Children's Support Worker
ONE-TO-ONE SUPPORT
CHILDCARE
ACTIVITIES
GROUPWORK
REFUGE & HELPLINE SUPPORT
Role at a Glance
A full clean Irish driving licence and access to your own vehicle are essential for this role. LOCATION Kildare Town (primarily) with some work also required in our Naas office, Refuge, Safe Homes and other locations throughout County Kildare.
HOURS Average 21.5 hours per week, based on a rolling fortnightly rota of 7 shifts (43 hours) per fortnight.
WEEKDAY SHIFTS Monday-Friday: 12:00pm-7:00pm
WEEKEND SHIFTS Saturday-Sunday: 12:00pm-4:00pm
PAY €20.48 per hour
SUNDAY & BANK HOLIDAY PAY €22.48 per hour
CONTRACT 12 Months
ANNUAL LEAVE 107.5 hours per annum (8% of hours worked, up to a maximum of 5 of your standard working weeks
PROBATION 6 months
Rota & Working Pattern
The role operates on a 2-week rolling rota comprising a combination of weekday and weekend shifts. Regular weekend working and Bank Holiday cover are expected requirements of the role. Specific days worked will be determined by the service rota.
Sample Rota
Week 1: Monday 12-7 | Wednesday 12-7 | Friday 12-7
Week 2: Tuesday 12-7 | Thursday 12-7 | Saturday 12-4 | Sunday 12-4
Please Note: A full clean Irish driving licence and access to your own vehicle are essential for this role.
About Teach Tearmainn
Teach Tearmainn is the only dedicated domestic violence and abuse support service in County Kildare. We provide free and confidential support to women and children affected by domestic violence and abuse. Our mission is to meet the needs of women and children experiencing domestic violence and abuse by providing inclusive, supportive and confidential services that empower women and children to live life without fear. We recognise the profound impact domestic violence and abuse can have on children and young people and are committed to ensuring children have access to safe, supportive and empowering spaces.
About Our Children's Service
Our aim is to provide children with opportunities to feel safe, be heard, build confidence, develop positive relationships, have fun and simply be children. Teach Tearmainn's Children's Service provides specialist and practical support to children and young people affected by domestic violence and abuse. We recognise children as individuals with their own experiences, rights, needs and voices. Our work is child-centred, trauma-informed and developmentally appropriate.
- Individual support for children and young people.
- Group programmes, including TLC Kidz. Child-centred advocacy.
- Safe and structured childcare within refuge. After-school activities and homework support.
- Creative, recreational and developmental activities.
- School-holiday programmes and summer activities.
- Opportunities for children to build confidence, resilience and positive relationships.
About the Role
The Children's Support Worker is a varied, practical and child-centred role. It combines specialist support for children affected by domestic violence and abuse with childcare, play and activities, homework support, group programmes, refuge support and helpline duties. The balance of the role will change from day to day depending on referrals, children's needs, refuge occupancy, programmes and wider service demand.
Variety is central to this role
Providing childcare for children living in refuge while their mothers attend support sessions or appointments.
Delivering a structured one-to-one support session with a child. Helping a child with homework or school-related activities.
Organising creative, recreational or after-school activities.
Supporting or co-facilitating TLC Kidz.
Planning a school-holiday or summer activity.
Providing appropriate support to women and children in refuge.
Responding to a helpline or telephone enquiry.
Completing records, planning and safeguarding-related tasks.
Assisting with practical aspects of the day-to-day running of the refuge.
We are looking for someone who can move comfortably and professionally between different responsibilities, while maintaining a consistently child-centred approach.
Please Note: This is not a clinical or therapeutic role. The Children's Support Worker does not provide counselling, psychotherapy or play therapy. Play, creative and psychoeducational approaches support communication, engagement, learning and wellbeing within the defined remit of the Children's Service. The postholder must work within their professional competence and seek guidance, escalate concerns or refer onwards where specialist support is required.
Key Areas of the Role Teach Tearmainn
1.One-to-One Children's Support: One-to-one support is an important component of the role. The Children's Support Worker will deliver structured, age-appropriate support to children and young people affected by domestic violence and abuse in line with Teach Tearmainn's established Children's Service programmes. Our approach is child-led, trauma-informed and psychoeducational, with play and creative approaches used where appropriate to help children engage, communicate and express themselves. Depending on the child's circumstances, support may focus on understanding and recovering from experiences of domestic abuse or, where a child continues to live with the perpetrator, on age-appropriate physical and emotional safety. Professional Scope
2. Childcare, Play & Activities: An equally important aspect of the role is providing children with safe, positive and developmentally appropriate experiences. Provide safe and responsive childcare within refuge. Facilitate structured and unstructured play. Develop creative, recreational and developmental activities. Support homework and school-related activities. Facilitate after-school activities and homework clubs. Help children build confidence and positive social connections. Respond calmly and appropriately to children experiencing distress. Contribute to school-holiday activities and summer programmes. Support opportunities for children to participate in positive community experiences. We are looking for someone who genuinely enjoys working with children and understands the importance of play, fun, creativity and positive relationships alongside structured support. We are looking for someone who can combine warmth and compassion with professionalism, consistency and sound judgement.
3. Group Programmes: The Children's Support Worker will support the coordination, planning, delivery and implementation of children's group programmes, primarily TLC Kidz. This may include preparing activities and resources, co-facilitating sessions, supporting children participating in programmes and contributing to programme monitoring and evaluation. The postholder will also contribute to other children's activities and programmes in response to identified needs.
