Purpose of the Post
The Children’s/Young Person Family Support worker will provide support and structured services to children and young people, emphasizing progressing needs and ensuring the safety and security of children and young people.
The child and family support worker will also work with the mother who is a victim/survivor of DSGBV and provide advice and information on how to support her children /young person.
Work Flexibility
Monday & Wednesday 8am – 4pm
Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10am – 6pm
Must be flexible to work outside of standard office hours for handover, occasional weekends may be required to meet the evolving needs of our service.
Duties
1. To Develop and implement individual development and support plans for children who reside or have resided in Wexford Women’s Refuge. Develop support plans for children in the community accessing the organisation's support based on identified and assessed needs. These plans may require interagency working.
2. Deliver group DSGBV support programs to children and young people.
3. Provide parental support to parents of children affected by DSGBV.
4. To deliver evidence-based developmental programs that build confidence and resilience in children and young people affected by DSGBV in age-appropriate settings.
5. To evaluate the work's quality and effectiveness, using relevant evaluation tools for work with children and young people.
6. To ensure that all children’s development and support program planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation processes are inclusive of the voice of parents, children, and young people.
7. To provide ongoing emotional support to children in crisis and to create opportunities for each child to share their feelings about his/her home situation, fears, and anxieties.
8. To coordinate and integrate children and young people’s support within the organisation, ensuring a streamlined and effective program and response is implemented across the organisation, including child protection.
9. To promote WWR’s children and young people’s services and programs in the community to external agencies and groups through engagement with a range of stakeholders.
10. To record and document the program's work with children, ensuring good record-keeping practices align with the work of the organisation, its policies, and practices.
11. To participate in staff meetings and training and undertake any other duties requested by the organisation, including policy work, campaigning, and training.
12. To always act within the values, policies, and practices of WWR.
13. To always observe and enforce a policy of strict confidentiality in all aspects of the work.
14. To liaise with organisations in the public, private, voluntary, and community sectors, county-wide, regionally, and, where appropriate, nationally for the implementation of the service.
15. To work on own initiative and as part of a team to ensure the quality-of-service delivery.
16. Deliver development and awareness programs as required.
17. To assist in the monitoring and evaluating areas of work as appropriate.
18. In relation to the principles and objectives of the Childcare Act 1991, participate in child welfare case conferences and prepare relevant reports.
19. To comply with WWR’s guidelines and procedures and any other duties as requested by the Director of Services.
Essential Qualifications
20. 3rd level degree (BA in Social Care or Applied Social Studies or relevant discipline) and relevant experience working with children and young people.
Core Experience
21. At least two years of experience working with vulnerable children/young people and their families
22. Experience working with families in crisis
23. Experience in assessing the needs and risks to children, young people, and their families
24. Demonstrable experience planning and delivering support and development sessions, including evidence-based programs of activities for children and young people as a group or individually
25. Experience working as part of a team and ability to organize own workload
26. Experience of strong interagency working and joint service provision
27. Experience in the efficient management of caseload and prioritising required interventions
28. Flexibility in delivery of the Service – working from multiple sites
29. Good presentation and communication skills – verbal and written
30. Experience with the court system in relation to family law, is an advantage
31. Ability to engage in reflective practice and supervision
32. Good IT skills and excellent verbal and written communication skills, including report writing
Core Skills
33. Ability to communicate effectively, particularly with children, young people, their parents on the issues affecting their lives in terms of DSGBV.
34. Be able to liaise and promote strong interagency working with relevant agencies with responsibility for children and young people’s needs
35. To create, plan, develop, and implement support plans and programmes for children and young people based on identified need
36. Using professional experience and judgment in line with the organisation’s policies to undertake risk assessments and undertake safety plans for each child/young person safely and appropriately
37. Ability to be empathic with clients at all times
38. Ability to always maintain confidentiality within WWR’s Child Protection policy parameters, per Tusla guidelines. Understanding of safeguarding procedures and child protection issues
39. An awareness of trauma-informed practice
40. Willingness to participate in appropriate training as required
Desired Knowledge and Understanding Of:
41. A theoretical understanding of child development, child assessment, individual and group program planning, child intervention processes, and evaluation of the work
42. Evidence-based programs and approaches to working with children and young people affected by trauma and to demonstrate an understanding of the impacts of trauma on children and young people
43. Current legislation and key policy documents relevant to children and young people, including on topics such as children’s rights and child welfare