TLC Kidz Project Co-ordinator - Thurles

North Tipperary based in Thurles

General Information

The TLC Kidz Project is a community coordinated response for children and mothers living with domestic violence and abuse. The TLC Kidz Project seeks to create a common vision and shared responsibility among services in supporting children who have experienced domestic abuse

The TLC Kidz Project was established to raise awareness of the impact of domestic violence on children, to provide a coordinated inter-agency response, to upskill professionals and to support children in their recovery.

At the core of this project, is an evidence-informed 12-week, psycho-educational, group programme is for children (aged 5 - 18 years) and their mothers recovering from domestic abuse. Child and mother groups run concurrently.

The TLC Kidz Co-Ordinator will work to support the parent/child relationship to improve outcomes for children across different aspects of their lives, including relationships and attachments, living situation, etc. We focus on improving parenting skills and child/parent relationships in order to ensure children are equipped with skills and supports to be safe, process life events, manage their living situation and reach their full potential.

The Project Co-Ordinator’s focus will be building relationships with families and other agencies to support a community change process, characterised by a needs-based and outcomes focused child-centered approach.

Barnardos’ mission is to deliver services and work with families, communities, and partners to transform the lives of vulnerable children who affected by adverse childhood experiences such as abuse, parental mental health, neglect, separation, bereavement & addiction.

Barnardos’ vision is where every child can reach their full potential - because childhood lasts a lifetime.

Please note: Applicants must complete our application form below and submit it through our website before the closing date.

Attaching a CV alone will result in the applicant not being considered for shortlisting

Job Description

Post:	Childhood Domestic Abuse & TLC Kids Project Co-ordinator
Location:	Thurles, Co Tipperary
Responsible to:	Project Leader, Thurles
Works with:	Project Leader, Assistant Director, TLC Kidz Steering Group, TLC Kidz Forum, Service users and External Organisations

Job Purpose

To ensure the co-ordination, delivery and development of Barnardos services within a defined area of service responsibility. Ensuring consistency with the aims and objectives of Barnardos and contribute to the development of the Region and the Organisation.

Core Job Requirements

Responsible for the management, development and delivery of Barnardos work with children and families within your area of responsibility.
To ensure effective referral, assessment, planning and review processes are in place to meet the needs of children and families participating in the service.
To ensure quality and best standards are adhered to in all aspects of the work.
To undertake the duties of Designated Person for the project under the Children First National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children.
To ensure that protection and welfare of children is a primary concern of all staff and that, when child protection issues arise, Barnardos policies and procedures are fully adhered to.
To maintain appropriate relationships with external agencies in order to ensure that the needs of children and families are met in an integrated and co-ordinated manner.
To ensure that the protection and welfare of children is a primary concern of all staff and that, when child protection issues arise, Barnardos policies and procedures are fully adhered to.
To ensure all staff, students and volunteers receive regular and professional supervision, appraisal and training needs are identified and addressed to ensure learning is promoted within your area of responsibility.
To identify the need for service development to meet the needs of children and families within the catchments area.
To ensure that the service operates in a cohesive way within the region and organisation and to contribute to service development within the organisation.
To participate at regional management level and to contribute to other appropriate groups which develop strategies and policies within the organisation.
To ensure that legislation and statutory guidelines, organisational policy and corporate plan are fully implemented within your area of responsibility.
To ensure that Barnardos policies and procedures are fully implemented within the area of responsibility of the post.
To ensure programmes are planned, delivered and evaluated in response to the needs of children and families attending the service.
Identify the needs of children and families attending the service that are not being met, and to advocate at an individual, service and organisational level for them to be met.
To represent Barnardos as appropriate at local level.
To ensure effective communication within your area of responsibility.
To propose a budget for the service, participate in budget planning and manage an approved budget for the service in line with Barnardos financial procedures.
To identify funding opportunities and prepare proposals in consultation with the Assistant Director of Children’s Services/ Project Leader as appropriate.
To prepare reports on the work as required.
To ensure all case, financial and administrative 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 ensure an up to date Health and Safety Statement and local relevant Risk Assessments are accessible and displayed for strict adherence; any health and safety concerns are to be dealt with efficiently and effectively.
To contribute to the overall development of prevailing good practice within the organisation.
To maintain regular contact with referrers and other relevant agencies to ensure an integrated response to the needs of children and families.
To ensure the service participates in case conferences and other meetings in relation to the welfare of children and families.
To ensure the information for the database is gathered and imputed within the required time scale.
To develop and facilitate a culture of service users consultation and involvement in all aspects of the work

Requirements specific to the post

To raise awareness of domestic violence and abuse and its impact on children particularly in the North Tipperary Area
To support agencies to develop a shared responsibility for the issue of domestic violence and abuse in the area; and develop/support a community mechanism to enable this
To increase capacity of organisations and service providers to identify and respond to domestic violence and abuse and its impact on children
To link children and their families with an appropriate response/service to meet their needs with regard to their experience of domestic abuse as required; including linking children and their families with specialist domestic abuse services as needed and/or with family support for a holistic response to their needs as needed (Meitheal, Family Support, Youth Work)
To co-ordinate all aspects of the TLC Kidz Programme including:
- Ensuring referrals, and overseeing assessments and access to the programme for eligible children and mothers.
- Recruitment, training and support of an ongoing pool of facilitators from different partner organisations
- Providing supervision guidance and support to the facilitators to ensure consistent high quality delivery of the programme.
- Working directly with children and mothers both in the group-work programme and in individual work as required.
- Ensuring high quality record keeping, monitoring and evaluation of the programme.
- Participation in the delivery of the programme, as required.
- Providing update reports to steering group with regard to the progress of the work.
- Ensuring that post-programme support needs are identified and appropriate referrals made within the local community mechanism as required.

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.

Person Specification

Personal attributes

Excellent communications and interpersonal skills
Ability to manage in a dynamic and busy environment
Teamwork required and the ability to work in collaboration with others
Ability to prioritise competing demands
Flexibility and adaptability in terms of tasks and time is essential for this post
Ability to manage the staff team in a constructive way, ensuring that a high level of service provision is delivered
Ability to manage the complexity and diversity within your service
Ability to write clear reports as required
Demonstrate an understanding of the Management role
Ability to be child-centered and needs-led
Ability to manage relationships both internally and with external stakeholders as relevant to your service

Experience

A thorough understanding of the dynamics of domestic violence and abuse
A minimum of 3 years’ post-qualification experience, which includes experience of working with children and families who are living with domestic violence and abuse
Demonstrable management capacity

Desirable

Experience of working in a lead or supervisory role

Qualifications

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

Full driving licence and access to the use of suitably insured vehicle essential

The post-holder is initially assigned to work as part of Barnardos Thurles service, but may be required in the future to work in other locations in line with organisational needs.

Application Procedure

Applicants must complete this application form and submit it through our website before the closing date.

Applicants may also attach a CV or other supplementary information in respect of our application.

Attaching a CV alone will result in the applicant not being considered for shortlisting.

Shortlisting will apply

Candidates who are moved to the 2nd stage of our Recruitment process are required to complete a medical questionnaire and the E-Vetting process. References will be taken up at this stage.

Barnardos Application Form July 2022 (301.5 kB)

Download