Project Worker - Women's Services

HireHive; Dublin; On-site; EUR 36,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Family Leave

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Educational Assistance

Minimum 172.5 hours annual leave

Death In Service

Defined Contribution Pension Scheme

Group VHI scheme

Competitive Salaries

Bike to Work

Job summary

Merchants Quay Ireland's Jane's Place Women’s Service seeks a Female Project Worker to support women facing homelessness and addiction, within a trauma-informed, women-only setting. You will deliver individual and group support, maintain records, and work as part of a multidisciplinary team.

The role requires QQI Level 7 or equivalent, at least two years’ experience in addiction or homelessness services, excellent communication, and a collaborative approach.

Qualifications

• Must have QQI Level 7 or equivalent in social care, addiction or related field.
• Minimum of 2 years relevant employed work experience in addiction or homelessness services or related fields.
• Working knowledge of homeless service systems and pathways out of homelessness.
• Ability to work with multiple presentations including addiction, mental health, trauma and homelessness.

Responsibilities

• Engage with female service users over 18 with complex needs.
• Support day-to-day operations of a drop-in and appointment-based service.
• Manage an active caseload and provide crisis and case management support.
• Report to the Women’s Service Coordinator for guidance and appraisal.
• Collaborate as part of a multi-disciplinary team to best support women.
• Provide early intervention, information, referral, and advocacy in a person-centred way.
• Work within a trauma-informed approach to improve outcomes and access to services.
• Provide one-to-one emotional support to women in the service.
• Foster peer-led initiatives and encourage women’s empowerment.
• Complete assessments, support plans and maintain GDPR-compliant records.

Skills

Communication

Active listening

Teamwork

Trauma-informed care

Education

QQI Level 7 or equivalent (social care/addiction)

Job description

• Job Title: Female Project Worker

• Reports to: Women's Services Co-ordinator

• Objective: To work directly with female service users who may present with a variety of complex needs including addiction, homelessness, mental health and/or trauma, and to support the overall development of a high-quality women’s only Trauma-Informed service.

• Hours: 37.5 hours per week

• Contract length: Contract of Indefinite Duration

• Salary Scale: €36,372 - €40,798 / year Dependent on experience

Organisation Purpose, Who We Are –

Merchants Quay Ireland is a national voluntary organisation who helps people who are Homeless and those experiencing addiction. We provide frontline services, practical supports, pathways towards recovery and innovative responses to the issues of substance use and homelessness in Ireland.

Our Vision is one of an "inclusive society" where the integration and well-being of all is supported, and everyone is treated with Dignity and Respect. Our Mission is to work as a collaborative community to reduce the harm caused by addiction and homelessness. We provide accessible, high quality and effective services, which meet the complex needs in a non-judgemental and compassionate way.

Jane's Place Women's Service – What is it?

All of our service's welcome women, however in 2019 we saw that the numbers of women coming through our door were not representative of the numbers we felt needed the services. After some research, it was clear that females often did not feel comfortable coming into spaces which were predominately used by men.

So, in 2019 Merchants Quay Ireland launched Jane's Place, an all-female service that offers one-to-one and group support to women who are dealing with homelessness and addiction issues.

Jane's place offers a safe and welcoming wrap around environment which provides holistic, trauma informed services such as individualised support, groups, medical supports and women specified supports. The service provides clients with access to information and supports across health, addiction, life skills, gender-based violence, coercive control, legal issues, education, employment support, counselling and mental health services

Main Duties/Responsibilities

• Working specifically to target and engage with female service users over 18, who have experiences of addiction or homelessness, domestic violence, health and mental health difficulties, marginalisation and/or inequality.

• To support the day-to-day operations of a drop-in and appointment-based service.

• Manage an active case load and work independently in the provision of all aspects of support to service users and provide crisis and case management support in an outreach and in-reach capacity.

• Reporting to the Women's Service Coordinator for individual support, guidance and performance appraisal.

• To work collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary team in the best interests of the women that use the service.

• To provide early and crisis intervention, information, referral, advice, advocacy in a person-centred capacity.

• Work within a trauma-informed approach to improve outcomes, create pathways and enable access for women into appropriate services.

• Provide one-to-one emotional support to women who use the service

• To help develop and foster an environment of support and encouragement including Peer Lead initiatives and programmes which encourages the belief for women in their own ability.

• Continuous advocacy work, raising awareness of the challenges women face

• Build trusting and supportive relationships with female service users, and provide high quality, needs led and targeted supports to women with complex needs.

• Complete all necessary and approved assessments, support plans, case management - recording all interventions, ensuring that service user records and data are kept updated in line with GDPR requirements

• To ensure that Health & Safety standards are maintained in accordance with the H&S Statement of MQI.

Your role in Jane's Place will also require you to:

• Collaborate with the Service co-ordinator and Team Lead to develop and establish women’s groups that provide educational, emotional and personal support to participants.

• Support the completion of a standard monthly reports and compile ad hoc information requests as required.

• To involve and include service users in the ongoing development of the service and have their participation built into service plans whenever feasible.

• Support the development of strategies to increase engagement with women.

• To work collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary team in the best interests of the women that use the service.

• Attend training, seminars and network with inter-agency organisations as required.

• Under the guidance of service coordinator develop programmes that support the personal and social development of women.

• Under the guidance of the service coordinator develop collaborative initiatives with specialist services aimed at addressing the complex needs of women.

Person Specification

Essential:

• Must have a relevant qualification (minimum QQI Level 7 or equivalent) e.g. social care, addiction or related field.

• Must have a minimum of 2 years relevant employed work experience in addiction/community development, social care, or related fields.

• To have a working knowledge of homeless service systems and pathways out of homelessness

• The ability to work with multiple presentations including but not limited to addiction, mental health and mental illness, homelessness, domestic violence, trauma, sex work & trafficking.

• Strong communication and active listening skill with an ability to build trust and rapport.

• To have experience of working within a team and the ability to work independently also.

• Hold a flexible approach to the work in response to organisational change and development

Desirable:

• Have experience of key working, case management and group facilitation.

• To have a good understanding of the models of addiction treatment and best practice in relation to harm reduction, preparation for treatment and relapse prevention.

• Understanding of the challenges women with complex needs face.

• A knowledge and understanding of a trauma informed approach.

What does MQI Offer as an employer?

• Paid Family Leave, where applicable (Maternity, Paternity, Adoptive, Force Majeure and Compassionate Leave)

• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

• Educational Assistance (Study and Examination Leave, Scholarship Foundation)

• Minimum of 172.5 hours of Annual Leave

• Death In Service (from commencement of employment)

• Defined Contribution Pension Scheme

• Group VHI scheme

• Competitive Salaries

• Bike to Work

The deadline for applications is the 14th October 2026.

This job description is intended as a summary of the primary responsibilities of and qualifications for this role. The job description is not intended as inclusive of all duties an individual in this position might be asked to perform based on requirements either now or in the future.

Merchant's Quay Ireland is an equal opportunities employer