Child Support Worker, Family Homeless Action Team (FHAT)

Location: Role covers Dublin, Kildare and Meath

Contract: 2 Year, Full- Time Fixed-Term Contract

The purpose of this role is to work as part of a team to reduce the impact of childhood traumatic experiences that can occur while a family is experiencing homelessness. The Child Support Worker (CSW) will work alongside Case Managers in the wider Family Homeless Action Team to support families in exiting homelessness.

What you will do:

• Work within the framework of the overall objectives of Focus Ireland.
• Undertake assessments of children’s developmental needs and strengths.
• Develop and review appropriate support plans with parents and as appropriate, with children, colleagues and other professionals involved with the child/young person’s family.
• Undertake one-to-one work in the child’s emergency accommodation reflecting the support plan.
• Undertake group work in the locations where appropriate.
• Promote the development of positive parent and child relationships. To encourage and support parental responsibility and assist parents in meeting their children’s needs.
• Contribute to the promotion, creation and maintenance of a high standard of child led and child focussed practice in delivering a service to children and their families.
• Advocate for children and young people who use the service.
• Establish links with appropriate community services to address the needs of children and their families at a local level.
• Communicate and liaise effectively with professionals where relevant to the needs of the children/young person. To attend meetings concerning the children/young person, e.g. school liaison, case conferences and reviews.
• Produce reports and information as requested and to keep up-to-date and accurate records.
• Be familiar with and comply with the agency’s policies and procedures pertaining to health, safety and welfare of children and all other agency policies and procedures.
• Participate in reviews, evaluations and development of the service.
• Work 39 hours per week at the appointed times.
• Work under the supervision and direction of the Manager/Team Leader and to engage regularly in supervision sessions with the Team Leader.
• Participate in relevant training and development courses as agreed with the Manager /Team Leader.
• Attend and contribute to team and any other meetings which are relevant to the work, as required.
• Adhere to any Health, Safety and Welfare risks in the workplace and bring any concerns to the attention of your line manager or Health & Safety Representative.
• Undertake such other duties as might be reasonably assigned from time to time in consultation with the Team Leader/Manager/Service Manager.

What you will need:

• Relevant third level degree I.e. youth work; childcare; social care; psychology or other relevant third level degree.
• Relevant experience of working with children and young people.
• Experience of working with families.
• Respect and value children as autonomous young people in their own right.
• Ability to communicate well with colleagues, parents and other agencies and, above all, children, irrespective of their needs.
• Have a genuine liking for and sensitivity towards children.
• Ability to assess the support needs of children, develop support plans and respond to their needs.
• Ability to engage with a variety of professional and individuals to provide a holistic & integrated response to the needs of children.
• Be committed to work in partnership with parents.
• Computer literacy.
• Report writing abilities.
• Ability to work alone and in a team setting.
• Experience of dealing with child protection and welfare responsibilities and responding appropriately to any concerns.
• Full clean driver’s license and access to your own transport.

 To apply please submit your CV Here
Closing date for applications: 13th of January 2025

Focus Ireland is an equal opportunities employer.