Child Support Worker, Family Homeless Action Team, Dublin/ Kildare

Child Support Worker, Family Homeless Action Team, Dublin/ Kildare

Location: Dublin and Kildare

Contract: Full Time, 2-year Fixed Term

The purpose of this role is to work as part of a team with a responsibility 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:

• To undertake assessments of children's developmental needs and strengths.
• To 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.
• To undertake one-to-one work in the child's emergency accommodation reflecting the support plan.
• To undertake group work in the locations where appropriate.
• To promote the development of positive parent and child relationships. To encourage and support parental responsibility and assist parents in meeting their children's needs.
• To 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.
• To advocate for children and young people who use the service.
• To 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.
• To produce reports and information as requested and to keep up-to-date and accurate records.
• To 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.
• To participate in reviews, evaluations and development of the service.
• To work under the supervision and direction of the Manager/Team Leader and to engage in regular supervision sessions with the Team Leader.
• To 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.

What you will need:

• A Third Level qualification at degree level in the area of social care i.e. youth work, social studies, addiction, psychology, etc and/or be a CORU registered Social Care Worker.
• Relevant experience of working with vulnerable children, young people and their families.
• Respect and value children as autonomous young people in their own right.
• Experience of dealing with child protection and welfare responsibilities and responding appropriately to any concerns.
• Car owner with full clean driver's licence.

Focus Ireland is an equal opportunities employer