Social Worker – Safety and Welfare Team

Allied Health/Nursing; Drogheda; On-site; EUR 60,000 - 68,000; Full time

Job summary

Allied Health/Nursing in Drogheda seeks a Social Worker to join the Safety & Welfare Team. You will assess referrals, work directly with children and families, manage a caseload, and develop interventions to address welfare and protection needs.

The role emphasizes child-centred, strengths-based practice and collaboration with multiple agencies. The post holder will contribute to safeguarding planning, ensure children’s voices guide decisions, and work within relevant legislation and Tusla

Qualifications

• Hold a recognised professional qualification in Social Work.
• Be registered, or eligible for registration, with CORU.
• Demonstrate knowledge of child protection and welfare practice, relevant legislation and statutory responsibilities.
• Have the ability to undertake assessments, identify risks and develop appropriate intervention plans.
• Demonstrate effective communication, report-writing and interpersonal skills.
• Have the ability to manage a caseload and work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Receive and assess referrals concerning children’s safety and welfare.
• Undertake comprehensive assessments of children’s needs, family circumstances, parenting capacity, risks and protective factors.
• Undertake direct work with children and families to address identified concerns.
• Develop, implement and review appropriate safety, welfare and intervention plans.
• Monitor progress and elevate concerns where child protection intervention may be required.
• Participate in case conferences, strategy discussions and safety planning meetings as required.
• Coordinate referrals and interventions to ensure children and families receive appropriate support.

Skills

Social work skills

Assessment skills

Communication skills

Caseload management

Education

Bachelor/Master of Social Work

Job description

Social Worker – Safety and Welfare Team

The Social Worker will work as part of the Safety & Welfare Team to promote the safety, welfare and development of children and young people.

The role involves assessing referrals and concerns, undertaking direct work with children and families, managing an allocated caseload and developing appropriate interventions to address identified welfare and protection needs.

The post holder will adopt a child-centred, strengths-based and relationship-based approach, ensuring that children’s wishes, feelings and best interests inform all assessment, planning and decision-making. This role is based in Drogheda.

Responsibilities of Social Worker – Safety and Welfare Team

• Receive and assess referrals concerning children’s safety and welfare.
• Undertake comprehensive assessments of children’s needs, family circumstances, parenting capacity, risks and protective factors.
• Undertake direct work with children and families to address identified concerns.
• Develop, implement and review appropriate safety, welfare and intervention plans.
• Monitor progress and elevate concerns where child protection intervention may be required.

• Respond appropriately to concerns relating to abuse, neglect and harm.
• Ensure children’s voices, wishes and feelings are central to assessment and decision‑making.
• Identify and assess the impact of issues such as domestic violence, parental substance misuse, mental health difficulties and neglect.
• Participate in case conferences, strategy discussions and safety planning meetings as required.
• Apply relevant legislation, national guidance and Tusla policies and procedures.

• Manage an allocated caseload and prioritise work according to identified need and risk.
• Maintain accurate case records and complete assessments, reports and reviews within required timeframes.
• Participate in supervision, case consultations and team meetings.

• Work collaboratively with An Garda Síochána, schools, health services, family support services and other relevant agencies.
• Coordinate referrals and interventions to ensure children and families receive appropriate support.

Requirements of Social Worker – Safety and Welfare Team

• Hold a recognised professional qualification in Social Work.
• Be registered, or eligible for registration, with CORU in accordance with recruitment requirements.
• Demonstrate knowledge of child protection and welfare practice, relevant legislation and statutory responsibilities.
• Have the ability to undertake assessments, identify risks and develop appropriate intervention plans.
• Demonstrate effective communication, report‑writing and interpersonal skills.
• Have the ability to manage a caseload and work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.