Full-time Project Worker

The School Completion Programme (SCP) is a national programme funded by the Dept. of Education under Tusla Education Support Service. We provide a range of evidence based, needs led and outcomes focused interventions for children and young people attending the participating schools. Our service interventions include 1:1 and group support aimed at improving students’ emotional and social competencies, their motivation and engagement for school, learning dispositions and their overall educational experience. In Cabra, the SCP currently clusters 10 DEIS schools. We are seeking to employ a full-time (35 hours per week) Project Worker.

We are looking for a person with a minimum Level 8 on the NFQ in a relevant discipline (i.e., psychology, education, social science or social care, youth work, health allied disciplines). Ability to speak Irish will be an advantage but is not a requirement of this post.

This is a full-time post (35 hours) that is offered for one year initially (with a 6-month probation period) with a renewable contract each year and a permanent contract after 4 years of satisfactory service. There is currently no public sector pension associated with this post. Salary scale for this post will be as per CDETB SCP Project Worker scale, starting point will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

As a Project Worker you will work in both primary and post-primary, providing a range of in and after school supports. You will work alongside an experienced School Completion Programme team, teachers, and principals, and have an opportunity to avail of a range of quality training.

Core Duties:

• Engaging the target group and enabling those young people to develop knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours particularly in the areas of social and emotional literacy, personal effectiveness, school readiness and educational achievement to enable them to effectively participate in the school environment.
• Designing, organising, implementing, monitoring and evaluating education and welfare support programmes with targeted groups of young people in school, after school, during school holidays and with those not in full-time education, both in, the ‘in school’ and ‘out of school’/community setting.
• Advocating on behalf of targeted participants as appropriate.
• Enabling and empowering young people to fully participate in their own formal education and other learning and development activities within the school environment.
• Working collaboratively with the other Education and Welfare Services, Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) and Education and Welfare Officers, the School Care Team, Principal(s) and other professionals to identify the young people to be targeted for the Project and to plan coordinated intervention for those young people across appropriate services which compliment SCP interventions.
• Operating efficient office procedures and administration systems e.g. maintaining records of all your work, managing files in relation to the young people you are working with and ensuring all reporting requirements are met and on time.
• Planning your own work schedule and setting work targets in consultation with the SCP Coordinator.
• Reporting regularly to the programme Co-ordinator and the SCP Management committee as required.
• Keeping up to date with local, regional and national developments in the education and welfare sector, in relation to both policy and practice.
• Undertaking any other work relevant to the development of the programme as may arise.

Essential Qualifications and Experience:

• A recognised third level qualification (minimum Level 8 on the NFQ) in a relevant discipline (i.e., psychology, education, social work, youth work, health allied disciplines). Training in psychological, therapeutic, or health allied practices (e.g., cognitive behavioural therapy, mental health promotion, art therapy, etc.) will be an advantage.
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience of working with vulnerable young people and families
• Experience of working in schools and an understanding of the issues that prevent children and young people from succeeding in school.
• Experience of planning, implementing, and reviewing intervention programmes
• Group facilitation experience
• Experience of providing emotional support to children and/or young people
• Knowledge of evidence-based practices and approaches (e.g., solution focused interaction, motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioural therapy approaches, conflict resolution methods, etc.). You will have an opportunity to avail of free training in some of these.
• Understanding of Children First guidelines
• Adaptable, reflective, empathetic individual
• High degree of initiative and flexibility
• Ability to be proactive, use own initiative and work effectively within a pressurised environment.

To apply:

Please complete the application form, attach a CV and a cover letter and email to amy.oneill@scp.ie . Closing date: 5pm, Monday 25th August. Interview will be held the week of 1st September 2025.

For enquiries, please contact Dr Amy O’Neill, SCP Coordinator (Cabra) at 0861766801 or at amy.oneill@scp.ie