or young people in a community setting is essential.
• Strong organisational and time management skills with the ability to manage own diary using a flexible and adaptable approach to meet the needs of caseload and relevant administration tasks.
• Must have experience of using CRM systems (preferably Salesforce) to record work and possess good IT and report writing skills.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills with the ability to build strong, trusting relationships with clients, colleagues and external services.
• Groupwork design and facilitation skills highly desirable.
• Candidates with existing training in evidence based programmes such as Parents Under Pressure, Theraplay, TLC Kidz or NVR, are highly desirable.

Full, clean driver’s licence and access to own transport is essential. Applicants who do not meet this criteria will not be shortlisted.

Compensation and Benefits

1. Pension: 7% employer’s contribution through our Pension Scheme (7% of annual basic salary) once probation is passed.
2. Annual leave/Public Holidays: Entitled to 25 days annual leave exclusive of public holidays (Good Friday treated as public holiday). SDVS have an Annual Leave Purchase Scheme to apply for up to 4 additional days annual leave each year.
3. Paid Sick leave: available once probation passed.
4. Paid Maternity leave: SDVS pay full salary (less Social Welfare benefits) for the period of the 26 weeks basic maternity leave (subject to 1+ year service).
5. Doctor visits: Funding towards 2 Doctor visits per year and access to free HSF online GP services all year.
6. Education Support: Funding towards further education and time off rostered duties where possible.
7. Training & Development: Access to excellent training opportunities and continuous professional development.
8. Employee Well-being: Access to regular supervision, reflective practice, team building days and Employee Assistance Programme with 24 hour support and counselling for staff and their families.

Application Process

If you are interested in this role, please email recruitment@sdvs.ie with your CV and Cover Letter before the application closing date of 9th of May 2024 at 5pm.

This job description is intended as a summary of the primary responsibilities of and qualifications for this position. The job description is not intended as inclusive of all duties an individual in this position might be asked to perform that may be required either now or in the future.

Kindly direct all queries about the role to recruitment@sdvs.ie

Due to the volume of applications we receive, it is not always possible to respond to all applications. Only shortlisted Candidates for interview will be contacted. A panel may be formed of unsuccessful candidates from the interview stage, for future roles. Thank you for your interest in our opportunities.

Saoirse Domestic Violence Services is an Equal Opportunities Employer