Medical Social Worker Staff Grade

Applications are invited for this post based in Edel House (emergency shelter for women and children) a service of Good Shepherd Cork (GSC). Good Shepherd Cork provides a range of services for women, children and families who are homeless and vulnerable to homelessness.

The postholder will provide support in Edel House and across other GSC services, providing a medical social work service that seeks to improve the health and social wellbeing of women, children and families who are homeless and vulnerable to homelessness by implementing an accessible, equitable, person-centred service.

The Medical Social Worker will report to the Manager, Edel House and will have a clinical reporting line to the Senior Social Worker HSE Social Inclusion.

Summary of key role and responsibilities (please request and view full job spec* prior to application):

• Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, the postholder will develop and promote interagency relationships, be involved in multi-disciplinary work, provide psychosocial assessments and offer supportive counselling to the service users of Good Shepherd Cork.
• The role will focus on developing skills with GSC service users that will help mitigate risks that this population face such as self-neglect, poverty, and poor mental health.
• The role will support GSC service users by liaising with medical services, facilitating reintegration with community supports, group work, 1:1 supportive focused work and advocacy with external agencies such as Child Welfare and Protection Services, Probation Services and community supports.

The candidate will require the following:

• Be registered in the Social Work Register maintained by the Social Work Registration Board at CORU and maintain live annual registration on the Social Workers Register.
• Have the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability, professional and managerial ability) for the proper discharge of the duties of the role.
• Have sufficient professional knowledge to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role safely and effectively within the legal, ethical and practice boundaries of the profession, including:
  • knowledge of the theoretical models, approaches and interventions that apply in current practice
  • commitment to promoting and applying evidence-based practice and research
  • clear understanding of risk assessment
  • ability to utilise supervision effectively and a commitment to continuous professional development
  • ability to effectively plan activities and co-ordinate resources to ensure value for money
  • ability to manage self and others in a busy working environment including the ability to prioritise and effectively handle multiple tasks
  • innovation in aiming to work within resource limitations to sustain and enhance the service while promoting a model of person-centred care
  • Commitment to actively promoting multi / interdisciplinary team working.
• Hold a full clean driver’s license and access to appropriate transport to fulfil requirements of the role.
• Commitment to the vision, mission and values of Good Shepherd Cork and HSE Social Inclusion.

Informal enquiries to Sinead Lawless, Principal Social Worker, HSE Social Inclusion sinead.lawless@hse.ie

*Full job specification and GSC application form are available from Helen Burke - hburke@goodshepherdcork.ie

To apply:

Application for the role can be made by sending a completed GSC application form to Helen Burke. Closing date is 5pm 2nd December 2024. Interviews are expected to take place in week of 9th December.