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Child, Youth and Families Outreach Worker

Child, Youth and Families Outreach Worker

COPE GalwayGalway, County Galway, IE
7 days ago
Job type
  • Quick Apply
Job description

Job Title : Child, Youth and Family Outreach Worker

Reporting to : Manager, Family Services (Direct Line Manager) and Manager, Family Hub

Date of Issue : July 2025

The Role

The post of Child, Youth and Family Outreach Worker involves working directly with families experiencing homelessness across Galway City and Galway County in liaison with the COPE Galway Families and Family Hub teams.

COPE Galway has received grant funding to run a project called 'Helping Kids First'. In partnership with each child and their parents, individualised child centred support plans, based on the identified needs of each child are developed. Each support plan focuses on child-led actions that can be taken while in homeless services, to ensure essential developmental goals including nutrition, physical activity and learning and education are met. Teenagers living in homeless accommodation face unique challenges, particularly in regards to mental health and this project also aims to link teenagers to targeted support.

Parenting life skills development plans are also be created to help parents support their children, covering topics including healthy eating, regular routines, school attendance, managing challenging childhood behaviours and age appropriate development games and activities.

Our Values, Our Work, Our People

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 retraumatising 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 Practice, First Aid Responder, 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 Child, Youth and Families Outreach Worker is responsible to the Family Services Manager. Their (not exhaustive) key duties are to :

Client work

  • In partnership with each child and their parents, develop an individualised child centred support plan based on the individualised identified needs of each child
  • Support children and young people in bed and breakfasts by running homework clubs, breakfast clubs and other programs that support identified needs
  • Ensure that all clients are treated respectfully in a welcoming and friendly environment; that they are listened to and are kept at the centre of service provision
  • Work with families on an in-reach basis in their emergency and / or transitional accommodation and in their own homes across both Galway City and Galway County areas
  • Encourage, empower and support parents and children
  • Work in partnership with families, promoting self -advocacy and when necessary advocate on their behalf
  • Accompany families to appointments and meetings where applicable

Administration

  • Develop a resource library for Family Services covering early years development, best practice working with young people and a list of children and young people's services available within Galway City and Council
  • Strengthen and develop programs at the Family Hub in conjunction with the service's team to engage with children and young people
  • Be the central contact on early years services and working with young people within Family Services
  • Work closely with the team to ensure the service is child and youth friendly
  • Build strong networks within the early years sector and youth work sector in Galway
  • Ensure the KPIs of the Funding agreement are achieved
  • Carry out all administrative and financial procedures in accordance with organisation policies
  • Contribute to the preparation of reports, statistics and other information that may be required

    • Meetings / Interagency / Communication

  • In conjunction with the Manager, develop, foster and maintain positive professional relationships with other relevant services and agencies
  • Attend and actively participate at project, organisational training and interagency meetings including case discussions, reviews and team meetings
  • Ensure that confidentiality is maintained in accordance with the relevant COPE Galway Policies and Procedures and agreed information sharing protocols

    • Health and Safety

  • Adhere to and implement the COPE Galway Health and Safety Statement and all related policies and procedures
  • Familiarise yourself with the safety features of the office premises including the fire alarm system, fire safety equipment and the panic alarm system
  • Make every effort at all times to ensure your own personal safety and the safety of other staff and clients
  • Highlight issues or concerns pertaining to Health and Safety in a timely and appropriate manner

    • General

  • Adhere to the COPE Galway Child Protection Policy and Procedures and the Children First Guidelines
  • Undertake specific roles within the project as required and within the wider organisation
  • Participate in regular supervision and appraisals with your line manager and actively assist in identifying your own job related training needs
  • Ensure compliance with organisational and project policies and procedures to ensure consistent professional delivery of services and the maintenance of quality standards
  • Ensure that clients are consulted and involved in the operation of the project to the greatest extent that is compatible with clients wishes keeping in mind the nature of the project
  • Contribute actively to the development of the service, its review and evaluation and keep updated on best practice in the areas of family support work, homelessness and tenancy support
  • Be client focussed whilst working within the ethos of COPE Galway
  • Undertake any other duties commensurate with the role

    • This Job Description is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities that may be required and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of the Project.

    PERSON SPECIFICATION

    The ideal candidate will have a proven record and interest in working with families, and will have the energy and motivation to drive this project forward. They will work in a collaborative trauma informed manner with families, recognising their resilience, skills and experience and at all times valuing their voice and affording choice.

    Essential Requirements

    Education

  • A level 7 degree in Social Care or in Child, Youth and Community Studies

    • Experience

  • A minimum of two years' experience of working with children and families
  • Experience of one-to-one work with children / families with complex needs
  • Experience of working with children and child welfare
  • Experience of advocating for clients with local services and supports
  • Experience of interagency work

    • Knowledge

  • An understanding of why people become homeless and the related health, welfare and support needs they have
  • A knowledge of best practice in children and family support
  • An understanding of a broad range of issues including mental health, addictions, childcare needs, relationship and family breakdown, poverty and social exclusion
  • A working knowledge of the social welfare system and the housing assessments and application process
  • IT - competent in the operation of Word, Excel, Internet / e-mail and databases
  • Own transport and a full driver's licence

    • Core competencies :

  • Ability to engage well with clients, individuals, agencies and stakeholders as required in the achievement of desired outcomes
  • Ability to operate effectively as part of a staff team and to act on instructions or directions provided
  • Ability to understand each child's individual situation and to anticipate their needs and proactively seek to meet them
  • Innovative in finding new ways to engage with children and families
  • Negotiate skilfully in difficult situations and identify the key issues
  • Act confidently and select the appropriate approach to supporting clients through behaviours that challenge
  • Support clients to self-advocate and enable and support them to decide the outcomes they want to achieve
  • Remains optimistic and resilient with a strong work ethic, while facing challenges
  • Shows initiative and find solutions when reviewing and managing support plans
  • Encourages and supports families to progress toward independent living
  • Engages in work practices which promote independence, improved quality of life and well-being for clients
  • Works on own initiative and plans, organises and prioritises work to meet challenging situations

    • Key Terms and conditions :

    Hours of Work : 37 hours per week Monday to Friday office hours ordinarily. Some evening hours will be required to facilitate homework clubs / activities and may require occasional weekend hours.

    Contract : 1 Year Fixed Term Contract

    Salary : Starting salary of €36,392

    Method of Pay : Monthly by credit transfer

    Annual Leave : 24 days pro rata

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    Worker • Galway, County Galway, IE