Application Procedure

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1 Title of Position Project Leader - Better Finglas Location Finglas/ Dublin North Employment Type Fulltime (37 hrs) and Fixed Term contract to end of September Salary 50,209-65,505 Contact Person Joan Dunne To apply, application to joan.dunne@barnardos.ie Address for postal applications Joan Dunne Barnardos Child and Family service Church Road Mulhuddart Dublin 15. Closing Date 5pm Friday 19 th September 2014 Interview Date Thursday 2 nd October 2014 Experience Required A minimum of five years post qualification experience and demonstrate competencies in terms of management ability essential. Prior management experience is essential. Experience of working in disadvantaged areas is highly desirable. Qualifications Required Relevant professional 3 rd level qualification essential, for example: Social Work, Social Care, Child Care, Education, Youth and Community Work, Psychology or equivalent. Management training highly desirable. Application Procedure Applicants should complete the Application Form and it to the contact person listed above or complete it and post it to the postal address above before the closing date. Shortlisting will apply Candidates who are moved to the 2 nd stage of our Recruitment process are required to complete a medical questionnaire and a Garda Vetting Form. References will be taken up at this stage. Note to Applicants Persons who have availed of the 2010 Voluntary Early Retirement, 2010 Voluntary Redundancy or the previous Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement from the Department of Health are not eligible for employment in a body wholly or mainly funded from public moneys. Where Voluntary Redundancy was availed of this prohibition will last for a period of 7 years. These prohibitions also apply in relation to a Contract for Service with Barnardos. Applicants should confirm what terms are applicable to them in their own circumstances

2 BETTER FINGLAS The Better Finglas project is one of a small number of projects in Ireland which is being supported over a three year period through the Area Based Childcare (ABC) programme. The ABC programme is an early intervention and preventative initiative which is being jointly funded by the Irish government and Atlantic Philanthropies. Better Finglas was developed by a wide consortium of agencies, organisations, groups and individuals working in the Finglas area including, the HSE, Dublin City Council, the Child and Family Agency, Finglas Cabra Drugs Task Force, Tolka Area Partnership, County Childcare Committee, Barnardos, local childcare providers, and primary school Principals. Better Finglas recognises the benefits of early intervention strategies for children the main target group for the project is 0 to 8 year old children and their parents. Our vision is of a community where all services; voluntary, community and statutory are working together with families to improve the developmental, health and educational outcomes of young children living in the area. We will do this by the provision of unified evidence based programmes and quality services to children and their parents from pregnancy to 8 years of age. Better Finglas has identified 5 key strands that our programme of activities will focus on, they are as follows: Pregnancy and New Parents, Early Years, Parenting, Literacy and Interagency Work Through the delivery of these strands Better Finglas aims to: To increase access to evidence based programmes and evidence informed activities from pre-birth to 8 years. To improve children s developmental outcomes. To improve children s literacy in first and second class. To enhance parenting skills and increase parents capacity to support their children s development. To increase the capacity of service providers to deliver high-quality, evidencebased programmes with fidelity in an appropriate, timely and sustainable manner. To increase community awareness of and use of service provision. To build on good inter-agency working to deliver a continuum of coordinated, high quality service provision from pre-conception to childhood. The Better Finglas Consortium has appointed a Steering Group to oversee the development, implementation and review of the project. Barnardos is the lead agency for the Better Finglas project and is responsible for the day-to-day management and administration of the project on behalf of the Better Finglas Consortium and Steering Group. As lead agency Barnardos will be the employer of all Better Finglas staff.

3 Project Leader Job Description Post: Location: Responsible to: Works with: Project Leader - Better Finglas Finglas/Dublin North Assistant Director of Children s Services for Dublin North region Better Finglas ABC Consortium, Steering Group, National & Regional Offices, other Managers in region, service users & staff and other agencies. Job Purpose The Project Leader is responsible for the management, development, implementation and review of the Better Finglas programme on behalf of Barnardos as part of the Area Based Childhood Programme The Better Finglas ABC programme consists of 5 strands aimed at improving outcomes for young children living in Finglas. The Better Finglas consortium consists of key local and national stakeholders in the voluntary, community and statutory sector. The Project Leader works on behalf of Barnardos who are the Lead Agency. The Project Leader, on behalf of Barnardos, is also responsible for reporting and updating the Better Finglas ABC Steering group, and will work with them to deliver the Better Finglas ABC Programme. Core Job Requirements Management Responsible for the development, delivery, management and review of Better Finglas ABC programme on behalf of Barnardos. To ensure the key performance indicators for the Better Finglas ABC programme are met.

