Ireland’s leading children’s charity is recruiting:

Project Worker – Supporting Traveller Women in Prison

Location: Corduff, Dublin 15 - North Dublin, serving Dóchas Centre and the Greater Dublin area

Contract: Part-time (30 hours per week) and Fixed Term Contract until December 2026 - Subject to funding

Salary: €27,740 - €42,878 DOE (This is the pro-rated salary for 30 hours)

Are you a purpose driven individual who is passionate about making a difference and helping some of society’s most vulnerable children? At Barnardos, we pride ourselves on delivering impactful services that make a difference to the lives of children and families across Ireland.

We believe that childhood lasts a lifetime. As trauma informed specialists our core purpose is to provide the necessary support for children to overcome childhood adversity, embedding a trauma informed ethos and practice into every service we provide.

Why work at Barnardos?

As a Project Worker, we appreciate the value of your time when providing essential services, that’s why we have the necessary support structures and network in place that will allow you to make a real impact on the lives of children across Ireland. We also offer the following:

• Barnardos offers a competitive salary – recognising the experience you bring to the role
• Generous annual leave entitlements plus discretionary Company days
• Employee pension scheme with employer contribution/ Company Sick Pay Scheme
• Access to regular trauma informed support, supervision, training and many other professional development opportunities
• Tax saver and bike to work schemes in operation
• Access to the Employee Assistance/Wellbeing programme for employees and their immediate family members

What’s the role/service?

We are looking for an experienced project worker to join our team in North Dublin. To provide a trauma informed flexible model of support, to meet the wide range of needs of Traveller women as well as their families. To develop relationships with Traveller women in criminal justice system in order to identify their needs as parents.

The service will then develop individual plans (short, medium and long-term) with Traveller women and their families. A Bespoke programme of support will be offered at each stage of the criminal justice system (pre-sentence, probation, pre-release and post-release). This service also facilitates group work sessions in the Dóchas Centre on a weekly basis.

Through research completed by the Traveller Justice Initiative and data collected through peer support work facilitated in the Dóchas Centre by the National Traveller Women’s Forum, with wider research undertaken by the Irish Penal Reform Trust, tell us that there is:

• Very high rate of mental health issues - (estimated at 60%) occurring for women in prison with over 23% requiring psychiatric intervention(s)
• High rate of drug dependency (2010 annual report of the Dóchas Centre Visiting Committee estimated that one-quarter of prisoners are on a methadone maintenance programme).
• High rate of domestic violence (minimum of 50% of women prisoners)
• High risk of homelessness (women being particularly more at risk of homelessness on release)

This innovative model of support will be delivered by Barnardos, in partnership with the National Traveller Women’s Forum (NTWF) and Traveller Justice Initiative (TJI).

What will my day to day look like?

As a project worker you will develop and implement programmes that respond to the needs of children and families referred to the service working in partnership with families and other organisational, community and voluntary bodies. You will be responsible for the following:

• To develop purposeful relationships with Traveller women in the criminal justice system and their families.
• To plan, implement and review programmes for Traveller Women and their families based on the assessment of their individual needs.
• To offer bespoke support at each stage of the criminal justice system (presentence, probation, pre-release and post-release).
• To offer intensive parenting support to build parenting skills and strengthen family relationships
• To support the development of plans which ensure adequate safety and care for children of Traveller mothers entering prison system.
• To develop plans which minimise the impact of legal proceedings on family functioning and children’s wellbeing.

What experience do I need?

• Excellent understanding of issues affecting Travellers and women in prison.
• A minimum of 2 years’ post-qualification experience of working with children and families experiencing discrimination, poverty and disadvantage.
• Experience of working in family support and partnership context with vulnerable families.
• Experience of planning, implementing and reviewing programmes with children and/or families. Experience forming objective relationships with children, young people, families/carers, colleagues and other agencies.

Do I need a qualification?

Yes, to be considered for this role you will hold a recognised third level practice qualification (minimum Level 7 on the QQI) in one of the following:

• Social Care / Education / Social Work / Youth Work / Early Childhood Care /Education or related discipline (Nursing, Psychology, Early Years’ Education).

A full driving licence and access to the use of a suitably insured car is essential.

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

Closing date: 12pm on Wednesday 18 December 2024
Interview date: To Be Advised

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.