Social Care Worker, Under 18's Residential Services, Templeogue

Location: Templeogue, Dublin

Salary Scale: Aligned to Focus Ireland Scale
(Starting Salary €37,604 - €41,997)

Contract Available: Full Time, Permanent

Benefits: 25 days Annual Leave & 3 Concession Days, 7% Employer Pension Contribution, Maternity Top Up 26 Weeks, Tax-Saver Scheme, Education Assistance Policy, Paid Sick Leave policy, Premium rates for unsocial hours

Supports: Employee Assistance Program, Reflective Practice, Supervision, Well being initiatives including monthly meditations

Support Young Lives – Be Part of Their Journey Forward

We’re looking for a compassionate and team-oriented Social Care Worker to join our Under-18 Residential Service, providing vital support to young people aged 15–18 who are out of home and in crisis. In this short-term residential setting, you’ll work as part of a dedicated team to create a safe, stable environment where young people can begin to rebuild and move toward their futures.

What you will do:

• Work within the framework of the overall objective of Focus Ireland and the values of the agency.
• Work as part of a team within the framework of the policies and procedures in place for the project or as directed by the project leader, assistant project leader or section manager.
• Act as a key worker for individual young people and work in partnership with agencies external to Focus Ireland in relation to young people referred to the service.
• Participate in drawing up individualised programmes exploring clients’ experiences of homelessness and support clients to break this cycle and in doing so prepare clients to their move-on to an identified placement or to independent living.
• Support young people accommodated that have experienced trauma and/or present with challenging behaviour.
• Advocate on a young person’s behalf for housing, social work, social welfare, education, training and legal rights.
• Support young people accommodated in the service in conjunction with their statutory care plan and work with the young person to develop and maintain an individual placement plan.
• Refer and support young people referring to external agencies that may further assist them with the personal, social, educational, employment, legal and accommodation needs.
• Record and maintain records in relation to the project and individual clients in accordance with statutory requirements and health and safety legislation.
• Assist in the implementation of the settlement policies and strategies of Focus Ireland.
• Undertake such other duties as might be reasonably assigned to you from time to time in consultation with the Project Leader.
• Observe all Health, Safety and Welfare at Work regulations and notify management of any risks or concerns you may have in relation to same.
• Agree to take part in a 7-day, 24 hour roster.

What you will need:

• Be registered in the Social Care Workers Register maintained by the Social Care Workers Registration Board maintained by CORU.
  or
• Hold a CORU approved Social Care Worker qualification and have applied for CORU registration (evidence of application will be necessary)
  (https://coru.ie/health-and-social-care-professionals/education/approved-qualifications/social-care-workers/)
• Experience of working in a children's residential centre or with children with complex needs in other settings.
• A working knowledge of the impact of childhood adversity on adolescents.
• A working knowledge and awareness of HIQA National Standards for Children’s Residential Centres.
• Ability to manage and support teenagers in crisis who present with challenging behaviours.
• A high standard of written communication.
• A working knowledge and understanding of Child Protection, and responses to concerns.
• A working knowledge and understanding of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention model.

To apply please submit your CV & Cover Letter Here

Closing date for applications: 12.00pm, 2nd August 2025

Focus Ireland is an equal opportunities employer.