Child / Young Person and Family Support Worker

Job Title: Child / Young Person Family Support Worker

Location of Post: Wexford

Closing Date: Monday 8th July @ 12pm
Late applications will not be accepted.
Interviews will take place on July 29th

Organisational Area: Based in Wexford Town

Reporting Relationship: Director of Services

Details of Service

Wexford Women’s Refuge (WWR)is a specialised service that supports women and children who are affected by Domestic Sexual and Gender Based Violence (DSGBV). WWR will move into new premises in September 2024. This will allow for an expansion of our services.

The Child & Family worker will provide a safe non-judgemental space where children and young people have a voice.

WWR aims to work towards a trauma-informed response of care for children and mothers who are experiencing DSGBV. The child and family worker will understand that developmental trauma is complex trauma that occurs within children and young people who have experienced abuse and violent or overwhelming events.

WWR aims to provide a recovery environment for children, young people, and women to reduce stress caused by the trauma they have experienced.

Purpose of the Post

The Children’s/Young Person Family Support worker will provide support and structured services to children and young people, emphasizing progressing needs and ensuring the safety and security of children and young people.
The child and family support worker will also work with the mother who is a victim/survivor of DSGBV and provide advice and information on how to support her children /young person.

Work Flexibility

Monday & Wednesday 8am – 4pm
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10am – 6pm
Must be flexible to work outside of standard office hours for handover, occasional weekends may be required to meet the evolving needs of our service.

Duties

• To Develop and implement individual development and support plans for children who reside or have resided in Wexford Women’s Refuge. Develop support plans for children in the community accessing the organisation's support based on identified and assessed needs. These plans may require interagency working.
• Deliver group DSGBV support programs to children and young people.
• Provide parental support to parents of children affected by DSGBV.
• To deliver evidence-based developmental programs that build confidence and resilience in children and young people affected by DSGBV in age-appropriate settings.
• To evaluate the work's quality and effectiveness, using relevant evaluation tools for work with children and young people.
• To ensure that all children’s development and support program planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation processes are inclusive of the voice of parents, children, and young people.
• To provide ongoing emotional support to children in crisis and to create opportunities for each child to share their feelings about his/her home situation, fears, and anxieties.
• To coordinate and integrate children and young people’s support within the organisation, ensuring a streamlined and effective program and response is implemented across the organisation, including child protection.
• To promote WWR’s children and young people’s services and programs in the community to external agencies and groups through engagement with a range of stakeholders.
• To record and document the program's work with children, ensuring good record-keeping practices align with the work of the organisation, its policies, and practices.
• To participate in staff meetings and training and undertake any other duties requested by the organisation, including policy work, campaigning, and training.
• To always act within the values, policies, and practices of WWR.
• To always observe and enforce a policy of strict confidentiality in all aspects of the work.
• To liaise with organisations in the public, private, voluntary, and community sectors, county-wide, regionally, and, where appropriate, nationally for the implementation of the service.
• To work on own initiative and as part of a team to ensure the quality-of-service delivery.
• Deliver development and awareness programs as required.
• To assist in the monitoring and evaluating areas of work as appropriate.
• In relation to the principles and objectives of the Childcare Act 1991, participate in child welfare case conferences and prepare relevant reports.
• To comply with WWR’s guidelines and procedures and any other duties as requested by the Director of Services.

Essential Qualifications

• 3rd level degree (BA in Social Care or Applied Social Studies or relevant discipline) and relevant experience working with children and young people.

Core Experience

• At least two years of experience working with vulnerable children/young people and their families
• Experience working with families in crisis
• Experience in assessing the needs and risks to children, young people, and their families
• Demonstrable experience planning and delivering support and development sessions, including evidence-based programs of activities for children and young people as a group or individually
• Experience working as part of a team and ability to organize own workload
• Experience of strong interagency working and joint service provision
• Experience in the efficient management of caseload and prioritising required interventions
• Flexibility in delivery of the Service – working from multiple sites
• Good presentation and communication skills – verbal and written
• Experience with the court system in relation to family law, is an advantage
• Ability to engage in reflective practice and supervision
• Good IT skills and excellent verbal and written communication skills, including report writing

Core Skills

• Ability to communicate effectively, particularly with children, young people, their parents on the issues affecting their lives in terms of DSGBV.
• Be able to liaise and promote strong interagency working with relevant agencies with responsibility for children and young people’s needs
• To create, plan, develop, and implement support plans and programmes for children and young people based on identified need
• Using professional experience and judgment in line with the organisation’s policies to undertake risk assessments and undertake safety plans for each child/young person safely and appropriately
• Ability to be empathic with clients at all times
• Ability to always maintain confidentiality within WWR’s Child Protection policy parameters, per Tusla guidelines. Understanding of safeguarding procedures and child protection issues
• An awareness of trauma-informed practice
• Willingness to participate in appropriate training as required

Desired Knowledge and Understanding Of:

• A theoretical understanding of child development, child assessment, individual and group program planning, child intervention processes, and evaluation of the work
• Evidence-based programs and approaches to working with children and young people affected by trauma and to demonstrate an understanding of the impacts of trauma on children and young people
• Current legislation and key policy documents relevant to children and young people, including on topics such as children’s rights and child welfare

Remuneration

HSE Pay Scale Alignment-Source Grade 3029
The point on the scale is commensurate with relevant experience and knowledge.
Salary Point 1-€36,945 / Point 12-€52,720 LSI
Access to an Employee Assistance Program
Access to the PRSA scheme after one year of service

Garda Vetting

The successful applicant will undergo Garda Vetting and secure clearance if you have lived outside of the Republic of Ireland for more than six months.

Tenure

This is a fixed-term contract, a two-year contract to start with.
A 6-month probation period applies to this position.
This is a full-time position, 37.5 hours a week.
This role is subject to continued funding.
This job description will be reviewed on an annual basis.
The post is funded by Cuan.

Health

A candidate for and any person holding office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health that would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Character

Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character.

Travel

The successful candidate must be prepared to travel in the course of his/her work. A full clean driving license, and use of a car are essential for this role.

How to Apply

Applications by Curriculum Vitae and Letter of Application highlighting your experience and expertise in this area to:
Antoinette Lynch
HR/Administrative Coordinator
Wexford Women’s Refuge.
30 Distillery Road, Wexford.
Or
Email: hr@wexfordwomensrefuge.ie

Short listing will apply, a panel may be created following interviews

Closing date for receipt of applications is 12pm: Monday 8th July

Appointments subject to evidence of educational qualifications, two satisfactory written references and up to date Garda Vetting.

Wexford Women’s Refuge is an equal opportunities employer.