Project Co-ordinator - Thurles

General Information

What does the Thurles Child and Family Centre do?

The project aims to help children and families achieve their full potential by working with parents to enable them to provide a safe, nurturing environment for their children and by working directly with children. Work is undertaken in a variety of settings including the Project base and in families own homes.

This is achieved by:

• Developing specific plans with families that meet their individual needs and which strengthen child/parent relationships.
• Devising a range of services that seek to engage families in a non-stigmatising way and promote their integration into the wider community.
• Evaluating approaches adopted with families to assess their impact and to ensure resources are used cost-effectively.

What will the Project Co-ordinator do?    

The Project Co-ordinator is responsible for the management of the Targeted Early Intervention Service which accommodates 33 children daily in 3 separate groups.

The children attend Monday to Thursday. The programme uses the Highscope and Tus Maith curriculums and is a Siolta level 4 accredited service.

Duties will include:

• Case Management
• Supervision and line management of staff working in this programme
• Ensuring Compliance with all regulations governing the delivery of a child care service.
• Liaising with Pobal
• Managing service Budgets
• Providing cover as required in the Early Years service

Where we work:

The postholder is based at Barnardos Centre in Thurles, Co- Tipperary.

Who do we work with?

Children and families in the catchment area of the Thurles Primary Care team.

 

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Job Description

Post:	Project Co-ordinator
Location:	Thurles Child and Family service
Responsible to:	Project Leader, Thurles
Works with:	Thurles Team, other staff and external agencies

 

Job Purpose

To ensure the co-ordination, delivery and development of Barnardos services within a defined area of service responsibility which is the Thurles Targeted Early Intervention Service. 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 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 fora 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 is accessible and available and is adhered to and any health and safety concerns are dealt with effectively and efficiently.
• To contribute to the overall development of 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 data base 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 this Post

• Case Management
• Supervision and line management of staff working in the Thurles Targeted Early Intervention Programme
• Ensuring Compliance with all regulations governing the delivery of a child care service.
• Liaising with Pobal.
• Managing Budgets for the service
• Providing cover as required in the rooms with the children and cover in the project Leader’s absence.
• All administrative duties relevant to the post.

 

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 Health & 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 communication 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 demand.
• 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-centred and needs led.
• Ability to manage relationships internally and with external stakeholders relevant to your service.

 

Experience

A minimum of 3 years post qualification experience and demonstrate management capacity essential. Experience of a lead or supervisory role highly desirable.

 

Qualifications

Relevant professional 3^rd level qualification essential, for example:  Early Childhood Care and Education, 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 a suitably insured vehicle

Please Note:

• The postholder is initially assigned to work in the Thurles service but may be required in the future to work in other locations in the area in line with organisational needs.

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