Ireland’s leading children’s charity is recruiting:

Programme Assistants x 4, Limerick

Location: Le Cheile, Limerick South, Southill

Contract: Fixed term to end June 2025 and Part-time

• 1 X 22 hours - mornings and afternoons
• 1 X 7.5 hours per week (mornings)
• 1X 10 hours per week (mornings)
• 1 X 14 hours per week After-School service

Salary: €13.65 - €16.45 hourly depending on previous experience

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

Barnardos has three family support projects in Limerick,

• Southill, (Limerick South), Saint Mary’s Park Moyross, (Limerick North) and Islandgate.

These Programme Assistant positions will be based from the project in Limerick South.

The Early Bird Service (Breakfast Club) runs Mondays to Fridays from 8am -9.30am offering breakfast, activities, and social-emotional opportunities for children who attend.

The After-School service in conjunction with this, is also for primary school aged children and operates Monday – Thursday from 1pm- 4:30pm.

Barnardos works in areas of disadvantage with children and families from diverse communities. The service goals are to improve the emotional well-being of children, and their capacity for learning and development. Barnardos is committed to inter-agency working through a partnership based approach with families.

Barnardos Family Support Service offers direct support to families to address the needs of children. The types of intervention usually include individual work with a child and/or a parent; parent and child work; family work; group work with children and adults, drop-in information and advice, and community activities. The types of support provided often include parenting support, practical support, and support to children in terms of managing behaviour, identity work, self-esteem work, sibling work, and other issues as they arise.

What will the Programme Assistant do?

Working alongside colleagues, the Programme Assistant works to provide a safe, child-centered environment to children attending the Early Bird service and/or the Afterschool service, as applicable

Personal attributes

• Commitment to provide a quality service to children.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Awareness of confidentiality and the ability to deal with sensitive issues including child protection concerns.
• Knowledge of working in areas of disadvantage
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Flexibility and adaptability are essential attributes in this role.

Experience

• Experience of working with children for a minimum of 6 months is essential.
• Relevant voluntary work may be considered.

Qualifications

• Recognised qualification (minimum QQI/ FETAC Level 5 on the NFQ) that is approved under the Early Years (Pre-school) Regulations.

The post-holder is initially assigned to work in the Early Bird/After School Service, Limerick South but may be required in the future to work in other project(s) in the Limerick area in line with Organisational needs.

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

Closing date: 16 September 2024 at 4pm
Interview date: To be confirmed.

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