Project Worker, Supported Housing, South East

Location: Waterford

Contract: Full Time, Specific Purpose

The Purpose of this role is to undertake individual work with families and individuals living in long-term accommodation, or participating on a transitional program, who face chronic exclusion due to their many complex and overlapping needs. Through utilising an Intensive Care and Case Management Model, to support a planned and effective exit from homelessness.

What you will do:

• To work within the framework of the overall objectives of Focus Ireland.
• To work within the overall policies and procedures of Focus Ireland, inclusive of Health and Safety Policy
• To work within the organisation’s model and standards of best practice
• To work as a part of a multi disciplinary / multi-agency service.
• To work a flexible rota over five (5) days to meet the objectives of the service.
• To use a flexible approach in engaging families with their individual needs, child and parent alike, taking into consideration dynamics relevant to their needs and behaviours.
• To develop and maintain links with the Health Service Executive, Probation Services and other clinical, community and statutory services to ensure effective communication and pre-discharge planning, where appropriate.
• To develop community links with accommodation and service providers thus ensuring a collaborative approach in working with the client group, including working in close collaboration with the Local Authorities Central Placement Service.
• To engage effectively with all stakeholders in the child’s, parent’s and customers lives, eg, schools, extended family, etc.
• To contribute to a case conferencing model ensuring effective liaison with external professionals and the family, where appropriate.
• Adopt a strong and efficient case management team approach.
• To provide one to one engagement, to support the family/customer to reflect on their situation, and be supported to make informed decisions. To perform to an intensive in-depth support model to agreed standards.
• To support the students and graduate program participants in working to agreed targets and goals
• To contribute and participate in ensuring a package of support is designed and implemented, thus ensuring and promoting the welfare of the family.
• To implement agreed education programmes, utilising coaching and mentoring interventions to assist parents grow in life and parenting skills.
• To contribute to the formulation of a customer’s needs assessment and support plan utilizing the Homeless Executives Holistic Needs Assessment, PASS system and keep up to date case work records.
• To work with the Customer in identifying the significant needs/behaviours in their life, to address the issues of difficulty that has contributed to the family being out of home.
• To plan, develop, implement and evaluate specific targeted individual work programmes. To ensure a coordinated response from Focus Ireland Psychology services, family support and contact services under the Intensive Case Management model.
• To attend and contribute to meetings and reviews as required, and follow up on any decisions made.
• To attend team, sectional, divisional and any other organisational meetings, as required
• To adhere to the policies and procedures of the Project and the Organisation, and to input into the development of new policies and procedures, as appropriate
• To engage in supervision sessions on a regular basis with the Line Manager.
• To participate in relevant training and development courses as agreed with your Line Manager.
• To be vigilant to any Health, Safety and Welfare risks in the workplace and bring any concerns to the attention of your line manager or Health & Safety Representative
• To undertake such other duties as might be reasonably assigned from time to time in consultation with the Line Manager.

What you will need:

• Relevant third level qualification at degree level in the area of social care i.e. youth work, social studies, addiction, psychology
• 2 years direct experience in the social care field working with high need families at high risk, utilising an intensive case management and family support model=
• A working knowledge and understanding of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention model
• Experience of working with customers who have co-existing conditions
• Excellent report writing and IT skills
• Ability to work well in a team environment, social care based or clinical disciplines
• Experience of working and liaising with other organisations
• Understanding of issues pertinent to high need families with chronic child welfare issues and homelessness
• A full clean driving license
• Person needs to demonstrate: Communication skills, Knowledge and understanding of children, adolescents and issues affecting parents, Ability to Plan and Implement Programmes and Flexibility in approach to work

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Focus Ireland is an equal opportunities employer