Dolphin House Community Development Association: Family Support Worker
Job Title: Family Support Worker
Name of employer: Dolphin House Community Development Association
Number of Hours: 17.5 hours per week
Salary range: €19,500 – €22,000 (based on experience and qualifications) Funded by the HSE and the Katherine Howard foundation
Deadline for applications: Friday, 7th Feb, 2025
Dolphin House Community Development Association (DHCDA) is a community-based organisation which delivers a range of services to the residents in Dolphin House and the wider area and we would like to employ a Family Support Worker to our team
The Role
The role of this worker is to provide support to families within the community, with a primary focus on families with school aged children 0-7 years, including parents to be. Using key principals of community development, the Family Support Worker will work from a social justice perspective in an inclusive manner with parents. They will;
- Provide practical supports, administrative assistance and information to families including assisting families, where needed, to link with and attend mainstream and specialist services and advocate on their behalf.
- Use a needs-based approach to work in collaboration with families to identify and understand their needs.
- Supporting families to have a voice and to express their needs.
- Support parents to develop the competencies and skills necessary in their role as primary carers and educators for their children.
- Work with families to ensure best outcomes for families in; education, health and well-being, achieving full potential, security of economy and opportunity and connectedness to the community.
- Use outreach and being present in the community as a key method of engagement to develop relationships with families.
- Work in partnership with parents through one to one and group work.
- Using a strengths-based approach to support developing family capacity.
- Support the implementation of individual plans with families with a focus on Meitheal where necessary.
- Following a settling in period, conduct home visits to support parents and proactively improve the home learning environment.
- Engaging families with evidence-based parenting programmes, family mentoring and evidence informed interventions as required.
- Work closely with the DHCDA Health Team and outreach team to promote and support local voluntary and community activities that benefit the target groups associated with the role.
Experience and qualifications
Essential
- A relevant 3rd level qualification in areas such as family support, community development, health, social work etc.
- Minimum 1 year post qualification experience of working with vulnerable families
- Experience and skills in group facilitation
- Experience of team working and collaborating with other professionals
- Report writing skills
- Knowledge and understanding of developing and progressing evidenced based and informed work with families to improve outcomes for children
- Understanding of social issues and how they can impact on families and children (e.g., drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, anti-social behaviour, mental health issues, bereavement, poor housing conditions etc.)
Desirable
- Experience of planning, implementing, and reviewing programmes
- Networking skills and ability to work with a range of voluntary and statutory agencies
- Experience of evidence-based family support methodologies/approaches with experience of home visiting and Meitheal
- Flexibility in relation to work hours with some evening work necessary from time to time
CV and cover letter can be forwarded to Bobbymcloughlin@dolphinhousecda.ie
The closing date for applications is Friday, February 7th, 2025.
A full job description for the role is attached below.
If you have any queries in relation to the role please email Bobby or call 0860416830