Ireland’s leading children’s charity is recruiting:

Practical Family Support Worker 

Supporting Traveller Women in Prison 

Location: Corduff, Dublin 15 - North Dublin, serving Dóchas Centre and the Greater Dublin area

Contract: Part-time (14 hours per week) and 3 Year Fixed Term Contract

Salary: €10,816 - €14,477 DOE (This is the pro-rated salary for 14 hours)

Why work at Barnardos?

At Barnardos we seek to ensure that we have the best people working with us to support our work with children and families. The benefits of working with Barnardos are designed to promote continual professional development and a work-life balance for the most rewarding working experience.

• Barnardos offers a competitive salary – recognising the experience you bring to the role
• Generous annual leave entitlements
• Positive working environment with family friendly ethos and work - life balance policy
• Tax saver travel and bike to work schemes in operation
• Employee Pension scheme with employer contribution
• Training and Development
• Health and Wellbeing initiatives including Employee Assistance programme
• Company sick pay scheme

With the support of Traveller Justice Initiative and Traveller Women’s Forum and funding from the Department of Justice, Barnardos has developed a service for Supporting Traveller Women in Prison.

This is a 3 year pilot programme which will provide Family Support to Traveller Mothers in the Criminal Justice System and their families. A Project Worker and a Family Support Worker will work with Traveller Mothers at various stages of the Criminal Justice System, pre-sentencing, imprisonment, and release from prison.

This service works with both Traveller Mothers and their families onsite at the Dóchas Centre and in their communities.

Job purpose

The Family Support Worker will work with the Project Worker and other relevant professionals by providing practical supports to Traveller Mother’s in the Criminal Justice System and their families.

Personal attributes

• Ability to connect and form supportive relationships with Traveller Mother’s involved in the Criminal Justice System and their families
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• To have the necessary skills and knowledge to engage Traveller women and their families
• Understanding the issues of confidentiality and working within the Criminal Justice System/ community and the ability to establish appropriate professional boundaries
• Flexibility and adaptability is essential for this post
• To have life experience and experience of participating in a community is desirable

Experience

• A minimum of two years’ experience of working with children and families who experience disadvantage, discrimination and poverty is essential.
• An excellent understanding of issues affecting the Travelling community, women in prison and the impact of having a parent in prison can have on a child
• Experience of working with families in collaboration with other services
• Experience of planning, implementing and reviewing programmes with parents, children and their families

Qualifications

• FETAC Level 5 in working with children is essential.
• Experience of delivering individual or group work programmes to children in the community or Criminal Justice System.
• Training in specific group work approaches, along with knowledge of the Travelling Community in Ireland, attachment and child development would be an advantage.
• Full driving licence and access to the use of a suitably insured car essential.

We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all.

For full job description and to apply please visit Current Job Vacancies – Barnardos

Closing date: 12 noon, Tuesday 8th of October
Interview date: To Be Advised

Shortlisting will apply (please note, CVs are not accepted on their own, candidates must complete and submit our application form through Barnardos website).

Barnardos is an equal opportunity employer.