Position: Full Time YDP Youth Worker

CLAY CLG Youth Project is currently inviting applications for the position of a Full Time Youth Diversion Youth Worker.

Role Description

To divert young people who have been involved in anti-social and/or criminal behavior, by providing suitable activities to facilitate personal development, promote civic responsibility and improve long-term employability prospects

CLAY Youth Diversion Project

CLAY Youth Diversion Project is a community-based specialist project which primarily supports young people in Dublin 12 and Dolphin House D8. It seeks to divert young people from becoming involved (or further involved) in anti-social and/or criminal behaviour by providing suitable activities to facilitate personal, positive, social and personal development, civic responsibility and long-term employability prospects. The project targets young people between the ages of 12-17yrs who have been referred by a Juvenile Liasson Officer or other community stakeholder. The project also works with 8-11year olds and families who have been identified as at risk of future offending through age-appropriate intervention and family support work.

The project contributes to improving the quality of life within communities and enhancing Garda/community relations. This is a very exciting opportunity for candidates with an interest and capability in this type of work.

Working schedule:

This is a full-time 35-hour working week and flexibility is required in relation to working hours to meet the needs of young people. This can include working a minimum of 2/3 evenings, planned engagement during school holidays and Saturday work as required by CLAY CLG

A full clean driver’s licence (Desirable)

The Candidate

All applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

• An NSETS recognised professionally endorsed qualification in Youth Work or Youth and Community Work or /and
• Have worked with young people for two years full time in a youth work setting and have an equivalent professional qualification within the social studies/youth work/education or community development field

(Note: candidates with exceptional, relevant work experience with young people may also be considered in lieu of degree qualifications)

Summary of Responsibilities.

In co-operation with the CLAY’s Youth Diversion Project Team the Youth Justice Worker will:

• Assess and respond to the needs of young people aged 12-17 and 8-11 years old, in accordance with CLAY’s policy, procedure, practices and YDP operational requirements
• Engage young people in a process of learning and development that will enable them to examine their own offending or anti-social behaviour and to make positive lifestyle choices that will protect them from involvement in criminal, harmful or socially unacceptable behaviours.
• Continuously conduct individual risk assessments and case management plans for young people.
• Plan, develop and deliver programmes, activities and services based on case management plans.
• Implement both individual, group-work and outreach work where required.
• Enable young people to access and get optimum benefit from school / further education / training and employment opportunities.
• Enlist the support of parents, family members, community groups and other volunteers
• Completing accurately and submitting on time any standard administrative and reporting procedure of expenses, quarterly performance reports, annual plan etc.
• Attend and participate in referral and project committee meetings.
• Participate and attend training as identified by CLAY and IYJS.
• Prepare written reports as required for management, committees and funders.
• Provide evaluations, records, reports etc. as required.
• Any other duties requested by CLAY CLG.
• To support volunteers /students.
• Support and take on written and verbal reporting of the programme’s outcomes.
• To carry out any administrative duties appropriate to your role as YDP Youth worker (evaluations, programme records, record keeping, timesheets, work reports, annual plans etc).
• Always maintain employer and young people’s confidentiality.

Other duties may include:

• To participate in outreach programmes if required.
• To drive the CLAY 9-seater vehicle on activities and trips for young people.
• To liaise to advocate on behalf of young people to other service providers and third parties if required.
• Work with local schools, parents, Gardai and other agencies and services working with young people from the area, were appropriate.
• To carry out any other lawful instructions of the board of management appropriate to the role of YDP Youth Worker.
• Work directly alongside other staff members in various settings.
• Work as part of a team engaging in team meetings and appropriate supervision, review and planning sessions.
• Promote positive working relationships with external organisations.
• Commitment to the work of CLAY Youth Project and to work within the values, policies, and procedures of the organisation.
• To work within CLAY’s CLG strategy and operational plans.
• To consistently act in a professional manner and be present to the needs of CLAY young people.
• Carry out any other duties deemed necessary, from time to time especially collaboration with the wider YDP and Clay team and occasional community development work.
• To participate in regular supervision with your line manager.
• Identify training needs with your line manager and participate in training opportunities appropriate to the role.

Core Competencies

• Ability to build and maintain confident, effective and positive relationships with young people.
• Good interpersonal skills, including the ability to liaise with a wide range of contacts and build and maintain effective working relationships.
• Present with attributes of an effective Youth justice worker including Empathy, Listening skills, dependability and respect.
• Ability to be proactive, use your own initiative and work effectively within a pressurized environment.
• Positive and flexible approach to teamwork and collaboration.
• Good communications skills, including ability to draft summary information and correspondence, and good report writing skills.
• Excellent computer skills, including Word processing, Excel, Internet.

In addition, Clay YDP can offer the following benefits.

• Matched pension employer contribution after successful probation period.
• 25 annual holidays.
• Comprehensive induction, training, and supervision.
• Regular Team meetings.
• Bike to work scheme.
• Parking

CLAY CLG is committed to a policy of Equality of Opportunity in its employment practices.

Candidates under consideration for employment in CLAY will be subject to Garda vetting and minimum 2 reference checks.

The salary is in line with CDYS Youth Worker Scale and based on experience. (€35,395-€53,056).

This position is funded under Department of Justice and Equality, European Social Fund 2021 – 2027, in conjunction with An Garda Síochána The Youth Justice Worker will be employed by CLAY Youth Project CLG.

Please note that this position is contingent on CLAY’s continued receipt of funding for the YDP and the post holder’s satisfactory performance.

Application Process

Please send a CV (max 3 pages) including a cover letter and completed application form to rosie@clayproject.ie with the title YDP ‘Youth Worker' in the subject bar.

Closing Date: Friday 10th January 2025 by 5pm
Applications received after this deadline will not be accepted.

A panel may be formed following the interview process and short listing will apply.

We will inform candidates who have been successfully shortlisted. We regret that it is not possible to provide individualised feedback to applicants who have not been shortlisted for interview and we kindly request that you do not call or email seeking feedback. Candidates who do not meet ‘Essential’ requirements will Not be engaged within this recruitment process. Feedback is only available for candidates to interview.

For more information, please visit www.clayyouthproject.ie