Social Care Worker – Maternity Leave Cover (4 Months)

Who we are:

Childhood Matters is a not-for-profit organisation aimed at improving developmental and life outcomes for children 0-18 years old. We also work directly with parents and foster carers to support and develop parenting in challenging contexts. As an organisation we strive to positive impact the wider professional network we operate within through external training, research and professional development opportunities.

We are committed to embedding an evidence-based culture of trauma-informed care and therapeutic practice and hold ourselves to high standards in all engagement with service users, colleagues and stakeholders alike. We are committed to research and evaluation and continually assess the effectiveness of our service through independent research and partnership with third level institutions. We strive to be a positive place to work, providing staff with reflective practice, regular supervision and a training budget.

With current offices and services in Blackrock, Blackpool, Clonakilty and Farranree we employ 130 staff across all departments. We offer competitive salary packages as well as benefits including enhanced maternity leave; pension contribution scheme; health care plans; flexible working hours; internal and externally provided training opportunities, and competitive annual leave entitlement.

Job Title: Social Care Worker – Mat Leave Cover – 4 months
Department: Parent & Infant Unit
Applications considered Via: Application Form Only – CV’s will not be accepted (Download Application Form)
Opening date for Applications: 8th October, 2026
Closing Date for Applications: 19th October, 2026 @ 5pm
Proposed Interview date(s): TBD
Location of Post: Blackrock

Reporting Relationship: Parent and Infant Unit Manager

Duties and Responsibilities:
Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Undertake individual key-working sessions with residential parents and infants to facilitate personal and parenting development using a relational model of working according to our service delivery model.

• Impart formal and informal feedback aimed to help parents adjust to parenthood and develop their parenting skills and emotional connection with their child(ren)

• Contribute to comprehensive MDT assessment reports within specified time frames

• Actively participate in team meetings (fortnightly) and formulation meetings (as required).

• Assume responsibility for progression of family’s placement in line with service delivery framework.

• Support, understand, and record parents’ ability to meet the emotional, physical and basic care needs of their children whilst working according to psychologically-informed care plans

• Work in partnership with our multidisciplinary team in the development and progression of individualised care plan for key clients

• Undertake assigned parenting development intervention to include group play, baby sensory work, parenting demonstration, psycho-education on developmental awareness/attachment/mentalizing capacity

• Take responsibility for assigned areas of operational procedures (e.g. fire safety, health and safety, stock and inventory, hygiene, aftercare etc)

• Work in partnership with the wider team in the context of understanding resident parents and infants supporting positive parenting at all times.

• To provide childcare for children whilst their parents/carers attend groups and individual sessions

• Contribute toward trauma informed working environment for both clients and colleagues

• Demonstrate commitment and enthusiasm to developing skillets in niche area of service provision within Irish context though ongoing professional development and reflective supervision

• Cleaning duties

The above Job Description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time.

Eligibility Criteria Qualifications:
Applicants must by the closing date of application have the following:

• A minimum level 7 qualification in social care, social science, Early Years, psychotherapy, Counselling, Psychology or equivalent is required.

• A clean full driving licence is desirable.

Tenure:
The current vacancy available is a 4 Month Fixed term, part-time post

Details of Services:
Childhood Matters is a not-for-profit organisation that provides child and family services aimed at supporting positive childhood outcomes, developing parenting capacity, strengthening family resilience, and contributing to healthier, more sustainable communities.

• Parent and Infant Unit: Nationwide parenting capacity-building and assessment residential service for complex parents and infant situations where distinct child protection concerns.

• CHIPPS: CHIPPS is a specialist attachment-focused, trauma-informed mental health service for children and young people in care.

• Young Parents Support Programme: The Young Parents Support Programme (YPSP for short) is the only targeted community-based support service for young parents in Ireland.

• The Limetree Project: Therapeutic community-based family support and family contact project, in partnership with South Lee & West Cork Social Work Department to include out of hours service.

• Supervised Contact: Contact Service provides structured supports and interventions for children who are in the care of TUSLA to have contact with their parents, siblings and other family members.

• Placement Support Project: This project is aimed at stabilizing at-risk foster placements, and supporting family reunification through intensive multidisciplinary support over a 10-week period, and the provision of a stability roadmap specifically tailored to the family. Emergency place of safety and Aftercare is incorporated into this project

• Crèche & Preschool: Award-winning Community Crèche and Childcare facility to include afterschool programme with a current capacity of 124 children.

• Secondary School: One Year Leaving Certificate programme in partnerships with Cork Education and Training Board, providing parents opportunity to advance education when using clinical family services

• Employment Support Service: Vocational training for long term unemployed individuals within therapeutic and trauma-informed environment.

Remuneration:
The Salary scale for the whole time equivalent of this post is:
Social Care Worker, Point 1

Aligned with the HSE Social Care Salary Scale June 2026

Candidates should note that entry will be at the minimum point of the scale and will not be subject to negotiation.

Working Week:
64 hours over two weeks – 24 one week and 40 hours the next; 8-hour shifts comprising of days/nights and to include weekend shifts

Annual Leave:
20 days per annum

Probation:
A probationary period of 6 months will apply