Child Support Worker, Family Homeless Action Team

Location: Dublin

Contract: Full-time, Specific Purpose

The purpose of this role is to work as part of a team with a responsibility to reduce the impact of childhood traumatic experiences that can occur while a family is experiencing homelessness. The CSW will work alongside case managers in the wider Family HAT team to support families in exiting homelessness.

What you will do:

• To work within the framework of the overall objectives of Focus Ireland.
• To undertake assessments of children’s developmental needs and strengths.
• To develop and review appropriate support plans with parents and as appropriate, with children, colleagues and other professionals involved with the child/young person’s family.
• To undertake one-to-one work in the child’s emergency accommodation reflecting the support plan.
• To contribute to the promotion, creation and maintenance of a high standard of child led and child focussed practice in delivering a service to children and their families.
• To promote the development of positive parent and child relationships.
• To encourage and support parental responsibility and assist parents in meeting their children’s needs.
• To advocate for children and young people who use the service.
• To establish links with appropriate community services to address the needs of children and their families at a local level.
• To communicate and liaise effectively with professionals where relevant to the needs of the children/young person. To attend meetings concerning the children/young person, e.g. school liaison, case conferences and reviews.
• To produce reports and information as requested and to keep up-to-date and accurate records.
• To be familiar with and comply with the agency’s policies and procedures pertaining to health, safety and welfare of children and all other agency policies and procedures.
• To participate in reviews, evaluations and development of the service.
• To work 39 hours per week at the appointed times
• To work under the supervision and direction of the Project Leader/Team Leader and to engage regularly in supervision sessions with the Team Leader
• To participate in relevant training and development courses as agreed with the Project Leader/Team Leader
• To attend and contribute to team and any other meetings which are relevant to your work as required.
• To adhere 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 Project Leader/Team Leader/Manager.

What you will need:

• Relevant third level degree I.e. youth work; childcare; social care; psychology.
• Relevant experience of working with children and young people.
• Experience of working with families.
• Respect and value children as autonomous young people in their own right.
• Ability to communicate well with colleagues, parents and other agencies and, above all, children, irrespective of their needs.
• Have a genuine liking for and sensitivity towards children.
• Ability to assess the support needs of children, develop support plans and respond to their needs.
• Ability to engage with a variety of professional and individuals to provide a holistic & integrated response to the needs of children.
• Be committed to work in partnership with parents.
• Computer literacy.
• Report writing abilities.
• Ability to work alone and in a team setting.
• Experience of dealing with child protection and welfare responsibilities and responding appropriately to any concerns.
• Car owner with full clean driver’s license.

To apply please submit your CV & Cover Letter Here
Closing date for applications: 12.00pm, 27th June 2024

Focus Ireland is an equal opportunities employer.