Careers at
Childhood Matters

Details of Service: Childhood Matters provides professional, multidisciplinary mental health and social care services to children on the edge of care as well as children in care and their carers. The proposed role will involve a mix of clinic based and community working within a multidisciplinary context.

Reporting Relationship: Clinical reporting relationship to Service Manager.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

The Systemic Family Therapist will:

Clinical

• Be responsible for the delivery of Family Therapy services appropriate to working with children involved with Tusla
• Work within limits of professional competence in line with principles of best practice professional conduct and clinical governance.
• Conduct assessments and individual families who are clients of the service
• Establish appropriate Family Therapy contracts with clients
• Maintain assigned clinical caseload.
• Ensure clinical practice is fully compliant with Children First Legislation
• Carry out psycho-educational and mental health promotion activities as appropriate.
• Inform facilitate and refer clients as appropriate in accessing healthcare and support services
• Inform clients about legal and psycho-social implications of attending the Family Therapy Service.
• Promptly bring clinical governance issues such as risk, child protection etc. to the attention of management
• Participate in clinical administration duties as required
• Work as a member of an Multidisciplinary Team
• Provide case management supervision if required
• To liaise with other health, social care and community based services to advocate for service user needs to be met within their care plan.
• Prepare reports as required
• Engage in clinical audit, quality initiatives and service research and evaluation
• Provide a Family Therapy service across the geographical work area as required.
• Foster an understanding of the role and contribution of family therapy by providing professional consultation, education, guidance and support to others as appropriate
• Communicate effectively and work in co-operation with other team members and agencies to ensure Multidisciplinary Team service provision

Contribute to, promote and safeguard the good reputation of the service

• Attend meetings/case-conferences as required
• Participate in service related working groups/sub-groups as required
• Work in an ethical and professional manner at all times
• Promote a culture that values equality, diversity and respect in the workplace
• To Support the multidisciplinary assessment of individuals and families when required.
• To support the growth of a systemic perspective within the agency
• To adhere to the protocols and procedures established for the Family Therapy Service
• To attend, as and when required at designated centres of the service
• To obtain regular supervision of work undertaken from a registered systemic supervisor.

Administrative

• Maintain appropriate client records, databases and statistics
• Ensure practice is fully compliant with the requirements of The Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Acts and other relevant legislation
• Provide statistical returns and additional data as required to support the effective administration and evaluation of the service
• Maintain compliance with statutory registration requirements and/or ongoing accreditation requirements of professional bodies
• Actively participate in development and continuing improvement initiatives of the service in liaison with the service manager / relevant others
• Contribute to policy development, performance monitoring, business proposals and service planning in conjunction with the service manager/relevant others
• Contribute to the development and implementation of information sharing protocols, audit systems, referral pathways and integrated care arrangements.
• Assist in ensuring that the service makes the most efficient and effective use of developments in Information and Communications Technology
• Keep up to date with organisational developments within Childhood Matters
• To support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.

Management and Leadership

• To participate when appropriate in an area of special clinical interest, clinical group of relevance to the service.
• Initiate and participate in evaluating systemic approaches within particular areas of the service, so that the effects go beyond individual cases and improves the effective running of the service for service users and families
• To facilitate the training of trainee Systemic Family Therapy students and trainees from other disciplines.
• To participate in the formulation and implementation of clinical and operational practices and procedures as appropriate.

Education & Training

• Engage in regular case-management and managerial supervision with designated Clinical Supervisor
• Actively participate in peer supervision with Family Therapy colleagues as appropriate
• Attend mandatory training programmes
• Take responsibility for being informed of advances in professional knowledge and practice
• Participate in continuous professional development initiatives

To perform other duties, appropriate to the office, as may be assigned.

The above Job Specification 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 and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Eligibility Criteria

Qualifications and/ or experience

1. Professional Qualifications, Experience ETC

Candidates must, on the latest date for receiving completed applications forms for the office:

1. Possess a 3rd level qualification, or equivalent, in a relevant field
   AND
2. Hold a post graduate qualification in Systemic Family Therapy recognised by the Family Therapy Association of Ireland, or its equivalent body.
   AND
3. Be registered with the Family Therapy Association of Ireland (FTAI). Registration requires four years post graduate training and post qualification and post qualification supervised clinical practice.
   AND
4. Candidates must possess the requisite knowledge and ability, including a high standard of suitability for the proper discharge of the office

Other requirements specific to the post

Have full clean driving licence.

