Social Care Worker

Description

Enable Ireland provides services to over 13,000 children and adults with disabilities and their families from 43 locations in 14 counties. Covering childhood to adulthood, our expert teams work with the individual and their family on a plan for each life stage. Our services for children and their families cover all aspects of a child's physical, educational, and social development from early infancy through adolescence. For adults we offer a range of services covering personal development, independence and life skills.

Enable Ireland, as an equal opportunities employer, proudly maintains a Silver Award in Diversity from the Irish Centre for Diversity. We vigorously advocate for fairness, respect, equality, diversity, inclusion, and engagement, and are dedicated to ongoing enhancement in these areas.

We are currently seeking a highly motivated Social Care Worker to join our team in Respite Services Carlow / Kilkenny.

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary Scale: €39,160 - €54,746 pro rata per annum

Annual Leave Entitlement: 30 pro rata per annum

This pay scale is subject to increases in 2026 in accordance with the recent WRC agreement towards enhanced pay adjustments in Section 39 organisations.

Overview of the Post

Carlow/Kilkenny Children's respite service provides services to children within the Carlow/Kilkenny area. Enable Ireland respite services are committed to working in partnership with service users and families in the planning, delivery and evaluation of all services. Kilcar House provides planned short term respite care, both day and night, where children will be grouped together by age and interest. Our staffing levels complement the health and social care needs of the children attending respite.

The successful candidate will have:

• Hold professional registration on the Social Care Workers Register maintained by the Social Care Workers Registration Board at CORU.
• Have experience of working with children disabilities and their families.
• Possess a full, clean, manual driving licence with access to own transport.
• Be currently eligible to work in the State.
• Have experience and knowledge of the role of a key worker.
• Have experience of delivering personal care.
• Candidates must possess the requisite knowledge and ability, including a high standard of suitability, for the proper discharge of the role.
• On appointment, practitioners must maintain annual registration on the Social Care Workers Register maintained by the Social Care Workers Registration Board at CORU.
• Knowledge of Enable Ireland.
• Good understanding of Social Model of Disability.
• Understanding of HIQA regulations, standards and registration process.
• Awareness of safeguarding issues.

The post holder will demonstrate an ability to:

• Support service users in a range of activities.
• Have an understanding of the concept of equal opportunities and how this relates to children with a disability.
• Maintain accurate written records and reports in accordance with professional guidelines.
• Good knowledge of child protection & child development.
• Understand relevant legislation and professional standards to ensure compliance with best practice.
• Ability to demonstrate an understanding of confidentiality.
• Have experience in contributing to the development of personal plans.
• Experience of engaging in professional supervision.
• Develop and promote good interpersonal relationships with the Service Owners and their families.
• Ability to communicate at all levels within the service. Disseminate information appropriately in a clear manner.
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills.
• Commitment to working in partnership with parents/carers and children.
• Disseminates information appropriately in a clear manner.
• Ability to work collaboratively with others and use own initiative when indicated.
• Actively participate in team meetings.
• Flexible, adaptable and open to change.
• Demonstrate a proactive approach to overall performance.
• Demonstrate innovation and creativity.
• Willingness to embrace service development and change.
• Manual handling qualification.
• Experience of working with children and families in a community based setting.
• Demonstrate strong organisational ability.
• Have developed ethical awareness for best practice.
• Experience developing quality systems.

If you believe you would fit the role then please submit your application today.

As a staff member of Enable Ireland, you will have access to a wide range of benefits, including:

• Excellent internal and external training opportunities
• Generous annual leave entitlements
• Long service reward scheme
• Pay adjusted Maternity Leave
• Pay adjusted Adoptive Leave
• Pay adjusted Paternity Leave

What now?

To apply, please download the Job Description and Person Specification for your information and complete the online application form. CVs will not be accepted.

Closing date for applications: Friday 10th July 2026

Potential panel formation for similar vacancies may arise within the next 12 months.

The post will be subject to reference checks and may be subject to Garda vetting/police clearance, as relevant.

Due to the large volume of applications, we are not in the position to provide individual feedback to applicants who are not shortlisted for interview.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified applicants from all sections of the community.

The above information serves only as a guide to the advertised position. Enable Ireland, at its discretion, reserves the right to change this prior to appointment.

Please review the Enable Ireland's External Data Protection Notice available at for details on how Enable Ireland processes applicant's personal information. Please note if you are invited for interview, we will share your personal data with: 1) Any virtual service provider we use to host the interview; and 2) the interview panel (if applicable). Your information will be stored for this purpose in line with our retention policy.

Enable Ireland is an Equal Opportunity Employer