Relief Children's Support Worker

COPE Galway; Galway; On-site; EUR 38,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

COPE Galway is seeking a Social Care Worker (with Qualifications) to support the Domestic Abuse Service and Solas Óg children’s services in Galway. The role involves trauma-informed care, playroom duties, and outreach support for families affected by domestic abuse.

The ideal candidate will hold a 3rd level qualification in Early Years or childcare, have experience with disadvantaged children, and be able to work flexibly including evenings and weekends as required.

Qualifications

• 3rd level qualification in Early Years, childcare or relevant field (minimum Fetac Level 5)
• Experience with disadvantaged children and families affected by violence or abuse is desired
• Proficiency with basic computers and office software

Responsibilities

• Participate in day-to-day running of the playroom
• Support children and families using trauma-informed approaches
• Ensure safety, cleanliness and regulatory compliance in the playroom and activities
• Collaborate with the service team to support mothers and children
• Maintain records and assist with data collection for reporting and grants

Skills

Flexible

Relationship building

Decision making

Crisis awareness

Team collaboration

Education

Early Years/Childcare qualification

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.

Domestic Abuse Service

COPE Galway Domestic Abuse Service supports and empowers women, children and young people who are subjected to domestic abuse. Based in Modh Eile House, we offer a range of services including a 24/7 confidential helpline, safe refuge accommodation, outreach services throughout Galway, and court accompaniment. We also provide domestic abuse training and awareness programmes.

Our dedicated children and young people’s service, Solas Óg, provides one-to-one and group therapeutic supports for children and young people up to 25 years, and delivers healthy relationship workshops in schools and youth groups in Galway.

We listen, believe and support women, children and young people on their journey toward a life free from domestic abuse.

Overall Objectives:

COPE Galway Domestic Abuse service (CGDAS) offers emotional and practical support for women and their children leaving an abusive relationship. It offers accommodation for women and their children in need of safety while they look at they support needs and future. There is a dedicated children’s service that offers support to children using the service and to their mothers through a key working system. The children’s service engages in training and awareness sessions with schools, other professionals and with group work for children in the community.The outreach service offers support and court accompaniment to women experiencing DVA in Galway city and county.

Key Areas:

Under the direction of the Solas Óg manager and Head of the domestic abuse service you will:

Playroom:

• Participate in the day to day running of the children’s service
• Ensuring that the facilities are friendly, warm, inviting and in good repair.
• Ensure that high standards of cleanliness and hygiene are maintained in the playroom .
• Knowledgeable of the regulations underpinning early years and afterschool service and your role within those regulations.
• Be part of the planning process for activities and group work in the setting and have an ability to implement and evaluate the plans.
• Manage the use of the facilities indoor and outdoor to facilitate residents, outreach clients and participants of groups.

Children’s service:

• Work from a trauma informed approach, understanding the unique needs of each child.
• In the event of a crisis admission to have a calm approach, as well as carrying out a needs assessment and have the ability to make decisions under stress.
• Be vigilant for the signs of physical and sexual abuse, as well as neglect, emotional or developmental delay. Report and record as per procedure.
• Participate in a flexible and effective roster which will include days, evenings and weekends.
• Assist mothers with everyday practical tasks as required.
• Work closely with the wider service team in relation to supporting each family.
• Participate in appropriate training events
• Ensure that data is collected to populate statistics, for the purpose of applying for grants and annual report information.

Health and Safety

Employees are obliged to:

• Take reasonable care for their own safety, health and welfare, and that of others who may be affected by their actions or omissions.
• Co-operate with their employer in relation to compliance with statutory requirements under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, 1989.2005
• Use protective equipment, clothing or other means for securing safety, health and welfare
• Respect protective clothing and equipment provided for securing the safety, health or welfare of persons arising out of work activities
• Report to management, without delay, any defects in the workplace, plant, equipment or systems of work, which may lead to danger.
• Ensure that you regularly review and proactively inform yourself of all health and safety and fire safety procedures on an ongoing basis.
• Be proactive in the area of self-care with regard to identifying any impacts of the work

  General

• Ensure that Health and Safety policy and procedures as per the COPE Galway Health and Safety Manual are fully adhered to.
• Ensure that Health and Safety procedures are understood by workers and residents, and are fully complied with.
• Liaise as appropriate in respect of the Health and Safety maintenance requirements of the service, meeting agreed response targets.
• Carry out Health and Safety duties specifically allocated to you.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The ideal candidate will have a proven interest and experience in the area of Domestic Violence and Abuse and will have worked in a similar type service

If you have experience in working with children experiencing difficulties relating to domestic abuse (minimum one year), a relevant qualification and a commitment to our mission, then we would like to hear from you.

Education:

• A 3 rd level qualification in Early Years, childcare or relevant qualification (Minimum requirement of Fetac Level 5)

  Experience:

• Experience of working with disadvantaged children and children experiencing problems within their families due to violence or abuse.
• Experience of working with children and young people who display challenging behaviors.
• Experience of supporting mothers who need guidance in relation to how best support their children developmentally and emotionally

Skills and Abilities:

• To be both flexible and adaptable in approach
• An ability to build positive relations with clients, colleagues, students, volunteers, and other professional agencies.
• An ability to act on one’s own initiative and make decisions, taking into account

views and opinions of colleagues, clients and other service providers

• An ability to be organised in one’s approach to work, to follow through with tasks

  and to maintain records.

• An ability to cope with potentiality abusive clients and situations.
• An ability to manage oneself in a stressful environment and to work effectively in crisis situations
• An ability to maintain and foster a positive outlook and approach
• Previous experience of working in the area of Violence against Women and Children
• Good working knowledge of Computers
• Training in Children’s First Guidelines

Key Terms

Contract: Fixed Term Contract

Pay: €20.32 per hour

Annual Leave: 8% of hours worked

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.

Point 1 on the COPE Galway Social Care Worker (with Qualifications) scale

Experience

A minimum of 1 years’ experience of working with disadvantaged children and children experiencing problems within their families due to violence or abuse