Skills, competencies and/or knowledge

• Demonstrate sufficient professional / clinical knowledge to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role
• Demonstrate an ability to apply knowledge to best practice
• Demonstrate competence in delivering a professional service
• Demonstrate the ability to evaluate information and make effective decisions
• Demonstrate a commitment to providing a quality service
• Demonstrate initiative and innovation in the delivery of service
• Demonstrate the ability to plan and deliver Family Therapy in an effective and resourceful manner
• Demonstrate the ability to manage self in a busy working environment
• Demonstrate resilience and composure
• Display effective interpersonal skills including the ability to collaborate with colleagues, etc.
• Display dignity and respect at all times in dealing with family/clients
• Demonstrate effective team skills
• Demonstrate flexibility and openness to change
• Demonstrate ability to utilise supervision effectively
• Demonstrate a willingness to develop Information and Communications Technology skills relevant to the role
• Demonstrate commitment to continuing professional development
• Demonstrate an awareness of the organisation of Childhood Matters

Protection for Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998

As this post is one of those designated under the Protection for Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998, appointment to this post appoints one as a designated officer in accordance with Section 2 of the Act. You will remain a designated officer for the duration of your appointment to your current post or for the duration of your appointment to such other post as is included in the categories specified in the Ministerial Direction. You will receive full information on your responsibilities under the Act on appointment.

Mandated Person Children First Act 2015

As a mandated person under the Children First Act 2015 you will have a legal obligation:

• To report child protection concerns at or above a defined threshold to TUSLA.
• To assist Tusla, if requested, in assessing a concern which has been the subject of a mandated report.

You will remain a mandated person for the duration of your appointment to your current post or for the duration of your appointment to such other post as is included in the categories specified in the Ministerial Direction. You will receive full information on your responsibilities under the Act on appointment.

Please send a cover letter and CV to hr@childhood-matters.ie by 4pm on 9th January 2024.

For further information, or to discuss the post, please contact hr@childhood-matters.ie

Job Description:

Childhood Matters is recruiting a Social Care Worker to work across our child in care clinical services and strengthen our multidisciplinary team.

The successful candidate will be a member of Childhood Matters, providing high quality, trauma informed child and family support while working on a multidisciplinary team. They will work within a therapeutic framework, and be highly self-reflective and able to model this with the foster carers/children/parents/staff they are working with.

Childhood Matters has a combination of site-based and home-based services. Interventions are attachment-focussed and incorporate dyadic and systemic ways of working with the child, carers and team around them, drawing on models such as Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP); Theraplay; Mentalisation-Based Treatment (MBT) approaches, Sensory Attachment Intervention (SAI), Therapeutic Life Story Work (TLSW), among others. Our Multidisciplinary Team is currently comprised of clinical psychologists, assistant psychologists, a play therapist, child art psychotherapist and specialist occupational therapist and social care staff.

Successful candidates will take a key role in contributing to MDT discussions of each referred child’s needs as well as those of the system around them. They will liaise with partner agencies to endeavour to achieve positive outcomes for children in care and their carers, working to build/restore placement stability and enhance key relationships in the child’s family/support network.

The role will include offering specialist training and consultation to colleagues and the wider team/system around the child, such as social workers, teachers, foster carers, and residential and support workers supporting children in care.

Childhood Matters is a trauma-informed and equal-opportunity employer. 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.