4 To work with local statutory, voluntary and community services to deliver the Better Finglas ABC programme. To manage the budget for the Better Finglas ABC programme, participate in budget planning and financial administration of same budget in line with Barnardos financial procedures. To prepare reports on the work as required by Better Finglas ABC, Barnardos, the funders, and Centre for Effective Services. Collect and maintain data from the project as required by Better Finglas ABC, Barnardos and the funders. To ensure the information for the database is gathered and inputted within the required time scale. To develop and facilitate a culture of service users consultation and involvement in all aspects of the work. To maintain effective working relationships with funders as appropriate. To ensure all case, financial and administrative records and files are maintained to a high standard and case records are accessible to service users, seeking permission from third parties as appropriate. To undertake the duties of Designated Person for the project under the Children First National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children. To ensure that the protection and welfare of children is a primary concern of all staff and that, when child protection issues arise, Barnardos policies and procedures are fully adhered to. To ensure an up to date health and safety statement is accessible and available and is adhered to and any health and safety concerns are dealt with effectively and efficiently. Staff and Supervision To ensure all staff, and volunteers receive regular and professional supervision and appraisals. To ensure training needs are identified and addressed to ensure learning is promoted within your area of responsibility. To manage the recruitment process for staff to the service.

5 Delivery of Services To ensure quality and best standards are adhered to in all aspects of the work. To maintain appropriate relationships with external agencies in order to ensure that the needs of children and families and the programme are met in an integrated and co-ordinated manner. To ensure that legislation and statutory guidelines, organisational policy are fully implemented within your area of responsibility. To ensure programmes are planned, delivered and evaluated in response to the needs of the ABC Better Finglas programme and children, families and services in the designated area. Identify the needs of children and families attending service that are not being met and to advocate at an individual, service and organisational level for them to be met. To ensure that regular contact is maintained with relevant statutory, voluntary and community agencies to ensure an integrated response to the needs of children and families. Development of the Service To develop appropriate relationships with external agencies in order to ensure that the needs of children and families in the Finglas area are met in an integrated and co-ordinated manner. To pro-actively pursue the development of services to meet the needs of children and families within the catchments area of your responsibility through appropriate participation in community and interagency structures. Identify recruitment needs for the service, review and propose job descriptions and person specifications. To participate in the overall development of good practice models within the organisation. Organisational Role To participate in the development of organisation policy and plans to ensure they are implemented within the work of the project. To ensure that the service operates in a cohesive way within the region and organisation and to participate in service development for a within the organisation.

6 To participate at regional management level and other appropriate groups to contribute to the development of strategies and policies within the organisation. To represent Barnardos and Better Finglas ABC as appropriate at local / regional or national level, this may involve media and advocacy work. Requirements of all Barnardos staff Commitment to the purpose of both Better Finglas ABC and Barnardos, to work within the values, policies and procedures of the organisations and in the context of current legislation and regulations. To participate in regular supervision with your line manager. To actively participate in team and staff meetings and service reviews/ evaluations and to contribute to the development of policy and practice with your area of work and within Barnardos as a whole. To report any area of concern to your line manager in a timely manner. To show reasonable flexibility in relation to hours of attendance to meet the needs of the work. Work during unsocial hours may be required. Have a flexible approach to the work in response to organisational change, development and review of best practice. Participate in and engage with a performance management programme. Identify training needs with your line manager and participate in training opportunities appropriate to the role. To be vigilant to any Health, Safety and Welfare risks in the workplace and bring any concerns to the attention of your line manager or local Health & Safety Officer. To participate in the efficient flow of information internally and externally by sharing and seeking information as appropriate. To undertake other duties as may be requested by the line manager from time to time. To undertake your work in a manner that is friendly, flexible and informal. Note: this Job Description will be reviewed and updated in line with the needs of the work.

7 Project Leader Person Specification Personal attributes Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Ability to manage in a dynamic and busy environment Teamwork required and the ability to work in collaboration with others Ability to lead and manage the staff team Ability to prioritise competing demand. Ability to work autonomously but seek advice as appropriate. Ability to manage complexity and diversity. Ability to develop, manage and maintain complex internal and external relationships with a range of stakeholders. Ability to assess needs and identify appropriate service responses. Ability to work to standards and work within policy framework and legislation. Ability to demonstrate high level dynamic skills of responsiveness, flexibility, creativity and problem solving. Ability to be analytical and critical. Flexibility and adaptability is essential for this post. Experience A minimum of five years post qualification experience and demonstrate competencies in terms of management ability essential. Prior management experience is essential. Experience of working in disadvantaged areas is highly desirable. Qualifications Relevant professional 3 rd level qualification essential, for example: Social Work, Social Care, Child Care, Education, Youth and Community Work, Psychology or equivalent. Management training highly desirable.