4. Refuge, Helpline & Wider Service Support: As part of the wider Teach Tearmainn team, the Children's Support Worker will also contribute to the safe and effective operation of our Refuge and wider service. Provide appropriate support to women and children accessing refuge. Respond to telephone and helpline contacts in accordance with training and procedures. Support appropriate day-to-day enquiries and practical needs. Assist with the day-to-day running of the refuge during working hours. Accept and appropriately process deliveries and supplies. Support a calm, safe, respectful and welcoming refuge environment. Report maintenance, safety or safeguarding concerns appropriately. Undertake relevant administration and record keeping. Work collaboratively with colleagues across Teach Tearmainn. The postholder will be expected to recognise when an issue falls outside their role and refer or escalate it appropriately.
Professionalism & Boundaries
- Working with children and families affected by domestic violence requires warmth, empathy and compassion alongside professionalism, sound judgement and appropriate boundaries.
- Build positive and trusting professional relationships with children and families.
- Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with service users and colleagues. Communicate professionally and use agreed organisational communication channels. Maintain confidentiality and understand safeguarding and information-sharing responsibilities.
- Work within the defined scope and limitations of the role, seeking guidance or referring onwards where appropriate.
- Use supervision and reflective practice constructively.
- Maintain professional standards, including during challenging or emotionally demanding situations.
The safety and wellbeing of children is at the heart of this role. The Children's Support Worker will be expected to work in accordance with Teach Tearmainn's safeguarding and child protection policies and procedures at all times. This includes recognising, recording and reporting concerns appropriately; maintaining safe supervision and professional boundaries; completing relevant risk assessments; understanding confidentiality and information-sharing responsibilities; and participating in safeguarding training and ongoing professional development.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide child-centred and trauma-informed support to children and young people affected by domestic violence and abuse.
- Deliver structured one-to-one support within Teach Tearmainn's programme framework.
- Provide safe and responsive childcare within refuge.
- Plan and facilitate play, creative, recreational and developmental activities.
- Support homework clubs and after-school provision.
- Support the planning and delivery of school-holiday and summer programmes.
- Support the coordination and delivery of TLC Kidz and other children's programmes.
- Provide appropriate refuge and helpline support as required.
- Advocate for children's rights, safety and wellbeing.
- Liaise appropriately with schools, Tusla, health services and other relevant agencies.
- Make appropriate internal and external referrals.
- Maintain accurate, confidential and timely records.
- Complete relevant risk assessments and programme documentation.
Participate in supervision, reflective practice, team meetings and training.
Work collaboratively across Teach Tearmainn to provide safe and coordinated support to women and children.
Undertake other duties appropriate to the role and grade as required.
Person Specification:
Essential Qualifications & Experience
- A minimum Level 7/8 qualification in Social Care, Social Care Practice, Applied Social Studies, Early Childhood Education, Youth Work or another relevant discipline.
- A minimum of three years' relevant experience working directly with children and/or young people in a community-based setting.
- Experience providing support, activities, programmes or services to children and young people.
- Experience planning and delivering age-appropriate activities.
- Experience working with children who may have experienced trauma, adversity, family difficulties or challenging circumstances.
- Experience of safeguarding children and responding appropriately to concerns. Experience working effectively as part of a team.
- Experience maintaining appropriate professional records and confidentiality.
Desirable Experience & Training
- Supporting children affected by domestic violence and abuse.
- Delivering structured one-to-one children's support.
- Children's group programmes.
- After-school programmes, homework clubs, holiday programmes or summer camps. Supporting children with additional emotional, developmental or behavioural needs. Interagency working.
- Trauma-informed practice.
- Child protection and safeguarding.
- First Aid or Paediatric First Aid.
- Domestic violence and abuse training
Skills & Knowledge
- A strong understanding of child development and children's wellbeing.
- An ability to build safe, warm and respectful professional relationships with children.
- An ability to engage children through play, creativity and structured activities.
- An understanding of trauma-informed and child-centred practice.
- An understanding of the impact of domestic violence and abuse on children and young people. Strong safeguarding and child protection awareness.
- Strong professional judgement and an understanding of appropriate boundaries.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Strong organisational and time-management skills.
- An ability to prioritise and adapt to changing service needs.
- An ability to work independently while contributing positively to a wider team.
- Good IT and record-keeping skills.
- An understanding of equality, diversity, inclusion and children's rights.
- An ability to recognise the limitations of the role and seek appropriate guidance where necessary.
Personal Qualities
- Warm, approachable and genuinely child-centred.
- Professional, reliable and consistent.
- Patient and emotionally mature.
- Able to maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
- Calm and measured in challenging situations.
- Creative and enthusiastic about children's activities and play.
- Flexible and adaptable.
- Proactive and well organised.
- Reflective and open to learning.
- Non-judgemental and respectful.
- Comfortable seeking guidance when needed.
- Committed to safeguarding, confidentiality and high professional standards.
Other Requirements:
Due to the nature of this role and the responsibility involved in working with children and vulnerable adults, references must provide substantive information regarding the applicant's suitability, professional conduct, reliability and experience. References that merely confirm dates of employment or service will not be considered sufficient.
Variety is not an occasional feature of this role - it is central to it.
What We Are Looking For
Above all, we are looking for someone who understands that children need both safety and opportunity. Someone who can provide a child with a safe and supportive space to explore difficult experiences - and later sit down with another child to help with homework. Someone who understands trauma, but also understands the importance of play, fun and ordinary childhood experiences. Someone who can deliver structured one-to-one support, supervise children in refuge, support TLC Kidz, organise an activity, respond appropriately to a helpline caller and contribute as part of a busy team.
The successful candidate will be someone who enjoys working flexibly, can respond confidently to changing priorities and can combine warmth and creativity with professionalism, sound judgement and consistently high standards of practice.
Pay: €20.48-€22.48 per hour
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Employee assistance program
Work Location: In person
