Job Title: Social Care Worker
Department: Placement Support Project, residential.
Applications considered Via
Application Form Only - CV’s will not be accepted
APPLICATION FORM AVAILABLE ON CHILDHOOD MATTERS WEBSITE - https://childhood-matters.ie/
Opening date for Applications: 28.08.2026
Closing Date for Applications: 5pm on 07.09.2026
Proposed Interview date(s): TBD
Location of Post: Ballincollig, Co. Cork
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 12-week period, and the provision of a stability roadmap specifically tailored to the family. Emergency place of safety respite is incorporated into this project. We are expanding this service into County Kerry and are recruiting for this MDT.
· 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.
Purpose of Role:
The Placement Support Project supports families where children under age 18 are on the edge of care or their care placement is at risk of breakdown.
The service engages with Tusla and professional networks to provide intensive support to children and their carers both in clinic and in the community. The service also provides emergency respite to a small number of young people.
The successful candidate/s will play a key role in contributing to MDT discussions of each child or family’s needs as well as those of the system around them, formulating the presenting difficulties and considering appropriate intervention. The clinician/s joining our organisation will provide both direct and indirect therapeutic input. They will liaise with partner agencies and endeavour to achieve positive outcomes for children in care, or on the edge of care, and their carers, working to build/restore placement stability and enhance key relationships in the child’s family/support network.
Reporting Relationship
The successful candidate will report to the Team Lead/Manager for the Service. There is also clinical supervision available from other Social Care Workers/Leaders in the organisation.
Duties and Responsibilities
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Working with Children/Young People/Families
· To work as a member of a residential team, providing high-quality Social Care to children in care or on the edge of care in a residential setting.
· To support trauma-informed practices within the team.
· To be responsible for developing individual care plans, and manage the day to day needs of our clients within the bounds of the service’s operational policies.
· To provide emotional and practical support to our young people, and advocate for their needs.
· Foster a safe, protective environment for young people and manage their needs effectively
· Facilitate engagement in educational, recreational and social participation.
· Promote an effective and productive team ethos, fostering our Childhood Matters trauma-informed and trauma-responsive approach at all times.
· To participate in the development and implementation of care plans and tailored interventions and to ensure appropriate recording of same.
- To promote the rights and responsibilities of each child/young person within the service.
- To liaise with the parent, family, services and other agencies on behalf of the client.
- Adhere to all regulations governing the care of children in a residential setting.
Administration and Accountability
- To attend team meeting/handovers and to report to the Clinical Lead/ Service Manager on matters affecting the delivery of service.
- To provide written documentation on a regular basis on casework.
- Reporting and recording any incidents, that may happen to the / children and their families or are caused by them.
- Ensure Child protection procedures are followed.
- To implement the Childhood Matters procedures and policies.
- To undertake ongoing professional training and development.
- To attend regular supervision with the designated supervisor.
- To perform any other duties that may be assigned from time to time.
Team Work /Training & Professional Development
- Work collaboratively with a team to provide trauma responsive interventions and evidence-based practice.
- Participate in further training and development as required.
- Working with other professionals and external stakeholders
- Participate in regular team meetings, reflective practice, complex case discussions etc
- Be responsible for own health and wellbeing in order to carry out the duties of the role / is committed to managing own work / life balance.
- Keep abreast of governance standards of care for children in residential units.
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 Level7/ 8 qualification in Social Care or hold a relevant qualification in one of the following disciplines;
· QQI Level 7 in Psychology
· QQI Level 7 or Professional Practice Qualification in Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy
· QQI Level 7 or Professional Practice Qualification in Counselling / Psychotherapy
· QQI Level 7 or Professional Practice Qualification in Addiction Counselling
· QQI Level 7 in Youth and Community or similar
· QQI Level 7 in Social Science / Social Studies
· QQI Level 7 in Family Support
· Professional Qualification in Teaching (Not TEFL)
· Professional Qualification in Nursing Studies
· QQI Level 7 in Disability Studies
· QQI Level 7 in Applied Behavioural Analysis
· BA in Applied Policing or equivalent
· Holder of Higher Certificate in Custodial Care (Irish Prison Service) or equivalent
· For applicants awaiting CORU registration for Social Care Work, please indicate status of your application.
· A full clean driver’s license
Other requirements of the role
Essential
Experience;
Practice in Social Care Work or its equivalent and experience as a Social Care Worker with young people and families.
Skills, knowledge and abilities;
- Ability to work effectively and collaboratively as part of a Residential Team with support from a wider Multi-disciplinary Team
- Knowledge of child development and family dynamics
- Understanding of Trauma-informed practices, best practice and issues relevant to working with children in care.
- Ability to network, develop links and engage with statutory sector and local community
- Strong communication, IT and report writing skills
- Adaptable and flexible with regard to service development and working hours
Desirable
· CORU Registered
· Knowledge of models such as Signs of Safety, Therapeutic Crisis Intervention
· Group work with children and families
· Experience of working therapeutically with clients
· Experience of legal responsibilities with regard to child protection and child care
· Experience in home visiting
· Knowledge and Training in Trauma informed Care approaches, risk assessment, care planning.
The current vacancies available are permanent/temporary and whole time/part- time.
Remuneration
The Salary scale for the whole time equivalent of this post is:
Aligned with the HSE Social Care Work Salary Scale June 2026.
Candidates should note that entry will be at the minimum point of the scale and will not be subject to negotiation.
Working Week
The standard working week applying to the whole time equivalent of this post is 36 hours.
Annual Leave : The annual leave associated with the whole time equivalent of this post is: 25 days pro rata
Probation: A probationary period of 6 months will apply
Additional Benefits
- Defined contribution pension scheme.
- Enhanced maternity and paternity benefit
- Additional Annual leave days
- Comprehensive annual CPD schedule
- Financial support for further education
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: €21.15 per hour
Benefits:
- Bike to work scheme
- Company pension
- Employee assistance program
- On-site parking
- Private dental insurance
- Private medical insurance
- Sick pay
Education:
- Advanced/Higher Certificate (required)
Language:
Work authorisation:
Work Location: In person
