Social Care Worker

 Social Care Worker – Ennis, Co. Clare (providing Family Support Services to Ukrainian families)

(3 days per week x 1 year fixed term contract of employment)

Providing professional and caring support to individuals and families throughout County Clare With over 55 years of Service to the people of Clare; Clarecare is a professional social enterprise organisation with charitable status, providing a range of people centred social services to individuals and families in County Clare. Current services include Family Support, Services for Older Persons (Home Support, Day Centres and Social Work),

Child & Adolescent Counselling and Bushypark Residential Addiction Treatment Centre.   Clarecare’s headquarters are based in Ennis with local offices in Shannon, Kilrush, Bushypark, Killaloe and Ennistymon. 

Clarecare Family Support Services, funded by TUSLA , offer a range of interventions to vulnerable children, including children subject to Safety Plans and/or open case to TUSLA, Child & Family Agency. We work in partnership with service users and professional colleagues in th provision of individual and group-based supports.

JOB DESCRIPTION

TITLE: Social Care Worker (providing Family Support Services to Ukrainian families)

(3 days per week x 1 year fixed term contract of employment)

DESCRIPTION OF ROLE:

Working from the Clarecare Family Support Service practice model, which is based on the Tusla National Practice Model - Meitheal, the role of the Social Care Worker working with Ukrainian families is to:

• Deliver support interventions to parents to enhance their parenting skills and relationships with their children.
• Facilitate evidence-based parenting programmes to Ukrainian parents.
• To facilitate drop in parent support sessions for Ukrainian parents in dedicated centres in County Clare.
• Carry out strengths and needs assessments in collaboration with children and parents and to formulate agreed outcome focussed interventions which are reviewed regularly.
• Undertake the responsibilities of a Lead Practitioner in cases involved in the Tusla Meitheal process.
• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to maximise and enhance outcomes for children. This will include regular monitoring and reviewing one’s own work an engaging in formal supervision and continuous professional development.

SERVICE OBJECTIVES:

• To deliver a dedicated family support service to Ukrainian parents .
• To improve outcomes for children through the delivery of interventions underpinned by the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People and Clarecare’s specific overarching goals that all children are (1) safe and protected from harm and are (2) achieving their full potential in learning and development.
• To work in partnership with children and parents to identify their strengths and needs. within their home and community environment and to work together to enhance resilience.
• To provide a safe and supportive space, which will give children and parents the. opportunity to express and explore issues and concerns, which they may be experiencing.
• To encourage parents to build on their parenting skills and enhance relationships and communication with their children
• To link and co-operate with other disciplines and agencies in order to promote a cohesive service for children.

JOB RELATIONS:

The Social Care Worker will report directly to the allocated Family Support Service Team Leader and work as part of a multi-disciplinary Family Support Team. The Clarecare Family Support Services Manager has overall responsibility for Family Support Services.  Reporting structures are subject to change.

DAYS/HOURS OF WORK: 3 days per week. Days of work to be agreed with Team Leader e.g.

Mon-Wed or Wed-Friday. This position may involve evening or weekend work (as required) and you are required to be flexible regarding your work hours/work days.

ANNUAL LEAVE ENTITLEMENT: Yearly Annual Leave entitlement for this part-time fixed term post is 15.5 days per full leave year (Jan-Dec). This entitlement excludes Public Holiday entitlement.

JOB LOCATION:

The office base for this position will be Clarecare’s Ennis office located at Harmony Row, Ennis, Co. Clare and will cover County Clare. You may, if required, be assigned by the Chief Executive Officer/Family Support Service Manager or designate to the organisation’s other places of business/centre locations. You will be given as much notice of any such change of place of work as is reasonably practicable.

The successful candidate will be covering Co Clare so flexibility and willingness to travel is required. You will be required to use your private car to travel for work purposes.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POSITION:

General Responsibilities:

• To be accountable to the designated Line Manager and Family Support Service Manager.
• To adhere to Clarecare’s policies, procedures, protocols in relation to all work within Clarecare.
• To effectively use Clarecare’s Data Management IT system for case management which includes the use of daily time management recording system.
• To attend all mandatory training and any other training courses as identified for CPD by your Team Leader or designate.
• To fulfil obligations under Children First Act 2015 and all responsibilities under Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017).
• To store and maintain accurate, confidential records in accordance with the Family. Support Services practice protocols and to comply with responsibilities under the Data Protection Acts 1988, 2003 & 2018 (GDPR).
• To complete and submit statistical information and reports in a timely manner as required.
• To work as part of the wider Clarecare structure and carry out duties as required.
• To support the work of staff, volunteers, students and others involved in Clarecare.
• To participate in team meetings and attend meetings as deemed necessary.
• To attend and participate in case management meetings with Family Support Services Manager or designate and relevant team members.
• To engage in continuing professional development opportunities.
• To maintain professional boundaries in all work with clients.
• To perform such other duties appropriate to the position as may be assigned to you.

