Social Care Worker / Autism Practitioner
Social Care Worker / Autism Practitioner
Join Our Team at Gheel Autism Services – Transition Services
Social Care Worker / Autism Practitioner
Location: Blanchardstown, Dublin
Contract: Permanent, full-time (39 hours/week)
Salary Range: €37,096 – €53,674 per annum
Driving Requirements: Full, clean driving licence and access to a personal vehicle
About the Team:
Blanchardstown Transition started in 2021 with 1 staff member and 8 people supported. The team has grown rapidly, now with over 30 people supported and 6 staff members.
Who We Are
At Gheel Autism Services, we are dedicated to supporting individuals with autism through their life journey. Our mission is to enable people to have fulfilling life experiences while promoting autonomy and empowering them to make their own choices. Our services include day and vocational opportunities, outreach support, and various supported living options.
We take a strengths-based approach, tailoring personalised plans to meet each individual’s unique needs. Our team is committed to fostering independence, social inclusion, and overall well-being, ensuring that each person achieves outcomes that are meaningful to them.
For a greater understanding of some of the work in Transition see this video: https://www.gheel.ie/empowering-people/
Why Join Us?
As part of the Gheel team, you will receive:
- Professional Growth: Training, career progression, and education support.
- Wellbeing Support: Employee Assistance Programme, reflective practice, and supportive supervision.
- Annual Leave: Up to 25 days, plus various leave types such as paid maternity and paternity leave (dependant on service).
- Financial Benefits: Competitive salary, annual increments, pension (7% employer contribution - service dependant)
- Travel & Discounts: Bike-to-Work, commuter tickets, and an employee discount scheme.
About the Role
The Transition Program is an innovative outreach program where the person receives sessional support in a place of their choosing (home, community, transition office).
The Supports are provided in a way which is autism informed, incorporates the New Directions Framework for quality supports and are provided through a casework style of delivery where each person supported is allocated one caseworker from the team.
The provision and resources are aimed at delivering bridging support to people in realising the aspirations they have for their lives in areas such as personal development, education, employment and moving out of the family home.
As a caseworker, you will:
- Manage your own caseload of individuals supported and design your weekly schedule.
- Receive full training in autism practice, case management, health and safety, and more! Gain a broad range of experience by supporting up to eight people, all while using online systems.
- Be provided with your own laptop and phone for work purposes, allowing you to work flexibly in the community.
- Take the lead in liaising with professionals and external agencies such as education providers, employers, housing agencies, multi-disciplinary teams, families, and more.
Essential Qualifications:
- Level 7 qualification in Social Care/Studies from an accredited institution, OR A recognised qualification equivalent to the Irish Level 7 award (NARIC), OR Relevant third-level degree in social work, psychology, or allied health, OR Post-graduate qualification in Autism Studies.
- CORU Registered or in progress
Essential Experience:
- At least one-year of recent experience in the social services sector
- Ability to promote independence – supporting others to learn how, not doing it for them.
- An understanding of the New Directions Model of Service Delivery. • A full, clean driver’s licence and access to personal car for travelling to various locations only (please indicate on cover letter and/or curriculum vitae)
Desirable Experience:
- Experience of supporting individuals with a diagnosis of ASD and knowledge of Autism
- Experience of case management
- Experience of creating pathways to education, employment and housing and supporting people along those pathways.
- Awareness of areas such as mental health, homelessness, addiction, and social disadvantage within the Irish context.
The People We Support Want You to Have the Following Qualities:
- Patience
- Encouraging
- Non-judgemental
- Good Listening Skills
- Understanding
- Supportive
- Open-Minded
- Innovative
- Flexible
View The Inside Story from a Fellow Caseworker on the Tranisition Team: