Child and Youth Participation, Project Worker

General Information

 

Post:                            Child and Youth Participation Project Worker

Location:                      National CDVA Project – Remote working with Thurles base

Responsible to:           CDVA National Project Coordinator and project team.

Works with:                 Children and young people who have experienced domestic violence and abuse.

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Job Description

Post:	Child and Youth Participation, Project Worker
Location:	National Service – hybrid role, based at Thurles project /with remote working and national travel as required.
Responsible to:	CDVA National Project Coordinator and project team.
Works with:	Children and young people who have experienced domestic violence and abuse.

        

Job Purpose

The overall purpose of the Childhood Domestic Abuse Project is to assist in increasing the visibility of childhood domestic abuse; to support a collective and collaborative approach to identifying the needs of children; and to delivering effective services in response.  Specific requirements of the post are focused on the 5 main strands of the project, with specific focus on the Childrens participation strand.

• Provide Support
• Enhance Practice
• Gather Data
• Develop Model
• Facilitate Children’s Participation

Core Job Requirements

• To assist the work of the CDVA project in delivering on all aspects of the project across the 5 strands with particular emphasis on children’s participation.  
• To support the work of the CDVA project in raising awareness of the impact of gender based violence and abuse and its impact on children and young people.
• Identify issues/gaps emerging for children and young people who live with DVA which contributes to and supports current practice and identify collaborative responses.
• To facilitate children and young people to reflect on and give voice to their experiences, and advise on how to better respond to their needs in terms of prevention, early intervention, crisis and recovery.
• Upskill frontline service providers and senior stakeholders with views and experiences of children and young people in order to better respond.
• Keep children and young people’s views at the centre of all aspects of the role.
• To continuously assess risk in order to promote safety and well-being of children at all times.
• To identify and document to the line manager any unmet needs of children and young people within the service and make appropriate referrals where necessary.
• To work with and consult with children and young people in a variety of ways, including group work, individual work and family work both centre based and outreach work.
• To key work individual children and young people in order to meet their needs and to advocate on their behalf.
• To liaise effectively with families and other statutory, community and voluntary bodies and to attend and contribute to reviews and case conferences as required.
• Identify appropriate formats for consultation, information materials and developing the required workshop elements for the effective delivery of the child and youth participation.
• Provide the children and young people involved in participation work, with the necessary age appropriate information to participate fully.
• Facilitate adult services users to have their voice heard in meaningful ways, through parent participation, to order to work towards positive outcomes for children and young people who have lived with domestic violence and abuse.
• To be vigilant for signs of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, neglect and any concerns regarding the welfare of children. To record concerns promptly and accurately. To consult with the Designated Person and take appropriate action in accordance with Barnardos Child Protection policy
• To keep regular records in relation to all aspects of work and prepare reports as required. Ensure these records and files are maintained to a high standard and case records are accessible to Service Users, seeking permission from third parties as appropriate.
• To gather information statistics and prepare reports as required, including administration of databases as appropriate to the role.
• To develop and facilitate a culture of Service Users consultation and involvement in all aspects of the work.

Interagency Responsibilities:

• To liaise and develop collaborative working links with partner agencies that work with women and children who have lived with domestic violence and abuse.
• To raise awareness of domestic violence and abuse and its impact on children at relevant interagency platforms .
• To ensure effective communication within your area of responsibility.
• To represent Barnardos as appropriate at local/regional level.
• To maintain regular contact with relevant agencies to ensure best practice for children and families.

Requirements of all Barnardos staff

• Commitment to the purpose of Barnardos and to work within the values, policies and procedures of the organisation and in the context of current legislation and regulations.
• To participate in regular supervision with your line manager.
• To actively participate in team and staff meetings and service reviews/ evaluations and to contribute to the development of policy and practice with your area of work and within Barnardos as a whole.
• To report any area of concern to your line manager in a timely manner.
• To show reasonable flexibility in relation to hours of attendance to meet the needs of the work. Work during unsocial hours may be required.
• Have a flexible approach to the work in response to organisational change, development and review of best practice.
• Participate in and engage with a performance management programme.
• Identify training needs with your line manager and participate in training opportunities appropriate to the role.
• To be vigilant to any Health, Safety and Welfare risks in the workplace and bring any concerns to the attention of your line manager or local Health and Safety Officer.
• To be vigilant to any concerns regarding the protection and welfare of children and to bring them to the attention of the Barnardos Designated Person in a timely manner, in keeping with the Barnardos Child Protection policies.
• To participate in the efficient flow of information within the organisation by sharing and seeking information as appropriate.
• To undertake other duties as may be requested by the line manager from time to time.
• To undertake your work in a manner that is friendly, flexible and informal.

Note: This Job Description will be reviewed and updated in line with the needs of the work.

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Person Specification

Personal attributes

• Excellent communications and interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to the delivery of quality services to children, young people, families and carers.
• Ability to act on own initiative and consult where appropriate.
• Ability to work under pressure, make decisions in consultation with the line manager when appropriate.
• To be committed to adhering to best practice in the work and be innovative and open to change.
• Flexibility and adaptability in terms of tasks and time is essential for this post.
• Ability to form objective relationships with children, young people, families/carers, colleagues and other agencies.
• Teamwork required and the ability to work in collaboration with others..
• Ability to write clear reports as required.
• Ability to be child-centred and needs led.
• Ability to manage relationships internally and with external stakeholders relevant to your service.

Experience

• A minimum of 2 years’ post qualification experience of working with vulnerable children/young people and families.
• A thorough understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence and its impact on children.
• A good understanding of child development and responding to children across a range of development stages.
• Experience of delivering programmes to children in response to their experience of domestic violence desirable.
• Experience of child and youth participation work desirable.
• Experience of planning, implementing and reviewing programmes with children and/or families.
• Experience of gathering data and writing reports.

Qualifications

Relevant professional 3^rd level qualification (minimum Level 7 on the QQI) essential, for example:  Social Work, Social Care, Child Care, Education, Youth and Community Work, Psychology or equivalent. 

Full driving licence and use of a suitably insured vehicle essential

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