Specific Responsibilities

• To work as part of the Clarecare Family Support Team in the development and delivery of quality services for children and families.
• To adhere to the Clarecare Family Support Service practice framework (based on Tusla Meitheal Family Support Model) and other agreed models used to assess and identify the strengths and difficulties for families referred to the service and to develop targeted and informed support plans.
• To deliver a dedicated service to Ukrainian parents in their local community. This will include one to one support to children, parents and group work.
• To deliver evidence informed group-based parenting programmes.
• To develop and facilitate parent information sessions and materials for parents to support parent’s capacity to meet their children’s needs, parent-child relationships, communication and family functioning
• To develop and deliver parent support drop in sessions.
• To encourage parental participation and child and youth participation in the design, delivery and quality of services.
• To encourage and support parents to attend relevant services which may enhance their. parenting capacity.
• To advocate on behalf of parents with the relevant statutory and voluntary services. where appropriate.
• To liaise with staff in Clarecare, TUSLA and any other relevant Agencies regarding the. family support plan for the family.
• To complete strengths and needs assessments with children and parents as required
• To be flexible, innovative and adaptable in one’s approach to work with service users.
• To develop and maintain collaborative working relationships externally with TUSLA and other relevant community, voluntary and statutory groups.
• To develop and implement individual support programmes for children and young people based on models of best practice.
• To work as part of the Clarecare Family Support Team in the development and running of programmes for children and families.
• To foster and maintain positive working relationships with the local community.
• To maintain up to date file records of work undertaken with the child and family and to complete reports outlining work completed.
• To effectively use Clarecare’s Data & HR Management IT system for case management and time/attendance recording.
• To work as part of a team within the Family Support Team and as part of the wider Clarecare structure.
• To attend relevant staff and client meetings.
• To participate in local meeting fora in relation to the development of supports and. services for children and parents in the area.
• To be flexible, innovative and adaptable in one’s approach to work with service users.

REQUIREMENTS/QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE POSITION

Essential Requirements:

• A nationally recognised third level qualification to a minimum of Degree level in Social Care or Applied Social Studies (Level 7 QQI).
• Hold a CORU approved Social Care Worker qualification to be eligible for registration on the Social Care Workers Register maintained by the Social Care Workers Registration Board maintained by CORU.
• Relevant experience working with marginalised parents on a one to one basis focusing on issues such as the parent/child relationship, family communication and household routines.
• Demonstrate the ability to provide quality services to parents and /or children and youths using innovative interventions keeping the child’s interests central to the work.
• Experience of liaising with services and advocating on behalf of service users.
• Experience of creative approaches to working with families.
• Demonstrate empathetic understanding of the issues that vulnerable children and families may encounter and also a wide knowledge base including child protection and welfare law, policies and procedures and of recognition of all forms of abuse and reporting requirements under the Children’s First Act (2015) and all responsibilities under Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017).
• Demonstrate experience of working with parents/guardians and children and an ability to engage adults and children in family support interventions.
• Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills with service users, team members and other statutory and voluntary agencies.
• Demonstrate excellent organisational skills as the role requires the capacity to work in a demanding post; managing time, commitments and priorities effectively.
• Fluent in English language (written & spoken).
• Experience of writing reports and confident knowledge and use of Microsoft Office.
• Ability to work as part of a team and to use one’s own initiative when required.
• Ability to maintain the principles of confidentiality in all areas of work.
• Ability to foster good working relationships with external agencies and organisations.
• Maintain and submit annual membership of the relevant accredited body as per Clarecare policies and procedures
• Well-developed computer skills, including use of Microsoft Office, MS Outlook (emails), Spreadsheets and Databases (Case Management Systems e.g. OneTouch system).
• Good knowledge of the legislative and policy context governing statutory and voluntary service delivery.
• Ability to always maintain professional and personal boundaries and adhere at all times to Clarecare’s Guidelines & Code of Conduct for Staff.
• A positive ‘fit to work’ medical.
• A positive Garda Vetting Disclosure through Clarecare.
• Two positive references from current/most recent employer(s).
• Full clean driving licence with insurance indemnity to Clarecare.
• As part of your role duties/responsibilities, you will be required to carry clients in your own private vehicle and to indemnify Clarecare under your private motor insurance policy.

Desirable:

• Ability to effectively communicate (verbal/written) in Ukrainian language is a distinct advantage.
• Experience of facilitating groups.
• Experience of delivering individual and group parenting programmes
• Experience of working with displaced parents and children and any prior experience specific to working with Ukrainian families would be a distinct advantage.
• Experience of working with families where there are child welfare /child protection concerns.
• Knowledge of the philosophy and ethos of Clarecare and social services sector.
• Knowledge and experience of working within the Meitheal framework.

Further details on post:

Contact Ruairi on 086 – 0668883 or Jacinta on 065 – 6894207.

NOTE: This job description is provided as a guideline. Unforeseen policy changes or emerging needs of the Service, may create additional/new demands on the post, thus requiring the post holder to fulfil those demands.