The successful candidates will be expected to:

• Work as a member of the multi-disciplinary therapy team, providing high quality support to children in care and their families/carers as well as offering support and guidance to the system around the child via telephone or video conference, email, consultation, professionals’ meetings, attending and participating in statutory Child in Care Reviews etc.
• Support the care of children where their living arrangements are at high risk of breakdown.
• Working directly with children in need and their families in the community in order to assess and develop the potential of parents/carers and children to remain safely united and prevent children coming into care.
• Supporting the reunification of children with their family in the community.
• Implementing both an intensive service to families in crisis and planned interventions as part of agreed plans for children and their carers.
• Be responsible for holding and managing a caseload and exercise autonomous professional responsibility (where appropriate) for the planning and prioritising of own workload within the bounds of the service’s operational policies
• Promote the team’s trauma-informed and trauma-responsive ethos, supporting colleagues and other departments within the organisation as well as referred children/carers/networks
• Contribute to developing and maintaining equality of opportunity in working practices by complying with legislation and organisational policies. Advise colleagues about equality, diversity and human rights policies and procedures and ensure they are followed
• Facilitate support groups and learning opportunities for foster carers along with clinician colleagues
• Providing good quality, thorough and analytical recording of observational information.
• To maintain personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the job, work within their code of professional ethics and participate in appropriate professional supervision and training activities.

Person Specification

Role Requirements 

To apply please submit your CV and Cover Letter to hr@childhood-matters.ie before 12pm on Tuesday 8th August 2023

For further information, or to discuss the post, please contact hr@childhood-matters.ie

Job Description:

Childhood Matters are recruiting an Occupational Therapist to work across our child in care clinical services and strengthen our multidisciplinary team.

The successful candidate will be a member of Childhood Matters, providing high quality, trauma informed child and family support while working as part  on a multidisciplinary team. They will be able to work within a therapeutic framework, and be highly self-reflective and able to model this with the foster carers/children/parents/staff they are working with.

Childhood Matters has a combination of site-based and home-based services. Interventions are attachment-focussed and incorporate dyadic and systemic ways of working with the child, carers and team around them, drawing on models such as Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP); Theraplay; Mentalisation-Based Treatment (MBT) approaches, Sensory Attachment Intervention (SAI), Therapeutic Life Story Work (TLSW), among others.

Our Multidisciplinary Team is currently comprised of clinical psychologists, assistant psychologists, social care workers, a play therapist, child art psychotherapist and specialist occupational therapist and social care staff.

Successful candidates will take a key role in contributing to MDT discussions of each referred child’s needs as well as those of the system around them, formulating the presenting difficulties and considering appropriate intervention.

Childhood Matters is a trauma-informed and equal-opportunity employer. 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.

The successful candidates will be expected to:

• Work as a member of the multi-disciplinary therapy team, providing high quality therapeutic input to children in care and their families/carers as well as offering support and guidance to the system around the child via telephone or video conference, email, consultation, professionals’ meetings, attending and participating in statutory Child in Care Reviews etc.
• Support and promote empirically-based practice within the team through engaging in consultation, supervision, formulation and training /education
• Be responsible for holding and managing a clinical caseload in consultation with service coordinator and exercise autonomous professional responsibility (where appropriate) for the planning and prioritising of own workload within the bounds of the service’s operational policies
• Promote the team’s trauma-informed and trauma-responsive ethos, supporting colleagues and other departments within the organisation as well as referred children/carers/networks
• Contribute to developing and maintaining equality of opportunity in working practices by complying with legislation and organisational policies. Advise colleagues about equality, diversity and human rights policies and procedures and ensure they are followed
• Facilitate support groups and learning opportunities for foster carers, families and children along with clinician colleagues

Person Specification

Role Requirements 

To apply please submit your CV and Cover Letter to hr@childhood-matters.ie before 12pm on Tuesday 8th August 2023

For further information, or to discuss the post, please contact hr@childhood-matters.ie

Job Description:

Childhood Matters are recruiting a Clinical/Educational/Counselling Psychologist (staff grade) to work across our child in care clinical services and strengthen our multidisciplinary team.

The successful candidate will be a member of Childhood Matters, providing high quality, trauma informed child and family assessment and support services while working on a multidisciplinary team. They will be naturally curious about, and able to work within a therapeutic framework, and be highly self-reflective and able to model this with the foster carers/children/parents/staff they are working with.

Childhood Matters has a combination of site-based and home-based services. Interventions are attachment-focussed and incorporate dyadic and systemic ways of working with the child, carers and team around them, drawing on models such as Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP); Theraplay; Mentalisation-Based Treatment (MBT) approaches, Sensory Attachment Intervention (SAI), Therapeutic Life Story Work (TLSW), among others. Our Multidisciplinary Team is currently comprised of clinical psychologists, assistant psychologists, a play therapist, child art psychotherapist and specialist occupational therapist and social care staff.

