Information & Advice Project Worker, Dublin
Location: Barnardos Parental Advocacy and Information Service
Contract: Part time (19 hours) and Fixed term contract to December 2026
Salary: €16,893 - €26,111 Depending on Experience (This is the pro rata salary for 19 hours)
Why work at Barnardos?
At Barnardos we seek to ensure that we have the best people working with us to support our work with children and families. The benefits of working with Barnardos are designed to promote continual professional development and a work-life balance for the most rewarding working experience.
· Barnardos offers a competitive salary – recognising the experience you bring to the role
· Generous annual leave entitlements
· Positive working environment with family friendly ethos and work - life balance policy
· Tax saver travel and bike to work schemes in operation
· Employee Pension scheme with employer contribution
· Training and Development
· Health and Wellbeing initiatives including Employee Assistance programme
Parental Advocacy and Information Service
A national advocacy and information service for parents of children in care of the state is being piloted to run up to 2027 with robust evaluation built in to the pilot process.
The purpose of the Information & Advice Worker roleis to provide information support and communications for parents of children in care. The aim is to produce accessible, user-friendly information. The key to the success of this is ensuring that parents will know and understand processes, and what may occur, in order to enable them to navigate the systems effectively. The information and advice officer will support parents through the operation of the Freephone and delivering workshops and webinars to parents and key stakeholders. They will work with the content developer in order to develop key resources for parents.
Job purpose
Barnardos is seeking an enthusiastic Information and Advice Project Worker to provide accessible, user-friendly information and resources for parents whose children are involved in the legal or Tusla care system. This includes information on their rights, on the care process, and information on the services available to them and how they can access them. The key to success of this aspect of the service is to ensure parents know and understand what’s happening, to enable them to navigate the systems effectively.
Personal attributes
- Excellent communication skills, (written and verbal) with the ability to communicate to a broad and diverse range of parents.
- Ability to communicate complex structures and systems in simple and accessible manner - to synthesise data and produce accessible reports.
- IT/technical systems skills for communications and presentations software.
- Ability to act on own initiative and consult where appropriate.
- Problem-solving: Can recognise problems, interpret situations and information, offer solutions, make informed decisions, solve problems and resolve conflict effectively.
- Being innovative and adaptable with change.
- Prioritisation skills for competing demands, working under pressure and decision-making in consultation with the line manager when appropriate.
- Flexibility and adaptability in terms of tasks and time is essential for this post.
Experience
- A minimum of 2 years’ experience of working with families /parents and or children/families who have come into contact with the child protection system,
- Knowledge of current policies and legislation affecting children (e.g. Childcare Act, Children’s Act, Children First, UN Convention of the Rights of the Child, National Children’s Strategy, Agenda for Children’s Services).
- Knowledge of TUSLA, High Court, District Court, Family and Child Care Law, legal systems and working methods.
- An understanding of and a desire to promote diversity and inclusion.
- Experience of working co-operatively with other agencies.
- Ability to design and deliver workshops various to audiences and to co-ordinate events in collaboration with Communications teams and other departments.
- Building and maintains effective working relationships promoting a culture of involvement and consultation, working in collaboration with others encouraging a partnership-based approach.
- Ability to form objective relationships with parents, colleagues and other agencies.
A full driving licence and use of a suitably insured vehicle is required.
Qualifications
- A recognised third level practice qualification[1] (minimum Level 7 on the NFQ) in one of the following: Social Care/ Social Work/Youth Work/Psychology/ Human rights / law or similar
Barnardos is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all.
For full job description and to apply please visit Current Job Vacancies – Barnardos
Closing date: 12 noon on 28th November 2023
Interview date: To be confirmed