Family Participation Facilitator (Full-time, 35 hour/ 52 weeks)
Location: StartBright ELC, Clondalkin, Co Dublin .
Purpose of the Role: The purpose of the Family Participation Facilitator (FCF) role is to support parents in StartBright Early Education Centres and School Aged Childcare, leading to improved outcomes for children and families.
Employer: StartBright ELC
Based: StartBright Early Education and School Aged Childcare Services, based in Clondalkin, Co Dublin.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

The Family Participation Facilitator will:

• Engage in Personal and professional development as required in role as it evolves and in collaboration with the Centre Manager and Quality Mentor.
• Engage in in-service training and other relevant training opportunities (including attendance at mandatory programmes).
• Review and change work practices in line with training and service developments
• Engage in I.T. training relevant to their work.

REQUIRED SKILLS, COMPETENCIES AND/OR KNOWLEDGE

• A minimum of three years’ experience of working with parents
• Understanding of the needs of vulnerable parents and families from areas of disadvantage
• Understanding in trauma informed practice
• Experience of group facilitation and supporting adults to engage in workshops, information sessions, meetings etc.
• Experience in signposting supports relevant to needs of parents. This may include supports relevant to the child or parents themselves.
• Facilitate engagement with further education and training if necessary/applicable
• Experience of establishing contacts and networking with other agencies and groups
• Ability to communicate clearly and work closely with an interdisciplinary team
• Excellent communication skills with a professional approach to the role
• Work well as part of a team but also confident and capable of working on own initiative.

PROFESSIONAL KNOWLEDGE

• Awareness of children and young people’s participatory practice
• Sufficient professional knowledge to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role.
• An understanding of child protection risk and harm
• An understanding of a community development approach to child protection and family support.
• An understanding of the impact of poverty and disadvantage on communities and especially its impact on parenting.
• An understanding of children’s holistic developmental needs within the context of their family and community.
• An understanding of children’s rights.
• An understanding of evidenced informed; human rights based; outcomes focused; integrated; and preventative child and family services.
• Understanding of external supporting bodies that families may liaise with/need to liaise with to support best outcomes (Meitheal, AsIam, Primary Care, HSE, TUSLA, etc)

COMMUNICATION AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

• Effective interpersonal and communication (verbal and written) skills
• The ability to empathise with and treat others with dignity and respect
• Display effective communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to collaborate with colleagues, families, etc.
• Experience in impact measurement, evidence gathering and data analysis
• Diligent recording of data, evidence and feedback to support StartBright’s impact measurement and key performance indicators (KPIs)

Desirable:

• Experience in conducting and delivering workshops, information sessions and/or evidence based programmes to adults

The Family Participation Facilitator will:

• Actively engage with parents to build on their parental capacity through provision of one to one, non-judgemental, confidential support
• Work collaboratively with parents to identify their specific needs and signpost to supporting organisations or supports as appropriate
• Assist in referral process alongside parents to supports such as SLT, CDNT etc. this is done in partnership with parents
• Implement and support parents’ participation in a range of parental engagement initiatives including workshops, coffee mornings, parent and toddler groups, family events and parent support programmes
• Conduct hands on and informative workshops to support parents and proactively improve the home learning environment
• Collaborating with other staff in the Early years and School Aged Childcare service, Parent Carer Facilitator colleagues, other professional bodies and stakeholders (Area Based Childhood Programmes, South Dublin County Partnership, Early Childhood Ireland etc) and promote the range of available services to affect the best outcomes for parents and children
• Participate in team meetings, communities of practice (COP), ongoing training and supervision and proactively identify training relevant to the role, share learning from any training or events attended
• Support the monitoring and evaluation of the FCF role and its associated activities
• Deliver/Support attendance in evidenced-based and evidence-informed parent programmes to parents in Clondalkin / Assist in linking families with local/appropriate services and agencies. Encourage their attendance at these services.
• Promote the role of Family Facilitator within trainings that may occur in the early years sector e.g. presenting at conference. These will all be in relation to StartBright vision, mission and values
• Adhere to KPIs set out by StartBright to support their Strategic Plan (2024-2026) and quality goals
• Support impact measurement through data collection, evidence and evaluation
• Share knowledge with other team members to maintain standards.
• Actively participate as a member of the designated team/service.
• Seek the advice of relevant personnel when appropriate/as required.
• Promote a culture that values diversity and respect in the workplace.
• Work within current legislation, relevant policies and procedures, guidelines and protocols within the designated team/service
• Adhere to the supervision policy.
• Any other duties that may be requested from time to time in agreement with StartBright.