Successful candidates will take a key role in contributing to MDT discussions of each referred child’s needs as well as those of the system around them, formulating the presenting difficulties and considering appropriate intervention. Clinicians joining the team will provide both direct and indirect therapeutic input. They will liaise with partner agencies to endeavour to achieve positive outcomes for children in care and their carers, working to build/restore placement stability and enhance key relationships in the child’s family/support network.

The role will include offering specialist training and consultation to colleagues and the wider team/system around the child, such as social workers, teachers, foster carers, and residential and support workers supporting children in care. We are committed to embedding an evidence-based culture of trauma-informed care and therapeutic practice and therefore keen to continually assess the effectiveness of our service. All clinicians are asked to complete routine outcome measures and carefully consider the effect(s) of their interventions in collaboration with the MDT.

Childhood Matters is a trauma-informed and equal-opportunity employer. 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.

The successful candidates will be expected to:

• Work as a member of the multi-disciplinary therapy team, providing high quality therapeutic input to children in care and their families/carers as well as offering support and guidance to the system around the child via telephone or video conference, email, consultation, professionals’ meetings, attending and participating in statutory Child in Care Reviews etc.
• Support and promote empirically-based practice within the team through engaging in consultation, supervision, formulation and training /education
• Be responsible for holding and managing a clinical caseload and exercise autonomous professional responsibility (where appropriate) for the planning and prioritising of own workload and the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients within the bounds of the service’s operational policies
• Compile comprehensive assessment and treatment reports and any other reports as required relating to the children and carers to whom they are offering input
• Promote the team’s trauma-informed and trauma-responsive ethos, supporting colleagues and other departments within the organisation as well as referred children/carers/networks
• Contribute to developing and maintaining equality of opportunity in working practices by complying with legislation and organisational policies. Advise colleagues about equality, diversity and human rights policies and procedures and ensure they are followed
• Facilitate support groups and learning opportunities for foster carers
• Providing good quality, thorough and analytical recording and reports.
• To maintain personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the job, work within their code of professional ethics and participate in appropriate professional supervision and training activities.
• Work as part of a team of family members, staff and service providers to evaluate safety and identify interventions that can reduce risks to children.
• Assess the risk of future abuse or neglect of children in the family and make recommendations for future welfare and safety of children and parents.
• To provide high quality appropriate assessments, formulations and interventions, communicating in a skilled and sensitive manner with the clients, clinical team and family support/residential workers at Childhood Matters and referring agents.
• Write court ready reports and testify in family court and other legal proceedings as necessary.
• To deliver a psychologically-informed service model to children and families with complex emotional, social and psychological problems and managing these within the context of multidisciplinary working.
• To carry out assessments and risk management of individual clients presenting with a behavioural profile which may include substance abuse, personality disorder, mental health related issues, self-harm and/or risk of harm to others alongside multidisciplinary team
• To provide general advice and assist the management team in identifying, developing and delivering training for the staff and other professionals on aspects of risk assessment, management and care.

Person Specification

Role Requirements 

Qualifications:

• Doctorate in Clinical/Counselling/Educational Psychology

Experience:

• Experience of providing therapeutic input to children is essential
• Experience of working with children in a therapeutic context with existing knowledge of care planning, behaviour management psychoeducation and basic counselling skills

Reporting Relationships 

Reporting is directly to the Senior Psychologist/Clinical Lead. 

This job description indicates the main functions and responsibilities of the post and is subject to review and amendment in the light of service developments and changing circumstances and may include other duties and responsibilities as may be determined from time to time by Childhood Matters in discussion with the post holder.

To apply please submit your CV and Cover Letter to hr@childhood-matters.ie before 12pm on Tuesday 8th August 2023

For further information, or to discuss the post, please contact hr@childhood-matters.ie

Job Description:

Childhood Matters are recruiting a Therapeutic Social Worker to work across clinical services and strengthen our multidisciplinary team. This post is suitable to an experienced social worker, Guardian Ad Litem, or relevant qualified professional with similar experience and goodness-of-fit to service.

The successful candidate will be a member of Childhood Matters, providing high quality, trauma informed child and family assessment and support services while working on a multidisciplinary team. They will be naturally curious about, and able to work within a therapeutic framework, and be highly self-reflective and able to model this with the foster carers/children/parents/staff they are working with. Childhood Matters has a combination of site-based and home-based services and the may involve travel and unsociable hours. Interventions are attachment-focussed and incorporate dyadic and systemic ways of working with the child, carers and team around them, drawing on models such as Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP); Theraplay; Mentalisation-Based Treatment (MBT) approaches, Sensory Attachment Intervention (SAI), Therapeutic Life Story Work (TLSW), among others. Our Multidisciplinary Team is currently comprised of clinical psychologists, assistant psychologists, a play therapist, child art psychotherapist and specialist occupational therapist and social care staff.

Successful candidates will take a key role in contributing to MDT discussions of each referred child’s needs as well as those of the system around them, formulating the presenting difficulties and considering appropriate intervention. Clinicians joining the team will provide both direct and indirect therapeutic input. They will liaise with partner agencies to endeavour to achieve positive outcomes for children in care and their carers, working to build/restore placement stability and enhance key relationships in the child’s family/support network.

The role will include offering specialist training and consultation to colleagues and the wider team/system around the child, such as social workers, teachers, foster carers, and residential and support workers supporting children in care. We are committed to embedding an evidence-based culture of trauma-informed care and therapeutic practice and therefore keen to continually assess the effectiveness of our service. All clinicians are asked to complete routine outcome measures and carefully consider the effect(s) of their interventions in collaboration with the MDT.

Childhood Matters is a trauma-informed and equal-opportunity employer. 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.

The successful candidates will be expected to:

• Work as a member of the multi-disciplinary therapy team, providing high quality therapeutic input to children in care and their families/carers as well as offering support and guidance to the system around the child via telephone or video conference, email, consultation, professionals’ meetings, attending and participating in statutory Child in Care Reviews etc.
• Support and promote empirically-based practice within the team through engaging in consultation, supervision, formulation and training /education
• Be responsible for holding and managing a clinical caseload and exercise autonomous professional responsibility (where appropriate) for the planning and prioritising of own workload and the assessment, treatment and discharge of clients within the bounds of the service’s operational policies
• Compile comprehensive assessment and treatment reports and any other reports as required relating to the children and carers to whom they are offering input
• Promote the team’s trauma-informed and trauma-responsive ethos, supporting colleagues and other departments within the organisation as well as referred children/carers/networks
• Contribute to developing and maintaining equality of opportunity in working practices by complying with legislation and organisational policies. Advise colleagues about equality, diversity and human rights policies and procedures and ensure they are followed
• Facilitate support groups and learning opportunities for foster carers
• Providing good quality, thorough and analytical recording and reports.
• To maintain personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the job, work within their code of professional ethics and participate in appropriate professional supervision and training activities.
• Work as part of a team of family members, staff and service providers to evaluate safety and identify interventions that can reduce risks to children.
• Assess the risk of future abuse or neglect of children in the family and make recommendations for future welfare and safety of children and parents.
• To provide high quality appropriate assessments, formulations and interventions, communicating in a skilled and sensitive manner with the clients, clinical team and family support/residential workers at Childhood Matters and referring agents.
• Write court ready reports and testify in family court and other legal proceedings as necessary.
• To deliver a psychologically-informed service model to children and families with complex emotional, social and psychological problems and managing these within the context of multidisciplinary working.
• To carry out assessments and risk management of individual clients presenting with a behavioural profile which may include substance abuse, personality disorder, mental health related issues, self-harm and/or risk of harm to others alongside multidisciplinary team
• To provide general advice and assist the management team in identifying, developing and delivering training for the staff and other professionals on aspects of risk assessment, management and care.

Person Specification

Role Requirements 

Qualifications:

• CORU registered (Social Worker)

Experience:

• Minimum two years’ experience in a social work role
• Experience of providing therapeutic input to children who have experienced developmental trauma is essential
• Experience of working with children in a therapeutic context with existing knowledge of care planning, behaviour management psychoeducation and basic counselling skills

Reporting Relationships 

The successful candidate will work in close cooperation with the various teams in Childhood Matters. Reporting is directly to the Senior Psychologist/Clinical Lead while maintaining a professional relationship with the Service Managers and CEO. 

