Position: Full Time Youth Justice Family Support Worker YDP Programme

Role Description

To work with an experienced team of Youth Justice Workers, with a lead and direct role in working and further developing the CLAY Family Support YDP programme. To provide focused, person centred support to families and young people referred to CLAY YDP.

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 stakeholders. 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. Clay YDP intends to support the self-sufficiency of families whose children /young people are part of Clay YDP.

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 the family. This can include working evenings, planned engagement during the school holidays and weekend work as required by CLAY CLG.

A full clean driver’s licence (Desirable)

Please ensure you meet the qualification criteria before applying.

The Candidate

All applicants must meet one of the following requirements:

• A recognised professionally endorsed qualification in Youth Work or Youth and Community Work or /and
• Have worked with young people/ families 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. Also, relevant professional experience of supporting young people and families in a structured setting.

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

Summary of responsibilities.

In co-operation with CLAY’s YDP Project Team the family support worker in line with the Youth Justice Strategy 2021 – 2027 will support those families of young people who have offended or are at risk of offending, with the aim to reduce the offending behaviour. The target group for the YDP Family Support Service are exclusively for those families of young people who are participants of a YDP or have been referred to a YDP.

• Identify young people and families who are most in need of a family support and work as part of a team to develop an engagement plan.
• Work with existing families who have already been identified within the CLAY YDP Programme.
• Identifying and responding to the needs of project participants and families in line with the YLS/CMI 2.0 (training provided) and in conjunction with the Youth Justice Team. The case plan is to work towards supporting the family to meet identified needs through a wraparound service with shared outcomes from the YDP team.
• Supporting families to make decisions for themselves, building on the family’s competencies in their cultural context, using a strengths-based approach.
• Home visits and aspects of information sharing with families.
• Engage and facilitate parents/ guardians and other relevant family members, in a process of support, learning and development that will empower them to engage effectively with their young person to facilitate positive change.
• Build relationships and to develop the capacity of individuals, families and groups in appropriate programmes and activities as part of the Clay YDP. This includes identifying, designing, implementing, and evaluating effective parenting and parent/ child interventions and supports.
• Work from a need led, outcomes focused way to ensure planning and processes are striving to achieve set outcomes.
• Flexible to adapt to individual family’s circumstances, so that responses can be needs-led. This includes series of interventions that draw on a range of different formats such as group-work, individual work, skills-based programmes, and recreational activities as appropriate for the individual families.
• The use and collaboration with evidence-based programmes. This may include trialling the suitability of these programme for YDP family work.
• As part of the role, it is important that families are receiving the most suitable interventions and engaging with the most appropriate services based on their changing needs including linking and transitioning families to appropriate exit pathways and additional services suitable for their needs.
• liaises and networking with relevant agencies and service providers within the community and be willing to engage in interagency projects. This includes building and maintaining relationships with local stakeholders, particularly An Garda Síochána, Tulsa and other youth & family services in the catchment area.

Other duties may include:

• To participate in outreach programmes if required.
• To drive the CLAY 9-seater vehicle on activities and trips for families/young people
• To liaise to advocate on behalf of young people/families to other service providers and third parties if required.
• Work with local schools, parents, Gardai and other agencies and services working with young people /families from the area, were appropriate.
• To carry out any other lawful instructions of the board of management appropriate to the role of YDP Family Youth Worker.
• Work directly alongside other staff members in various settings.
• Collaboration work with the wider Clay team and occasional community development work.
• 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/families.
• To apply for relevant funding for Family Support Programmes.
• Ensure ongoing confidentiality and compliance with organizational data protection policies and practices in all aspects of the role.
• Participate in different aspects of the YDP team work as required.
• 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/families
• 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.

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

Candidates under consideration for employment in CLAY will be subject to Garda vetting and 2 reference checks.
ETB Youth Worker Scale applies

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 Family Support Youth Worker' in the subject bar.

Closing Date: Friday 4th April 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.

For more information, please visit www.clayyouthproject.ie