Ireland’s leading children’s charity is recruiting:

Midlands Project Worker – Young Parent Support Programme & Family Support

Location: Co. Westmeath & Co. Longford – Midlands

Contract: Part-Time (18.5 hours) and 4 Year Fixed Term Contract

Salary: €17,106 - €26,441 Depending on Experience
(This is the pro-rated salary for 18.5 hours)

‘The Young Parents Support Programme is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union’.

Why work at Barnardos?

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.

What we can offer you?

As a Project Worker, we appreciate the value of your time when providing essential support to our 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 and service?

We are looking for an experienced Project Worker to join our team in County Westmeath.

We offer support, information and advocacy in all areas of a young parent’s (parents under the age of 24) life including health, relationships, parenting, child care, social welfare entitlements, education, training and anything else about which the mother or father is concerned.

Our Family Support services offer a range of services for families (children aged 0-18), which include individual sessions with children, attachment and bonding sessions with young parents and their children, sessions with siblings, parent and child sessions, group-based therapeutic support for children, parenting support focusing on strengthening and modelling core-parenting skills, and structured parent-child support which aim to enhance and strengthen the parent-child relationship. Empowering parents to make appropriate parenting decisions. Parents may be seen with their children and / or on their own depending on the presenting need. The services operate Monday to Friday.

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:

• Providing family support to children and families living in Co. Westmeath.
• Assessing the needs of the children and the families engaging with the project.
• Planning, implementing and reviewing programmes for children / young people / carers / families based on an assessment of their individual and group needs.
• Working with children / young people / carers / families in a variety of ways, including group work, individual work and family work, centre based and outreach work.
• Liaising effectively with families and other statutory, community and voluntary bodies and to attend and contribute to reviews and case conferences as required.

What experience do I need?

• A minimum of 2 years post qualification experience of working with vulnerable children and families.
• Working in partnership with families and carers.
• Planning, implementing and reviewing programmes with children and / or families.

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 or related discipline (Nursing, Psychology, Early Years’ Education).

Additional information:

Full driving licence and access to the use of a suitably insured vehicle essential.

The postholder is initially assigned to work in the Westmeath Family Support projects but may be required in the future to work in other locations in the Midlands area in line with organisational needs.

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

Closing date: 12pm Monday 14 April 2025
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.