Family Support Worker (Part-Time)

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: Family Support Worker (Part-Time)
Department : Parent & Infant Unit
Applications considered Via:
Application Form Only – Please note CV’s alone will not be accepted (Download Application Form)

Application form available on our website – careers section, at: https://childhood-matters.ie/

Applications to be sent by post to HR Dept, Childhood Matters, Blackrock, Cork, T12CRA0

Or email to hr@childhood-matters.ie

Opening date for Applications : 28th August, 2026
Closing Date for Applications : 7th September, 2026 @12 noon
Proposed Interview date(s): TBD
Location of Post: Childhood Matters, Blackrock

Purpose of Role:
The Parent and Infant Unit is a residential support and assessment service for parents with infant children. While living on the unit, parents take part in a parenting assessment while also engaging in a programme of therapeutic support and key working tailored to meet their individual needs. The Social Care team provides assistance, developmental guidance and monitoring to each of the families though their residential bespoke placement.

Reporting Relationship:
The Family Support Worker will report to the Parent & Infant Unit Manager

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Actively participate in team meetings (minimum one monthly).

• 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 clients

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

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

• 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 skillset in niche area of service provision within Irish context though ongoing professional development and reflective supervision

• Cleaning duties

Health & Safety

• Comply with and contribute to the development of policies, procedures, guidelines and safe professional practice and adhere to relevant legislation, regulations and standards.

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:

• Minimum of NFQ Level 5 qualification social care, social science, Early Years, psychotherapy, Counselling, Psychology or equivalent is required.

• A full, clean driving license is desirable.

Person Requirement:
The successful candidates will be compassionate, empathetic individuals with an appreciation of self-care and team-working.

Tenure:
The current vacancy available is a Permanent, Part-Time post

Details of Services:

• 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 (EPOS) 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:
€18.87 Per hour plus premia payments for night/weekend shifts

Working Week:
Hours are a mix of day and night shifts, and are eight-hour shifts (7am-3.30pm; 3pm-11.30pm and 11pm-7.30am) on rolling roster to include weekend work) and flexibility to undertake additional hours when reasonably required. Working hours are: 24 hours per week

Annual Leave:
The annual leave associated with the post is: 15 days

Probation:
A 6-Month Probation Period applies to this post

Additional Benefits:

• Defined contribution pension scheme.

• Enhanced maternity and paternity benefit

• Additional Annual leave days

• Comprehensive annual CPD schedule

• Financial support for further education

• Staff parking