Project Worker

Service: St. Patrick's Hill

Location: Limerick

Duration: Indefinite Duration

Hours: 40 hours per week

Application Closing Date: 3rd January 2025 at 12:00 pm

Salary: This role is attached to a defined salary scale which ranges from €35,800 to €43,860 and appointments are made depending on experience.

NOVAS is a not-for-profit organisation and Approved Housing Body. We work with single adults, couples, and families who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. We provide a range of support services and accommodation. We have over 300 staff and more than 30 services in Limerick, Dublin, Clare, Kerry, Cork, and Tipperary including residential homeless services, social housing, and community-based services for tenancy sustainment, homelessness prevention, mental health, and recovery.

NOVAS has been involved in service provision in the areas of emergency and long-term housing and family support in Ireland for the past 14 years. St. Patrick's Hill is a 3 bed residential service that supports adults with disabilities to live in the community while developing skills to live independently.

NOVAS is a Trauma Informed practice organisation and the principles of collaboration, diversity, respect, and trust are embedded in our way of working together.

Desirable Skills and Knowledge

• A minimum of Level 7 Ordinary Degree or higher (National Framework of Qualifications) in Social Care or another allied health profession.
• Experience in working with people who are homeless, people with Disabilities or other social care groups.
• Administration skills for record keeping and report writing and computer literacy.
• Ability to provide services that foster and enhance the dignity, development, and independence of the individual.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide variety of people.
• Understanding of the needs of vulnerable people who are homeless, with focus on the specific needs of people with intellectual and/or physical Disabilities.
• Knowledge of and a commitment to equal opportunities.

We offer a competitive benefit package including 26 days annual leave pro-rata, access to further education supports, and a contributory pension.

Purpose of the Job

The role of Project Worker is vital to the successful delivery of quality programmes and services in NOVAS for our clients. The Project Worker will support the clients of NOVAS Disability & Young Persons Services in Limerick. The Project Worker will be based in St. Patrick's Hill, a small residential service in Limerick City supporting residents with disabilities.

The Project Worker will report directly to the Team Leader, will be a member of, and work collaboratively with the wider staff team, wider NOVAS services, external service providers, and local authorities in the region. The Project Worker is responsible for supporting clients, sourcing housing options for clients where appropriate, supporting clients to move into and sustain their accommodation for a period of time. The Project Worker will ensure effective day-to-day running of the project, and all aspects of health and safety, hygiene, and physical environment are kept to a high standard at all times.

This role may include day and evening work (8-hour shifts), weekend work (8-hour shifts).

The Project Worker will have a background in Social Care, minimum level 7, with training or experience in the areas of Homeless and/or Disabilities Services and will be expected to work within the relevant frameworks of quality standards or legislation.

Environment of the Job

NOVAS is a not-for-profit organisation and Approved Housing Body, we work with single adults, couples, and families, and who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. We also provide a service for unaccompanied minors seeking asylum. We support adults with disabilities and complex needs. We provide a range of services and accommodation. Our first service was established in Limerick in 2002 which was a temporary low-threshold emergency homeless accommodation and we have grown from there. We now have over 300 staff, and more than 30 services in Limerick, Dublin, Clare, Kerry, Cork, and Tipperary including emergency homeless accommodation, transitional homeless accommodation, social housing, and community-based services for tenancy sustainment, homelessness prevention, mental health, and recovery.

NOVAS is a Trauma Informed Practice Organisation and the principles of collaboration, diversity, respect, and trust are embedded in our way of working together.

Delegation and Reporting

The Project Worker has decision-making remit for the areas of identifying appropriate housing and support needs in collaboration with clients and colleagues within the staff team. In the absence of, or at times, the Project Worker may be required to consult with, and take direction from the Head of Operations or the CEO.

Oversight for the work in this role is provided by the Quality Services Sub-Committee of the NOVAS Board of Directors.

The Project Worker will at all times operate in a professional and respectful manner, maintaining high-quality standards of work in accordance with the values and mission of NOVAS. Their decision making will at all times be informed by the best interests of the clients and ensuring cost-effective value for money, use of donations, and public money.