This job description indicates the main functions and responsibilities of the post and is subject to review and amendment in the light of service developments and changing circumstances and may include other duties and responsibilities as may be determined from time to time by Bessborough Centre Management in discussion with the post holder.

To apply please submit two copies of your CV and covering letter to:

HR Department, Childhood Matters, Blackrock, Cork

Job Title:

Social Care Worker

Closing date is:

Deadline Closed

Location:

Cork City and surrounds

Salary:

Aligned to the HSE Consolidated Pay Scales March 2023

Hours:

Fulltime: 3 x 12 hour shifts weekly (plus one-hour team meeting every fortnight)

Responsible to:

Child and Family Services Manager

Childhood Matters is based in Blackrock, Cork City. We are a trauma-informed and equal opportunity employer. We offer a competitive salary package as well as benefits to include enhanced maternity leave, pension contribution scheme, flexible working hours, healthcare contribution scheme as well as regular internal and externally provided training opportunities.

We are hiring for a dedicated residential-based support service that works with children in care as part of a wider team to support all aspects of daily living, while providing a safe and secure base from which they can grow and develop within trusting and safe adult care. Each successful candidate will be part of a dedicated care team based in Cork City or surrounds.

ROLE SPECIFICATION AND DUTIES

The successful candidate will:

· Treat clients and their families with dignity and respect, promoting a culture of unconditional positive regard and trauma-informed care at all times

· Contribute to the promotion, creation and maintenance of a welcoming, safe, caring, stable and therapeutic environment

· Implement care plans, ensuring the written and verbal reporting of general needs and individual concerns of the client’s well-being

· Work in partnership with other agencies on behalf of the child/young person

· Ensure the primary care needs of the client are met

· Promote the rights and responsibilities of the client within the community

· Promote the physical, emotional, social, cultural and ethnic welfare of the client

· Undertake various aspects of home management including household hygiene, upkeep etc

· Arrange and actively engage in age-appropriate education, play and other activities with the client

· Ensure that the care of the client both on and off-site is risk assessed

· Supervise children/young people during contact sessions and outings within the community

· Provide verbal and written feedback on the progress of the client as required

· Accept any responsibilities in relation to children/young people as agreed within the team and undertake individual and group work with these young people

· Ensure that the client is not subjected to any forms of abuse and in particular, to ensure that they are not subject to bullying or the threat of bullying.

· Work as part of a dynamic team to ensure best outcomes for clients and staff

· Participate in working within a team-centred consistent approach

· Practice and engage at all times with a trauma-informed ethos

· Implement shift plans and ensure consistency and follow through on interventions between shifts

· Engage in mandatory training and continuous professional development

 

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Criteria (Essential)

Qualifications

· Level 7 (or above) qualification in social care

Experience

· Experience of working with children is essential

Skills and Knowledge

· Team player

· Great interpersonal skills

· Computer literacy

· Full clean driving licence

To apply:

Please submit a cover letter and CV by 19/07/ 2024 to hr@childhood-matters.ie. Early applications may be interviewed ahead of deadline date

Job Title:

Social Care Worker

Closing date is:

Deadline Closed

Location:

Cork City and surrounds

Salary:

Aligned to the HSE Consolidated Pay Scales March 2023

Hours:

Relief Position

Responsible to:

Child and Family Services Manager

Childhood Matters is based in Blackrock, Cork City. We are a trauma-informed and equal opportunity employer. We offer a competitive salary package as well as benefits to include enhanced maternity leave, pension contribution scheme, flexible working hours, healthcare contribution scheme as well as regular internal and externally provided training opportunities.

We are hiring for a dedicated residential-based support service that works with children in care as part of a wider team to support all aspects of daily living, while providing a safe and secure base from which they can grow and develop within trusting and safe adult care. Each successful candidate will be part of a dedicated care team based in Cork City or surrounds.

