Recruitment Information Pack
ROLE: Social Care Worker, Estuary Way.
1.0 WTE 8 Posts Available 24/7 Roster
Job Title
Social Care Worker (1.0 WTE)
Department
Estuary Way
Applications considered Via
Application Form Only – Please note CV’s alone will not be accepted
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 [email protected]
Opening date for Applications
14th July 2026
Closing Date for Applications
14th August, 2026 at 9am
Proposed Interview date(s)
Interviews dates to be decided
may be subject to change based on volume of candidates and availability of Service resources
Location of Post
Childhood Matters, Estuary Way, Mahon.
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 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.
Details of Service
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 (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.
· Estuary Way: A new trauma-informed supported accommodation service providing integrated housing and wraparound supports for young adults transitioning to independent living.
· Child Court Advocate: Independent advocacy and court accompaniment service supporting children and young people to navigate legal proceedings in a safe, child-centered, and trauma-informed manner.
Purpose of Role:
- To provide direct, relationship-based support to residents within a 24/7 staffed, trauma-informed and psychologically informed environment, supporting each young person to build the skills, stability and confidence to move to independent living.
- Key Duties and Responsibilities
Reporting Relationship
Deputy Manager, Estuary Way
Duties and Responsibilities
- Provide key working to a designated caseload, maintaining standardised case files (induction, licence, support agreement, support plan, key work, rent, education/development, move-on, personal information).
- Deliver practical 'hurdle help' — supporting residents with appointments, routines, budgeting, cooking, tenancy skills and engagement with services.
- Implement individual support plans and contribute to their review; record progress accurately.
- Support residents' participation in education, training, employment and evening/weekend activities.
- Respond to incidents calmly and safely in line with policy, including de-escalation and restorative approaches.
- Work the 24/7 roster, including waking nights/sleepovers as assigned; complete handovers and daily logs.
- Build positive, boundaried relationships with residents consistent with trauma-informed and PIE principles.
- Contribute to a safe, welcoming campus environment and to communal activities, including those developed through the Working Assets Initiative.
- Undertake such other duties as may reasonably be assigned, consistent with the grade and purpose of the post. This job description will be reviewed during the pilot phase as the service develops.
Eligibility Criteria Qualifications
Applicants must by the closing date of application have the following:
· Experience in child protection/welfare, aftercare, homelessness or adult safeguarding.
· Strong knowledge of relevant legislation and policy, including the Child Care Acts, aftercare provisions and the Revised Protocol on Young People Leaving State Care.
· Excellent assessment, report writing and interagency skills.
Person Requirement
· Direct experience of aftercare planning or homeless services.
· Experience of court work.
Tenure
The current vacancy available is a permanent, Whole-Time post 1.0
Remuneration
Social Care Worker, HSE Consolidated Payscale
Working Week
Working hours are: 36 and flexibility to undertake additional hours when reasonably required.
Annual Leave
The annual leave associated with the whole time equivalent (37.5 hours per week) of this post is: 25 days pro rata
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
Benefits:
- Bike to work scheme
- Company pension
- Employee assistance program
- On-site parking
- Private dental insurance
- Private medical insurance
- Sick pay
Ability to commute/relocate:
- Cork, County Cork: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Education:
- Advanced/Higher Certificate (preferred)
Language:
Licence/Certification:
- CORU Registration (required)
Work authorisation:
Work Location: In person