Challenges

The nature of our work involves supporting the most vulnerable people who often have complex needs and may be survivors of trauma. As a result, during the course of your work you may engage with sensitive and confidential matters that require empathy, compassion, and pragmatism. You may also encounter clients or tenants who are in distress, displaying challenging behaviours or struggle to moderate their behaviour. Patience, respect, and an ability to remain professional and focused on de-escalating is essential. Further training will be provided in Trauma Informed Practice or Crisis Prevention.

As an organisation that is largely funded by public money, effective use of resources is a continuous focus and challenge.

Key Accountabilities

Client Care and Support

• To assess individual clients' needs and develop and deliver appropriate support and care management programmes in conjunction with other voluntary and statutory services.
• To approach clients at all times with dignity and respect and ensure they are provided with choices around the services they receive.
• To support clients in line with Trauma Informed Practice and harm reduction principles.
• To support the client in identifying and sourcing appropriate housing options.
• Provide practical services to the client, including welfare, benefits, and housing advice, budget and debt management, and life skills.
• Assist clients with health, hygiene, safety, general welfare, including personal care assistance where required.
• Maintain the service to a high standard including cleaning and preparing client rooms, communal areas, and workstations.
• To assist clients in gaining access to a range of community resources to enable them to increase confidence, socialisation, independent living, and problem-solving skills.
• To assist clients in maximising their tenancy sustainment skills through the use of specialist programmes and self-development skills.
• To be aware of child protection issues and correct reporting procedures.
• To adhere to all policies and procedures, particularly in relation to child protection, safeguarding vulnerable adults, confidentiality, finance, personal safety, and customer care.
• To promote client participation by providing information, advice, and choices to enable individuals to participate fully in daily decisions relating to them.
• To assist clients in providing feedback on services through meetings, the complaints procedures, suggestions, and use of questionnaires.
• To be accessible and responsive at all times to clients' questions, concerns, and requests for information.
• To keep accurate, up-to-date, factual client records via the NOVAS and funders recording platforms (Salesforce & PASS).
• To assist clients in gaining access to their personal files in accordance with procedures.
• To promote and implement the principles of customer care.

Financial Responsibilities

• To be aware of and adhere to all relevant financial procedures and regulations of the organisation and to report any discrepancies either on the part of the post-holder or others to your manager immediately.

Liaison

• To establish responsive liaison arrangements both within the association and externally with Estate Agents, Private Rented Sector, Approved Housing Bodies, Long Term Supported Accommodation Providers, and a range of other statutory and voluntary bodies.
• To promote the work of the NOVAS to other organisations.
• To attend internal and external meetings where appropriate and as requested.
• To be accountable for your workload and movements to both your line manager and the appropriate senior managers.

Supervision, Support & Development

• Engaging in regular supervision or one-to-one sessions with your line manager.
• Working under the direction of your line manager and the wider management team.
• Working to help the organisation achieve the aims and objectives of the strategic plan in line with our values and mission.
• Participating in team meetings.
• Familiarity and compliance with all relevant policies and standards.
• Participation in relevant and required training events.

Health & Safety

• Attention to your own and that of the clients' Health & Safety in the workplace.
• Vigilance of health & safety hazards and timely reporting of same to your line manager and or safety representative.
• Managing and reporting incidents and accidents in accordance with policies and procedures.
• Ensuring all Fire Safety Checks are carried out in line with policies, procedures, and daily tasks. Reporting any issues immediately to the Project Manager.
• Carrying out Health and Wellbeing checks on clients where required and follow up on any support needs.
• Ability to recognise and administer basic First Aid to clients as required. This includes CPR and Naloxone administration. Mandatory Training will be provided.
• Adhere to all the principles of manual handling.
• Ensuring that the service is safe, reporting any security issues to the Project Manager/Gardaí as required.
• Adherence to all infection prevention control measures and compliance to all guidance in relation to IPC.

Information Management

• Ensure data and personal information relating to clients, tenants, staff, and other members of the organisation is kept safe and secure using the correct systems and procedures, is collected for legitimate purposes, and is safely destroyed when appropriate.