Odyssey Social Care are seeking energetic Social Care Workers to join our residential care team (under 12’s service) based Fermoy Co. Cork. 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:

As the Social Care Worker, you will act as the support and care worker to young people referred to the house. Your responsibilities will involve contributing to an assessment of needs, thereafter, implementing aspects of Placement, Behaviour Support (BSP), and Individual Crisis Management (ICMP) Plans, that will help meet assessed needs. You will use the Odyssey Model of Care to teach new skills to young people and manage challenging behaviour.

You will undertake appropriate actions to connect the young person with local resources, will network with local providers and will liaise closely with parents/ carers, and referral agencies. This post will involve evening, weekend and residential shift working arrangements.  

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 Behaviour Support Plans (BSP), 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.  
• 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 BSP, Daily Plans and the ICMP developed for each young person from the Placement Plan.  
• 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.  
• 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 the policies and procedures of Odyssey Social Care.  
• Attend team meetings and contribute to the formation and implementation of policies and strategic planning of Odyssey Social Care as required.  
• Implement the Health and Safety Policy and associated Risk Assessment processes for young people cared for in the house and for the environment inside and outside the house.  
• Support relief staff and trainees working in the House.  
• Contribute to the induction and ongoing training of all relief workers, trainees, support staff, and new staff.  
• Based on your capabilities, additional Shift-leading Duties may be assigned by the Social Care Manager, to a designated Social Care Worker, on each shift.  
• Be pro-active in developing team cohesion with the creation of a positive atmosphere and contribute to team building exercises that build team confidence and morale. 
• Undertake all administrative functions necessary for the smooth running of the team functioning.  
• Ensure that all files and client recordings are completed during your designated shift daily. 
• Following the MDSP, send all relevant reports (including complaints, incidents, accidents, & monthly reports) 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. 
• In the absence of a Social Care Leader, undertake the duties and designated responsibilities of the Social Care Leader in their absence. 
• Make use of and encourage “whistleblowing”, according to the whistleblowing policy.  
• 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 postholder that may be required, reasonably, from time to time. 

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 Centers  
• Experience of working with teenagers with challenging behaviour. 

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