REF: LSCPSAPPT25

Part Time Project Worker

School Completion Programme (SCP): Longford SCP

No. of hours: 17.5 hours per week

The School Completion Programme is a programme to support students who are at risk of early school leaving and students of school going age who are not currently attending school.

The role of the Project Worker will be to work with a selected group of children and young people to improve attendance, participation and retention. The SCP is one of three strands of the Tusla Education Support Services (TESS).

This position is specifically targeting children and young people presenting with chromic absenteeism, school avoidance and in need of intensive planned interventions with the core objectives to:

• Facilitate meaningful change in their ability to attend school regularly
• Identify and reduce the triggers leading to school avoidance
• Provide planned programmes of interventions that will ensure the young person develops the skills and confidence to engage in alternative education programmes( where appropriate) i,e Iscoil, Youthreach or Home tuition in conjunction with the EWO
• Work with and through community and school supports programme/Care Teams to ensure the educational welfare needs of the child and young person are met.

Location:

The project worker will have a base in a school/office, in the Longford SCP Cluster . Day to day work will depend on the child's current educational circumstances and will most likely take place in the registered school, within a community Agency/Youth Service or within the family home

The Role:

• Identify the educational and social needs of the students , who present with school avoidance behaviors
• In response to the individual needs of the students , develop and implement individual group programmes for targeted students in school where possible, out of school and in collaboration with community agencies/SCP in school supports, HSCL, parents/Carers the school Principal and EWO when appropriate.
• Coordinate Intergency meetings and or Meitheal meetings to advocate for the educational welfare needs of the referred students.
• In meeting the needs of the targeted students, communicate regularly with Agencies and offer support and advice to the Parents/Cares.
• Liaising and collaborating with relevant stakeholders(School,Youth Justice Programme, Child and Family projects, Education Welfare, Tulsa, HSCLO, Social Work, CAMHS etc) on behalf of young people and their families.
• To establish and maintain regular timetabled interventions with your targeted students and their parents/carer where necessary
• To identify when a student who maybe experiencing difficulties and inform school and SCP Coordinator/Principal/Home School Teacher as appropriate
• Build a positive working relationship with all children and young people, advocating on their behalf,encouraging inclusion in schools and within their community and family
• Operate needs based breakfast provision for student presenting with anxiety and avoidance
• To contribute to your in school team (Care Team meetings) and the wider team, including School and SCP Staff, ensuring positive communication and cooperation and teamwork.
• Ensure files are up to and organised in line with the NSCP file management logic model.
• School holiday integrated supports through one to one , small group and larger group settings
• Working as part of and actively contributing to the SCP team
• Proactively engage in supervision and case review support with the SCP Coordinator for your benefit and that of the service delivery
• Adhering to and advancing the policies of the School Completion Programme and the school/community setting that you are working in
• Adhering to relevant legislation in child protection, child safeguarding health and safety , GDPR and policies ensuring the effective delivery of service to children in need
• Assist the Coordinator in compiling reports and reviews
• Comply with TESS Standards and attend training through TESS and external as directed by the LMC and Longford SCP Coordinator.
• Ability to be flexible in their approach,as may be required by the LMC and LSCP Coordinator

Qualifications, Skills, and Experience Required

• Minimum Third Level 7 Qualification in the areas of education/teaching; youth/community work; science/social care or other relevant area of expertise
• Working knowledge of referral-bases interventions
• Practical experience of working with children and young people who experience disadvantage.
• An understanding of the Irish education system and the factors which can lead to early school leaving
• A clear focus on what works from your evidence based and evidence informed experience
• Working with children and young people at risk under a logic model outcome focused child centred approach
• Experience working with children and young people in a one to one and group setting
• Excellent IT skills
• Excellent record keeping skills
• Excellent communication, organisational and networking skills
• This position is subject to Garda Vetting for child safeguarding purposes. Only candidates who successfully obtain vetting can be appointed to the position.
• Full Clean Driving licence and Access to their own transport.

Remuneration:

• Salary as per CDYSB New Entrants Salary Scale; starting point dependent on skills and experience. The post will be a fixed term contract which is subject to funding Until August 2026

To Apply:

Please complete the application form below and include 2 recent referee contact details should be emailed for the attention of the coordinator at longfordscpjobs@gmail.com

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Monday 28th July 2025

Please Note Reference Number of the job you are applying for on your application.

Only those selected for the interview will be contacted. Interviews will take place the week of the 11th August 2025