Social Care Worker/Social Pedagogue

Role and Responsibilities:

The
overall role of the Support pedagogue is to provide day to day care for and
to undertake individual work with the young people placed with Compass
Children’s Residential Services.

Typically
the support pedagogue offers a stimulating and supportive intervention to the
young people and works with them based on building relationships and social
pedagogical principles*(please refer: www.compasscfs.ie ).

The
support pedagogue is integrated and part of the Compass team and will
collaborate with the relevant statutory agency and others involved in the
care provision and planning for the young person.

Where
appropriate emphasis is placed on supported collaboration with the young
person’s birth family which is facilitated by the overall Compass Children’s
Residential Services team.   

MAIN
RESPONSIBILITIES:

·       
Provide
day to day care of the young people in their care.

·       
Offer
day to day activities and support the young people in their social, emotional
and cognitive development, with an emphasis on learning principles of social
pedagogy.

·       
Promote
educational activities and facilitate access to services and school.

·       
Working
as part of the Compass Children’s Residential Services Team.

·       
Take a lead role in the organisation and on-going maintenance of all
documentation relating to identified young people in the organisation’s care.

·       
Participate
in the writing of reports to be presented at Child in Care Reviews.

·       
Management
of challenging behaviour under the guidelines of Management of Actual and
Potential Aggression (MAPA)

·       
Record
and document work and daily events in the lives of young people (in line with
organisational policies).

·       
Participate
in statutory care planning, case conferences, family access and provide
associated written documentation as required.

·       
Participate
in ongoing reflection, training, supervision and community meetings.

·       
Participate
in the on-call roster for the service if required.

·       
Take
the lead role in implementing and maintaining an ICMP for young people living
in the house.

·       
Report
to the Residential Services Manager or designated person.

Qualifications and Education
Requirements:

You hold a professional
qualification within the fields of social pedagogy, social care, social
work, psychology or other appropriate training within an
associated social care/social work/social pedagogy field. Excellent
verbal and written English language skills are essential.

Competencies (Professional and personal)

·       
Willingness
and Ability share a living space with young people.

·       
Effective
communication skills (Verbal and Written)

·       
Creative,
active and success oriented commitment to your work

·       
Accepting
and supportive attitude towards people who experience difficulties within
their lives such as family dysfunction, psychological and mental health
difficulties or financial difficulties

• Self-sufficiency and ability to self-organize
  your work
• Resilience and the willingness and ability
  to engage with young people who display challenging behaviour and have
  complex needs
• Flexibility and adaptability
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to be aware of, create and maintain appropriate
  boundaries
• Knowledge and awareness of  Child Care Legislation and Guidelines
• Knowledge about the Irish social care system
• Ability for reflection and engagement in reflective
  practice
• Knowledge of systemic work with families
• Structured and goal oriented working style
• Professional conduct
• Working within a multidisciplinary team
• Computer literacy, incl. word, excel, use of
  internet
• Full driving licence required

WHAT WE OFFER:

• Daily support (Residential Services Manager
  and Compass team)
• Internal and external relevant training
• Regular professional supervision (Individual
  and group)
• Regular clinical supervision provided by the
  consulting clinical psychologist
• Team Work and exchange with colleagues
• Appropriate remuneration as agreed
• Comprehensive influence on creativity in
  service delivery, service development and decision making
• Positive working climate
• Facilitate own interests and creativity when
  involving Young People, e.g. outdoor pursuits, hobbies, arts and crafts,
  etc.
• 24h, confidential Employee Assistance
  Program (EAP)

This
job description is a guide to the general range of duties assigned to the
post holder(s). It is intended to be neither definitive nor restrictive and
is subject to periodic review with the employee(s) concerned.