Odyssey Social Care are seeking experienced Social Care professionals to join our Residential Service for Separated Children Seeking International Protection. In your role you will act as the support and care worker to young people in the house, working towards achieving better outcomes for young people every day.

Overview:

The Social Care Leaders are responsible for taking a key role in the provision of a service aimed at meeting the needs of children and young people looked after by Odyssey Social Care.  The Social Care Leaders act as models for the rest of the Team in delivering childcare to the children being looked after in the house. While reporting to the Social Care Manager / Deputy Manager and following their direction in terms of the childcare, they contribute their experience and skills to creatively designing childcare packages which meet the needs of the children in the house.

The Social Care Leader acts as the team leader of the shift in which they are working.  Together the Social Care Leaders are members of the management team in the unit, working with the Social Care Manager and Deputy Manager to ensure that the young people living in the house are looked after safely, professionally and in a way which ensures they achieve their maximum potential, in line with Odyssey Social Cares’ mission and vision statement.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Contribute to an assessment and behaviour management plan for children and young people referred to the house, including developing and implementing Individual Crisis Management Plans (ICMP) and Placement Plans in line with Care Plans.
• Teach young people who are not engaged in school outside the house, in both 1:1, and groups, following the individual educational plans developed for each young person. Assist in the educational development of the young person.
• Help young people who are engaged in school to complete their homework, assignments, and any other requirements of their school attendance.
• Participate in planned and responsive residential care designed to help meet assessed needs as defined in the young person’s care and placement plans. Care for the young person following the plans developed for each young person from the Placement Plans. Model such care for other staff members.
• Document the progress of the young person involved using the systems developed by Odyssey Social Care.
• Liaise with supervisors, consultants, professionals, parents/ carers and referral agents as required.
• Ensure that each young person, and their parent/ carers if appropriate, receives the agreed quality and quantity inputs receives the agreed updates.
• Assist in conducting consumer evaluation of the House and receiving complaints and compliments regarding the services, with/ from children, young people, parents/ carers, communities and referral agents as required.
• Attend mandatory Company training time/ days.
• Attend training as defined by your individual training plan.
• Implement, and contribute to the amendment of all policies and procedures of the Organisation.
• Attend team meetings and contribute to the formation and implementation of policies and strategic planning of Odyssey Social Care as required, with a particular emphasis on the needs of the young people in our care.
• Implement the Health and Safety Policy and associated Risk Assessment processes for young people cared for in the house.
• Support relief staff and students working in the house.
• Contribute to the induction and ongoing training of all relief workers, trainees, support staff, and new staff.
• The Social Care Leader is a senior member of the team and acts as the team leader of the shift on which they are working.
• Ensure that the team members on his/her shift adhere and contribute to the amendment of all policies and procedures.
• Ensure regular contact with social workers parents or appropriate others as indicated.
• Be pro-active in bringing up and finding solutions to childcare issues in the team.
• Undertake all administrative functions necessary for the smooth running of the team functioning.
• Ensure that all files and client recordings are completed on you designated shift daily.
• Following the plans, lead the key working teams and ensure all relevant reports (including complaints, incidents, accidents, & monthly reports) are sent off to the referring Social Worker.
• Adhere to all financial management systems and make sure petty cash is reconciled and signed off at the end of each designated shift.
• Take part in the tasks which make the house a home, routinely cooking, cleaning (the house, grounds, vehicles, etc.) and carrying out basic repairs within the designated time scales and according to the routines of the house.
• Oversee student placements in the house.
• Report concerns about the childcare practice of individual staff members to the Unit Manager.
• Undertake the duties and designated responsibilities of the Unit Manager in their absence.
• Encourage “whistleblowing” in all staff, according to the whistleblowing policy, and receive reports from staff and managers as appropriate, acting upon them promptly and effectively.
• At all times maintain confidentiality regarding the children in our care, staffing matters, financial matters, and any other matters internal to the company.
• Always take responsibility for the wellbeing of the Company, putting it before personal, financial or other gain.
• Any other duties, within the competence of the post holder that may be required, reasonably, from time to time.
• To undertake evening, weekend overnight and shift work as necessary to ensure the smooth and efficient running of the house.

Essential Qualifications, Knowledge and Skills:

• A minimum Level 7 qualification in Social Care or a relevant and or related Qualification *
• Relevant alternative qualifications include: Psychology (Level 8), and Level 7 in Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy, Counselling / Psychotherapy, Addiction Counselling, Youth and Community Work, Social Sciences / Social Studies, Family Support, Disability Studies, Applied Behavioural Analysis, Early Years Care (U12 centres only), BA Applied Policing, Higher Certificate in Custodial Care, Teaching and Nursing.
• A full, clean, manual driving license, valid in Ireland.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Knowledge of the key elements of effective team working
• Knowledge of the Irish National Standards in Children’s Residential Centre’s.

Experience:

• Experience of working with teenagers with challenging behaviour.
• Experience of working in a team
• Experience of working in services within which Therapeutic Crisis Intervention is used.
• Minimum 2 years relevant post qualification experience which must include 2 years’ experience of working at social care grade with children/young persons.

If this sounds like the job for you, we’d love to hear from you!