Community Engagement Worker

Responsible to: Deputy Head of Day Services/Service Coordinator
Responsible for: Engaging with the Community (clients, neighbours, and local businesses) in reducing anti-social behaviour and issues relating to substance misuse and homelessness associated with street activity.
Reports to: Community Engagement Coordinator
Objective: To work within the Merchants Quay mission by working as a collaborative community to reduce the harm caused by addiction and homelessness, minimising the impact of Merchants Quay services on the local community, including anti-social behaviour and community engagement.
Contract type: Permanent
Location: Open Access Service, Merchants Quay, Dublin 8.
Hours: Full-time (39 hours per week) and Part-time
Salary: Starting €33,860 (pro rata of full-time hours)
Main Responsibilities: Cultivating positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders by operating within the different areas/roles within the service, including advice and information, drop-in reception, and door.Developing relationships with the Gardaí.Building relationships with neighbours through regular meetings and "check-ins", addressing issues presented concerning Merchants Quay clients (e.g., trespassing, public injecting, loitering).Building relationships with the MQI client group, communicating effectively in a sensitive, non-judgmental, and respectful way.Engaging with clients of MQI services, dealing with challenging behaviour.Being a visible presence on the street during the service's opening hours.Upholding and maintaining the outside of the building, including picking up litter and drug paraphernalia.Monitoring the queuing area as required.Picking up syringes and drug-related litter in surrounding areas, responding to calls for clean-up.Providing information and referrals to harm reduction and other appropriate services.Ensuring compliance with organization policies to ensure consistent delivery of services and maintenance of quality standards, including:FireHealth and SafetyConfidentialityNeeds assessment, key working, and care planning.National Standards for Safer Better HealthcareAdministration: Recording data for preparation of reports, statistics, and other information for the Service Manager or the Head of Day Services.Participating in regular supervision.Carrying out administrative procedures under organization policies.Working jointly in collaboration with the Merchants Quay Open Access Services.Engaging with other team members, supporting colleagues, participating in meetings as required, and being open to reasonable requests from the Service Coordinator/Lead Worker to ensure effective working relationships.Working as part of the team with regular and consistent communication, actively participating in all team meetings and supporting the ethos.Reporting to the MQI Community Engagement Coordinator for individual support, supervision, and performance appraisal while working within the parameters of the National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare, HR, and H&S policies and procedures.This is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities and duties.
This is a new role as part of our MSIF project and will be shaped according to the service needs.
Minimum Requirements: Attained or working towards a Level 7 Social Care or similar field qualification.12 months experience or part-time equivalent working in a similar low-threshold environment.Understanding of issues relating to National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare and the MQI target group, including homelessness, mental health, and substance misuse.Experience in de-escalating difficult situations, including managing challenging behaviour.Experience working in a security role is desirable.If you are interested in applying for this role, please click the link below before the 6th of January 2025.
This position is subject to Garda Clearance.
Merchants Quay Ireland is a national voluntary organization that helps people who are homeless and those caught in addiction.
We provide frontline services, practical supports, pathways towards recovery, and innovative responses to the issues of drug use and homelessness in Ireland.
MQI seeks to attract the best people to our workforce by offering competitive terms and conditions of employment, a dynamic, flexible, and challenging work experience, work-life balance structures, as well as opportunities for advancement and development.

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