ROLE SPECIFICATION AND DUTIES

The successful candidate will:

· Treat clients and their families with dignity and respect, promoting a culture of unconditional positive regard and trauma-informed care at all times

· Contribute to the promotion, creation and maintenance of a welcoming, safe, caring, stable and therapeutic environment

· Implement care plans, ensuring the written and verbal reporting of general needs and individual concerns of the client’s well-being

· Work in partnership with other agencies on behalf of the child/young person

· Ensure the primary care needs of the client are met

· Promote the rights and responsibilities of the client within the community

· Promote the physical, emotional, social, cultural and ethnic welfare of the client

· Undertake various aspects of home management including household hygiene, upkeep etc

· Arrange and actively engage in age-appropriate education, play and other activities with the client

· Ensure that the care of the client both on and off-site is risk assessed

· Supervise children/young people during contact sessions and outings within the community

· Provide verbal and written feedback on the progress of the client as required

· Accept any responsibilities in relation to children/young people as agreed within the team and undertake individual and group work with these young people

· Ensure that the client is not subjected to any forms of abuse and in particular, to ensure that they are not subject to bullying or the threat of bullying.

· Work as part of a dynamic team to ensure best outcomes for clients and staff

· Participate in working within a team-centred consistent approach

· Practice and engage at all times with a trauma-informed ethos

· Implement shift plans and ensure consistency and follow through on interventions between shifts

· Engage in mandatory training and continuous professional development

 

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Criteria (Essential)

Qualifications

· Level 7 (or above) qualification in social care

Experience

· Experience of working with children is essential

Skills and Knowledge

· Team player

· Great interpersonal skills

· Computer literacy

· Full clean driving licence

To apply:

Please submit a cover letter and CV by 19/07/ 2024 to hr@childhood-matters.ie. Early applications may be interviewed ahead of deadline date.

Job Title:

SYSTEMIC FAMILY THERAPIST
(HSE Grade Code Equivalent 3959)

Closing date is:

Deadline Closed

Location:

You will be employed with Childhood Matters. The post is predominantly based in Blackrock, Cork City but may include travel across the county.

Hours:

Relief Position

Responsible to:

Clinical reporting relationship to Service Manager.

Details of Service
Childhood Matters provides professional, multidisciplinary mental health and social care services to children on the edge of care as well as children in care and their carers. The proposed role will involve a mix of clinic based and community working within a multidisciplinary context.

Reporting Relationship Clinical reporting relationship to Service Manager.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

The Systemic Family Therapist will:

Clinical

• Be responsible for the delivery of Family Therapy services appropriate to working with children involved with Tusla
• Work within limits of professional competence in line with principles of best practice professional conduct and clinical governance.
• Conduct assessments and individual families who are  clients of the service
• Establish appropriate Family Therapy contracts with clients
• Maintain assigned clinical caseload.
• Ensure clinical practice is fully compliant with Children First Legislation
• Carry out psycho-educational and mental health promotion activities as appropriate.
• Inform  facilitate and refer clients as appropriate in accessing  healthcare and support services
• Inform clients about legal and psycho-social implications of attending the Family Therapy Service.
• Promptly bring clinical governance issues such as risk, child protection etc. to the attention of management
• Participate in clinical administration duties as required
• Work as a member of an Multidisciplinary Team
• Provide case management supervision if required
• To liaise with other health, social care and community based services to advocate for service user needs to be met within their care plan.
• Prepare reports as required
• Engage in clinical audit, quality initiatives and service research and evaluation
• Provide a Family Therapy service across the geographical work area as required.
• Foster an understanding of the role and contribution of family therapy by providing professional consultation, education, guidance and support to others as appropriate
• Communicate effectively and work in co-operation with other team members and agencies to ensure Multidisciplinary Team service provision
Contribute to, promote and safeguard the good reputation of the service
• Attend meetings/case-conferences as required
• Participate in service related working groups/sub-groups as required
• Work in an ethical and professional manner at all times
• Promote a culture that values equality, diversity and respect in the workplace
• To Support the multidisciplinary assessment of individuals and families when required.
• To support the growth of a systemic perspective within the agency
• To adhere to the protocols and procedures established for the Family Therapy Service
• To attend, as and when required at designated centres of the service
• To obtain regular supervision of work undertaken from a registered systemic supervisor.

