Project Worker, Extension Youth Service
Location: George's Hill, Dublin 7
Contract: Full-time, 1 Year Fixed-Term Contract
(Starting Salary €36,687 - €39,856)
The Extension Service is a Youth Drop-In Centre and is often the first point of contact homeless young people make when accessing homeless services. We aim to provide a stable place for young people and provide them with basic essentials like food, shower and laundry and to be a ‘place of change’ while also engaging young people to create a pathway out of homelessness as quickly as possible.

What you will do:
To work within the framework of the overall objectives of Focus Ireland
To work within the overall policies and procedures of Focus Ireland, inclusive of Health and Safety Policy and ensure their implementation
To provide a safe, welcoming environment for young people aged 16-26 that are out of home/or at risk, including the provision of basic physical care and support within the day service.
To establish trusting relationships especially with young people who are living on the streets or in temporary accommodation and who are unattached or out-of-home and engage them in work that enables them to move to a more stable lifestyle
To develop methods, structures and relationships to support the young person with their individual housing, welfare rights and entitlements and to access move on accommodation.
To facilitate group work that is both educative and fun.
To work as part of a multi-disciplinary team and service.
To provide Advice, Information and Guidance as a prevention or in response to being out of home.
To develop and maintain professional links with other agencies and services that may offer services to young people. Assisting in the coordination of services for the young people
To be responsible for keeping up to date casework records, daily logs and written assessments. Inputting information on the Focus Ireland Database.
To assist with practical tasks essential for the running of the project
To attend Team, Section, Agency and external agency’s meetings and training as required
To meet regularly for supervision of work with your assigned supervisor
To work a flexible rota to include evenings and weekends to meet the objectives of the service.
In conjunction with your Line Manager continuously develop the role to ensure that all tasks are being undertaken in an effective and appropriate manner to meet the strategic aims and objectives of the Focus Ireland.
In consultation, to undertake any other responsibilities and duties as may be reasonably assigned by the Project Leader, Manager or Director of Services.

What you will need:
A Third Level qualification at degree level in the area of social care i.e. youth work, social studies, addiction, psychology etc.
Direct experience in the social care field working with disadvantaged young people.
A strong knowledge of issues affecting young people out-of-home and their impact on young people and their physical, emotional and psychological development.
Relevant experience of dealing with high risk and challenging behaviour.
Relevant experience of working in a team which shares a common goal.
Computer literate
Knowledge of the National Quality Standards Framework for Youth Work 2011. (Desirable)
An awareness of child protection issues and ways of responding appropriately to any concerns. (Desirable)

Focus Ireland is an equal opportunities employer.