Homeless Services - Support Worker

The Role

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 engagement with COPE Galway Homeless Services and ensuring the smooth and safe operation of the service to which they are assigned. Our homeless services operate on a 24 / 7 basic 365 days a year. Scheduled shifts are predominantly daytime hours although night hours may also be required, depending on the needs of the service.

Current vacant assignments are :

COPE Galway Day Centre :

2 Fixed Term Full Time Contract 37 hours

1 Fixed Term Part Time Contract 18.5 hours

COPE Galway Corrib Haven Family Hub :

1 Permanent Full Time Contract 37 hours

Our Values, Our Work, Our People

COPE Galway  is a charity that has been providing social services in Galway since the 1970s.   Our homeless services offer people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness a range of residential and non-residential supports. Our team works tirelessly to find individualised creative solutions. Ours is a learning organisation where we seek to innovate in line with evidence based best practise. We embrace strengths-based approaches, harm reduction, trauma informed care and rights-based service provision.

Our Vision  is a community where every person is valued, cared for, and supported at every stage of life. We work to achieve this by providing essential supports for people at challenging times in their lives, and by advocating for systemic change to remove the root causes of inequity and disadvantage that constrain the wellbeing and development of individuals, families and communities.

Our Mission  is to make a difference by empowering people, creating change and strengthening communities. We understand, respect and respond to the needs of our clients who are always at the forefront of our work.

COPE Galway is committed to becoming a  Trauma Informed   Organisation  through an implementation plan that includes training for all team members across all roles and departments. Trauma Informed Practice (TIP) aims to support us to recognise trauma and to react and respond to it in ways that minimise triggering and retraumatizing people, so that we continue to provide the best possible services to those who need us most. TIP also encourages us to focus on our organisational culture and how we each interact with one another to create psychologically safe environments for clients, volunteers and staff. It encourages us to reflect on our own triggers and responses and considers personal and organisational responses to staff wellbeing to ensure that our people are supported to deliver the best services they possibly can to those who need them most.

Everything we do is guided by the  COPE Galway Approach  to help us achieve our vision of a community where every person is valued, cared for and supported at every stage of life.

This assets-based and person-centred approach recognises that each person has attributes and strengths that can make positive differences in their own lives. We achieve results for the people we work with because of our Approach. The COPE Galway Approach is built on :

• Understanding  - Deep listening, storytelling, learning, developing, openness, connections.
• Respect  - Valuing the whole person, empowering, trusting, believing in the potential of others, drawing on strengths and abilities.
• Response -  Quality, professionalism, making an impact, challenging ourselves, continuous improvement.

Strong human relationships form the basis for the COPE Galway Approach. These relationships are established on how we understand and respect those we work with and how we respond so that we positively impact people's lives.

Our Team  is supported by regular support and supervision and access to our Employee Assistance Programme. Our people receive a wide variety of on-the-job training, with core training including Trauma Informed Care, First Aid, MAPA (Management of Actual and Potential Aggression), Overdose Response and Naloxone Administration and additional trainings including Values Workshops, Diversity Workshops and Harm Reduction Workshops.

Duties and Responsibilities

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

To ensure the day-to-day 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 always maintained and adhere to COPE Galway Safety Statement and related policies and procedures

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

To contribute to the fostering of positive relations with the local community and 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 always adhere 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

Contract Period : Fixed term / Permanent (see above)

Salary : Starting salary of €31,990 pro rata on a 9-point salary scale

Method of Pay : Monthly by credit transfer

Annual Leave : 24 days per annum pro rata

Person Specification

The ideal candidate will have :

One year's experience of working with homeless people and / or other vulnerable or marginalized groups or a recognised third level qualification in social care or a related field or

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

Competent I.T. skills

Strong Interpersonal and teamwork skills

A receptiveness to feedback from clients and colleagues

Good conflict resolution skills

A practical common-sense approach

An ability to prevent and respond appropriately to challenging behaviour

An openness to change