Administrative

• Maintain appropriate client records, databases and statistics
• Ensure practice is fully compliant with the requirements of The Freedom of Information Act, Data Protection Acts and other relevant legislation
• Provide statistical returns and additional data as required to support  the effective administration and evaluation of the service
• Maintain  compliance with statutory registration requirements and/or ongoing accreditation requirements of professional bodies
• Actively participate in development and continuing improvement initiatives of the service in liaison with the service manager / relevant others
• Contribute to policy development, performance monitoring, business proposals and service planning in conjunction with the service manager/relevant others
• Contribute to the development and implementation of information sharing protocols, audit systems, referral pathways and integrated care arrangements.
• Assist in ensuring that the service makes the most efficient and effective use of developments in Information and Communications Technology
• Keep up to date with organisational developments within Childhood Matters
• To support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.

Management and Leadership

• To participate when appropriate in an area of special clinical interest, clinical group of relevance to the service.
• Initiate and participate in evaluating systemic approaches within particular areas of the service, so that the effects go beyond individual cases and improves the effective running of the service for service users and families
• To facilitate the training of trainee Systemic Family Therapy students and trainees from other disciplines.
• To participate in the formulation and implementation of clinical and operational practices and procedures as appropriate.

Education & Training

• Engage in regular case-management and managerial supervision with designated Clinical Supervisor
• Actively participate in peer supervision with Family Therapy colleagues as appropriate
• Attend mandatory training programmes
• Take responsibility for being informed of advances in professional knowledge and practice
• Participate in continuous professional development initiatives

To perform other duties, appropriate to the office, as may be assigned.

The above Job Specification 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 and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Eligibility Criteria

Qualifications and/ or experience

1. Professional Qualifications, Experience ETC
Candidates must, on the latest date for receiving completed applications forms for the office:

(a) Possess a 3rd level qualification, or equivalent, in a relevant field
AND
(b) Hold a post graduate qualification in Systemic Family Therapy recognised by the Family Therapy Association of Ireland, or its equivalent body.
AND
(c) Be registered with the Family Therapy Association of Ireland (FTAI). Registration requires four years post graduate training and post qualification and post qualification supervised clinical practice.
AND
(d) Candidates must possess the requisite knowledge and ability, including a high standard of suitability for the proper discharge of the office

Other requirements specific to the post

Have full clean driving licence.

Skills, competencies and/or knowledge

• Demonstrate sufficient professional / clinical knowledge to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role
• Demonstrate an ability to apply knowledge to best practice
• Demonstrate competence in delivering a professional service
• Demonstrate the ability to evaluate information and make effective decisions
• Demonstrate a commitment to providing a quality service
• Demonstrate initiative and innovation in the delivery of service
• Demonstrate the ability to plan and deliver Family Therapy in an effective and resourceful manner
• Demonstrate the ability to manage self in a busy working environment
• Demonstrate resilience and composure
• Display effective interpersonal skills including the ability to collaborate with colleagues, etc.
• Display dignity and respect at all times in dealing with family/clients
• Demonstrate effective team skills
• Demonstrate flexibility and openness to change
• Demonstrate ability to utilise supervision effectively
• Demonstrate a willingness to develop Information and Communications Technology skills relevant to the role
• Demonstrate commitment to continuing professional development
• Demonstrate an awareness of the organisation of Childhood Matters

Protection for Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998

As this post is one of those designated under the Protection for Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998, appointment to this post appoints one as a designated officer in accordance with Section 2 of the Act.  You will remain a designated officer for the duration of your appointment to your current post or for the duration of your appointment to such other post as is included in the categories specified in the Ministerial Direction. You will receive full information on your responsibilities under the Act on appointment.

Mandated Person Children First Act 2015
As a mandated person under the Children First Act 2015 you will have a legal obligation:
• To report child protection concerns at or above a defined threshold to TUSLA.
• To assist Tusla, if requested, in assessing a concern which has been the subject of a mandated report.
You will remain a mandated person for the duration of your appointment to your current post or for the duration of your appointment to such other post as is included in the categories specified in the Ministerial Direction.  You will receive full information on your responsibilities under the Act on appointment.

To Apply

Please send a cover letter and CV to hr@childhood-matters.ie by 5pm on 10th of July 2024.