Social Care Worker

Social Care Worker

Job Summary:

The Social Care Worker will work with children / young people, families and/or significant others, Social Work teams, other healthcare provider agencies, schools, training agencies, and community groups.

The Social Care Worker will care for, protect, and support vulnerable or dependent clients, individually or in groups, in conjunction with the wider multidisciplinary team and other relevant agencies. S/he will ensure the welfare of those under his / her care and will act as an advocate as appropriate.

The Social Care Worker will contribute to the planning and evaluation of individualized and group programmes of care, which are based on needs, identified in consultation with the client and others, and delivered through day-to-day shared life experiences.

Within the Residential and Special Care Setting, the Social Care Worker will work as part of a team to provide a safe, caring environment for resident children / young people with the primary aim of providing the intervention necessary to address the issues that are preventing them from living at home or in foster care, or to prepare them to live independently with the support of aftercare services.

Key Responsibilities:

Care and Support:

• Ability to treat children/young people and their families with dignity, respect, and unconditional positive regard.
• Plan, implement and evaluate care plans, placement plans, and treatment programs.
• Incorporate an understanding of how previous life experiences impact children/young people into practice.
• Engage in crisis management and physical intervention as per policy (e.g., Therapeutic Crisis Intervention).

Family and Community Engagement:

• Work collaboratively with parents, families, and other agencies on behalf of the child/young person.
• Participate in meetings regarding the care and development of children/young people.
• Provide verbal and written feedback on the progress of children/young people.

Supportive and Advocacy:

• Promote the rights, responsibilities, and welfare (physical, emotional, social, cultural, ethnic, and spiritual) of each child/young person.
• Encourage and support children/young people in community and family settings.
• Form relationships and engage with traumatized children/young people.
• Be a positive role model and advocate for children/young people's well-being.

Organizational and Management:

• Undertake home management tasks such as budgeting, upkeep, cleaning, and hygiene.
• Organize personal documents, information, and finances on behalf of children/young people.
• Arrange age-appropriate activities and ensure the safety and risk assessment of children/young people on-site and during outings.

Educational and Developmental Support:

• Promote attendance at school, training centers, medical, and clinical appointments.
• Engage in age-appropriate play and activities with children/young persons.
• Assist with transfer/referral to other services as needed.

Safety and Crisis Management:

• Supervise children/young people during outings and maintain safety protocols.
• Remain calm and manage oneself during volatile or potentially violent situations.
• Report and respond to incidents promptly, including cases of absconding or abuse prevention.

The above Job Description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Must be willing to relocate to Ireland

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, or related field.
• More than 5 years of experience working in a residential care setting or with children and young people in a supportive capacity.
• Knowledge of child development, trauma-informed care, and therapeutic interventions.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build rapport and trust with residents and their families.
• Ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team and collaborate with external agencies.
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.