Homeless Services Night Support Worker

COPE Galway; Galway; On-site; EUR 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Ongoing training

Career growth

Leadership development

Job summary

COPE Galway is seeking a Night Support Worker to join its Homeless Services in Galway. The role focuses on waking night work within a multi-service homeless provision, providing practical support and ensuring smooth, safe operations.

The ideal candidate will bring at least one year of experience with homeless or vulnerable groups or a related third-level qualification in social care, plus strong communication and teamwork abilities. A trauma-informed, respectful approach is essential.

Qualifications

• One year’s experience of working with homeless people and/or other vulnerable or marginalised groups OR a recognised third level qualification in social care or a related field.
• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills.
• Commitment to harm reduction.
• Ability to treat clients in a non-judgmental and respectful way.

Responsibilities

• Ensure night-time operations run smoothly in COPE Galway’s homeless services.
• Provide a safe, welcoming environment for clients.
• Assist with practical needs such as laundry and bedding.
• Support admissions and referrals per policy guidelines.
• Record incidents and maintain health and safety standards.
• Coordinate with local services to access medical, welfare, education and employment support.
• Participate in training and team meetings.

Skills

Experience with homeless people

Communication skills

Teamwork skills

Harm reduction

Non-judgmental and respectful

Willingness to adapt

Education

Social care qualification or related field

Job description

COPE Galway has been providing essential social services in Galway for 60 years. We respond to the needs of people experiencing homelessness, women and children subjected to domestic abuse, and we support older people towards healthy, independent ageing. Our vision is for a community where every person is valued, cared for, and supported at every stage of life.

COPE Galway is deeply embedded in the Galway community. We are founded on the belief that together we can make a positive difference in the lives of the people we serve and our community.

Our People

Our People, COPE Galway staff and volunteers, are the driving force behind everything we do. Their passion, commitment, and professionalism enable us to deliver a wide range of services, support more people, and make a real impact in the community.

We have a diverse range of roles, from frontline support workers and social care professionals to catering, community engagement and other professional roles. Each role is crucial in ensuring we deliver our services effectively and make a positive impact in the community.

Working with COPE Galway

Joining our team means you will make a lasting, positive impact on the lives of the families and individuals we support and contribute to driving meaningful social change in the community. Whether you are a frontline worker directly supporting clients or in an administrative role, you are vital to our efforts to address critical issues like homelessness and domestic abuse and to ensure that older people are valued and supported.

At COPE Galway, we prioritise the development and wellbeing of our people. We offer a supportive work environment, with opportunities for ongoing training, personal and professional growth, and leadership development.

Our Culture

We foster an inclusive, supportive and respectful workplace, where diversity is valued. Our team is united by a shared mission and a genuine passion for empowering people and creating meaningful change. We take a trauma-informed approach to the way we work and foster this culture in every aspect of the organisation, including a focus on the health and wellbeing of our staff.

Homeless Services

COPE Galway Homeless Service supports families and individuals in Galway who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. We provide residential and non-residential services, including a day centre, street outreach, supported temporary accommodation and seasonal cold weather responses. Our family services offer family-focused support, emergency accommodation, and specific developmental support for children. Our resettlement service and Housing First programme teams work with individuals moving on from homelessness to secure long‑term housing.

The Role

Night Support Worker is a hands‑on role. As part of a team, the person is focused on providing practical assistance and support to clients during their stay in COPE Galway Homeless Services and ensuring the smooth and safe operation of the service to which they are assigned. This role will primarily involve waking night work. The role carries with it an opportunity to develop skills across a variety of residential homeless services in Galway City.

The successful candidate will be deployed to work within COPE Galway’s homeless services where needed and on a periodic rotational basis where appropriate and will be first assigned to work in the service named in the advert. They will work with their colleagues to collaboratively embed the values of COPE Galway and a trauma informed approach within COPE Galway Homeless Services.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Night Support Worker is responsible to the Service Manager/ Team Leader. Their (not exhaustive) key duties are:

• To ensure the night time operations of the project run smoothly and in accordance with the policies and procedures of COPE Galway
• To ensure a safe, welcoming and friendly environment is established and maintained
• To ensure the practical needs of clients are met through the provision of laundry and bedding
• To support project workers in dealing with referrals for admission and make admissions or referrals as appropriate and as per policy guidelines
• To provide general information on the Homeless Services for Galway City and County
• To assist all clients with health, safety and general welfare
• To respond to difficult or problematic situations in a sensitive manner and within the framework of the Organisation’s policies and procedures
• To support the project workers to facilitate clients to access local services such as medical, welfare, training, education and employment services
• To carry out administrative and financial procedures in accordance with COPE Galway policies and procedures
• To use the database systems in place including the Pathway Accommodation & Support System(PASS)
• To communicate effectively and respectfully with colleagues and clients
• To ensure that all incidents, emergencies, events and handovers are recorded using the recording systems in place
• To ensure that health and safety standards are maintained and adhere to COPE Galway Safety Statement and related policies and procedures at all times
• To maintain domestic, health, and hygiene standards in the building at the highest standards.
• To ensure that clients are consulted and involved in the operation of the project to the greatest practical extent.
• To work positively and effectively as a member of a team
• To attend and contribute to team meetings as required
• To maintain positive and mutually beneficial relationships with relevant external agencies
• Contribute to the fostering of positive relations with the local community and in particular with those living in the immediate neighbourhood by responding to enquiries made to the project
• To continue to learn and develop professionally through participating in training and workshops
• To adhere at all times to the COPE Galway Child Protection and Welfare Policy & Procedure and the Children First Guidelines
• To ensure that confidentiality is maintained in accordance with the COPE Galway Confidentiality Policy and Procedure and agreed information sharing protocols
• To work in line with NQSF (National Quality Standards Framework)
• To be available to work a variety of different shifts of differing lengths as set out in work rosters – this may include shifts on weekdays, nights, weekends and Bank Holidays
• To carry out any other reasonable duties as requested

Key Terms and Conditions

• Frequency of Work: Full Time Specific Purpose
• Location: Cold Weather Response
• Method of Pay: Monthly by credit transfer

Person Specification

The ideal candidate will have:

• One year’s experience of working with homeless people and/or other vulnerable or marginalised groups OR a recognised third level qualification in social care or a related field
• An understanding of the nature of homelessness and the needs of single homeless people
• An ability to treat clients in a non‑judgmental and respectful way
• A commitment to harm reduction
• A knowledge of relevant local services and of the welfare benefits system
• Good written and oral communication skills
• Strong Interpersonal and teamwork skills
• A receptiveness to feedback from clients and colleagues
• A practical common sense approach
• An ability to prevent and respond appropriately to challenging behaviour
• An openness to change

While lived experience is not a requirement for any role in COPE Galway, we do welcome applications from people with lived experience in relation to the services we provide to our clients. We will not ask anyone to disclose their personal experience s, nor ask intrusive questions of those who do

Equal Opportunity Employer

COPE Galway is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive recruitment process and working environments for all our employees.

Data Privacy and Applicant Declaration

The information you provide in this application form will be processed in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Your personal data will be used solely for the purpose of assessing your suitability for the role and, where applicable, to prepare an employment agreement. Your data will be stored securely and accessed only by authorized personnel involved in the recruitment process. We will retain your information only for as long as necessary to fulfill these purposes or as required by law. You have the right to access, rectify, or request the deletion of your personal data at any time by contacting Data Protection Officer, [e-mail] / 091 778 750.

Point 1 on the COPE Galway Health Care Assistant Scale €35058.52