Role Overview

The Refuge Support Worker is a key member of the Refuge Team, reporting directly to the Refuge Coordinator. The Refuge Support Worker will provide support services to clients of Saoirse through actively supporting their Care Planning in conjunction with their Keyworkers in a non-judgmental, compassionate way and promoting empowerment and confidence building, through a philosophy of ‘self-help and mutual aid’.

What we offer you

• Salary: € 38,168.91 per annum.
• Probation: 6 months
• Location: Dublin
• This role is part of the Refuge Team.
• Benefits: All employee benefits outlined above.
• Commitment to work–life balance and staff wellbeing.
• Hours of work: 37.5h per week, on 12.5h per shift.

Employee Benefits

• Pension: The company contributes 7% of an employee’s annual salary into the employee’s Pension following completion of the probation period.
• Annual leave: As an employee of SDVS, you will receive 25 days annual leave per annum.
• Company Day: At SDVS, Good Friday is offered as an additional day off.
• Annual Leave Purchase Scheme: SDVS have an Annual Leave Purchase Scheme in place where employees can apply to purchase an additional week’s annual leave each year.
• Wedding Leave: We offer employees with 1 year’s service who are getting married, an additional 1 day paid leave for their wedding.
• Paid Sick leave: We operate a paid scheme leave scheme upon successful completion of probation period.
• Paid Maternity leave: SDVS top up an employee’s salary to 100% for the period of Statutory Maternity Leave. Employees are eligible after completion of 1 year of service, on the date they go on maternity leave.
• Doctor visits: Employee well-being is important to us at SDVS. We offer employees €35 contribution towards 2 GP visits per year.
• Digital Doctor: Free access to a digital doctor for employees and their families.
• Education Support: At SVDS we offer an Education Assistance policy for employees to apply for funding towards further education.
• Training & Development: Access to excellent training opportunities and continuous professional development.
• Well-being App: All employees have access to the Wisdom app to support employees in all 4 pillars of their well-being.
• EAP: We offer a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme for employees and their families to avail of counselling support confidentially.
• Wellbeing Days: We host several employee wellbeing activities across the year for employees to take time out to focus on team building and their own wellbeing.

Key Responsibilities

• Welcome women and children into emergency accommodation, ensuring they are oriented to the refuge, its facilities, and services.
• Provide immediate emotional and practical support to those in crisis.
• Work as part of the refuge team to support care plans and deliver agreed actions during shifts.
• Offer non-judgmental information and support to residents and helpline callers; operate the 24-hour helpline.
• Maintain a safe, secure, and supportive environment, adhering to all safeguarding, confidentiality, GDPR, and health & safety requirements.
• Uphold high standards of cleanliness, assist with room turnover, and complete inventories on entry/exit.
• Maintain accurate records, update client databases, and report maintenance or operational issues.
• Liaise with external agencies and support referrals in line with care plans.
• Attend team meetings, training, supervision, and represent the organization professionally at all times.
• Follow all organizational policies, including child protection guidelines, and carry out additional duties as required, including court attendance if necessary.

Additional tasks are performed as needed to support the organization’s goals. Please see full job description on our recruitment pack here.

About you

The successful candidate will have relevant experience in a social care setting. You must be available to work both day and night shifts on a rotating roster. The successful candidate will be highly flexible and have the ability to adapt to the changing client group. You will possess the ability to treat service users in a non-judgmental and respectful manner and adhere to professional boundaries and work in a professional manner at all times. The successful candidate will ensure the efficient operation of the service while on duty and provide support to the women and children in Refuge.

Knowledge and Skills Required:

• Must have minimum education to Degree to NFQ level 7 in a relevant area of social care, social studies, etc.
• Must have minimum of 1 years’ experience in a social care field.
• Must have experience of using client databases and have/possess good IT skills, as well as good report writing skills.
• Must possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• A working knowledge and insight into the issues affecting women and children of domestic abuse and the impact on their physical, emotional and psychological well-being and development.
• An understanding of risk and needs assessment and of the principles of risk management.
• Thorough knowledge of procedures and practices relating to the Safeguarding of Children and Young People.
• Experience of working in supported residential services is desirable.
• Experience of working in a support service for people with complex needs is desirable
• Ability to work well in a team environment.