Exchange House Ireland National Travellers Service is the largest front line Traveller specific service in Ireland. We are an organisation of Traveller and non-Traveller people working together to provide services to Traveller families, and Traveller young people and children and Traveller men and women, many of whom are in crisis. We pride ourselves in working with some of the most marginalised members of the Traveller community.

We are a multi-disciplinary service provider offering Family Support and Crisis Intervention Services, Children and Young Peoples’ Services, Addiction Services, Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Services and Education and Training Services to members of the Traveller community in the Dublin area. We also deliver various national services through training, provision of expertise and partnerships with other organisations providing services to Travellers in Ireland.

Exchange House Ireland now wishes to recruit a number of

Professionally Qualified Social Workers

One permanent position, other positions subject to fixed-term contacts
Full-time and part-time options are open to negotiation
Graduates awaiting CORU registration are eligible to apply

Outline of the position

Working within the National Traveller Mental Health Service or the Family Support and Crisis Intervention Service in Exchange House Ireland, to provide service users with a comprehensive Social Work service and to work within the agency’s planned response to the needs of Traveller children and families in the greater Dublin area in conjunction with the range of services provided by Exchange House National Travellers Service.

Reporting to

• Family Support and Crisis Intervention Service Manager and/or National Traveller Mental Health Service Manager

Main duties

Family Support

• Work as part of Exchange House Family Support and Crisis Intervention Service to provide an outreach and in-house range of Social Work services to marginalised Traveller families.
• Support individuals/families who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness.
• Advocate on behalf of individuals/families with relevant Local Authorities in respect of their housing needs.
• Provide a prison in-reach service to members of the Traveller community.
• Provide risk assessments and safety plans for individuals experiencing suicidal ideation.
• Manage and prioritise a caseload appropriate to the post.
• Promote the welfare and health of all Traveller children.
• Adhere to procedures outlined in Children First in relation to Child Protection issues.
• Liaise with the Designated Liaison Person in Exchange House Ireland in all matters related to Child Protection and safeguarding.
• Empower and support women, children and young people who are at risk of/or experiencing domestic violence.

Crisis Intervention

• To work with individuals and families to overcome crisis situations.
• To promote the ability of individuals and families to address similar and related problems in the future.
• To develop problem solving skills with individuals and families.
• To work directly with individual and families in conjunction with other services within Exchange House Ireland and relevant outside agencies.
• To improve the capacity of outside agencies to provide equitable access to their service for the Traveller community.

Organisational and Policy Work

• To work closely and holistically with other Exchange House Ireland departments.
• To work on the organisation’s national and international policy work.
• To contribute and participate in Exchange House Ireland EU projects.
• To contribute to Exchange House Ireland organisational development as required.

Developmental Work

• To devise, plan, implement and evaluate appropriate care plans for individuals, families or groups aimed at achievement of individual client, family or group goals.

Supportive Counselling

• To use active listening skills to offer informal support to individuals who come in contact with Exchange House Ireland.
• To refer service users to relevant services either in Exchange House Ireland or other statutory or voluntary agencies.

Advocacy

• To advocate on behalf of clients to ensure that their needs and rights are met with by service providers including Exchange House Ireland.

Inter-Agency work

• To develop positive working relationship with all relevant agencies, statutory and voluntary, to promote needs of the Traveller community.
• To attend Conferences and seminars as approved by line manager and CEO.

Record Keeping

• To adhere to the service’s system of record keeping in relation to clients, work records, statistics etc.
• To furnish line manager and CEO with records, statistics as required.
• To provide written reports to line manager or CEO when required.

Other Duties

• Any other duties as requested by the CEO or Board of Directors.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Social Work Qualification.
• Must hold current membership of CORU. Those waiting on CORU registration are still welcome to apply.

Experience in the following is essential

• Experience of report writing and completing assessments.
• Experience in working with people with multiple social issues.

Experience in the following is desirable

• Previous experience of working with the Traveller community.
• Experience of working within a medical/social work/ community/statutory work setting.
• Experience of delivering mental health interventions.

Job Specific Competencies and Knowledge

• Knowledge/experience of child care legislation, policy & practice.
• Ability to develop plans which are needs-based with vulnerable groups.
• Social work principles and practice (theories and values).
• Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative.
• Ability to work in crisis situations.
• Ability to motivate individuals to participate.
• Ability to work with individuals at various levels and in various positions.
• An understanding of community development approach.
• Ability to keep accurate records of Social Work intervention.

Attributes and Attitude

• Commitment to Traveller work and Travellers.
• Have good interpersonal skills.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Have good time management skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and in stressful environments.
• Have an ability to work flexibly and with others.

Terms and Conditions

Based in

• Exchange House Ireland’s offices on Great Strand Street, Dublin 1, D01 WC97
• Outreach and site work will be a part of this work and as such, access to a car is desirable with full clean license, current NCT, tax and insurance which covers the vehicle for work purposes.

Hours of work

• 35 hours net per week, (pro-rata if part-time)
• Some flexibility may be required on occasion in relation to working hours and travelling.
• Opportunity for hybrid working at manager’s discretion.

Salary:

• The salary will be as per the HSE’s Social Worker scale [Oct. 2023], commensurate with qualifications and experience.

How to apply

If you feel you are a good fit for Exchange House Ireland and would enjoy working with us, please send your application to info@exchangehouse.ie with the subject line ‘Professionally Qualified Social Worker Application’.

• Your application must include a cover letter and up-to-date CV combined and sent in one document
• Please keep your cover letter to a maximum of one page. In your cover letter, include:
  • Why you feel you are a good fit for this role with Exchange House Ireland; and
  • Details of your relevant experience

More information is available on https://www.exchangehouse.ie/positionsvacant.php or by calling the Personnel Department on 01 872 1094

Closing date for receipt of applications is Friday 10th May 2024 at 17:00

This position is supported with funding from the Heath Service Executive Social Inclusion

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• This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the responsibilities and requirements of the position. It may be subject to change based on the organisation's needs and the evolving nature of the role
• Exchange House Ireland is an Equal Opportunities Employer
• Applications from members of the Traveller community, with relevant qualifications, are especially welcome
• All positions in Exchange House Ireland are subject to Garda Vetting and full reference checks
• All positions in Exchange House Ireland are subject to ongoing funding