Programme Assistant AIM (20 hours) – Mulhuddart, Early Years’ Service

at  Barnardos

JOB DESCRIPTION

Post: Programme Assistant
Location: Church Road, Early Years, Mulhuddart
Responsible to: Project Co-ordinator
Works with: Children, staff and parents

CORE JOB REQUIREMENTS

• To provide a safe and appropriate environment for children to participate in the service.
• To ensure all children attending the service receive an appropriate level of supervision.
• To support children attending to play and interact positively with other children.
• To be vigilant for signs of physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect and any concerns regarding the welfare of children.
• To immediately bring any concerns to the attention of the child’s Key Worker and the Designated Person and in keeping with Barnardos Child Protection Policy.
• To record concerns promptly and accurately
• To gather information statistics and prepare reports as required, including administration of databases as appropriate to the role
• To supervise students and volunteers where necessary and to ensure they are aware of all Barnardos policies and compile placement reports as appropriate.

REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIC TO THIS POST

• To specifically support children in the early years service under the access and inclusion model
• To adopt an Anti-Bias approach in the context of the Early Years Services
• To support the Child and Family Development Worker in their work with the children
• To cover breaks and groups with Child family development workers
• To support and engage with all aspects of the Early Years and Tus-Maith curriculum
• To tidy the centre when the children depart, assuring that it is consistent with the requirements of the pre-school regulations

REQUIREMENTS OF ALL BARNARDOS STAFF

• Commitment to the purpose of Barnardos and to work within the values, policies and procedures of the organisation and in the context of current legislation and regulations
• To participate in regular supervision with your line manager
• To actively participate in team and staff meetings and service reviews/ evaluations and to contribute to the development of policy and practice with your area of work and within Barnardos as a whole
• To report any area of concern to your line manager in a timely manner
• To show reasonable flexibility in relation to hours of attendance to meet the needs of the work. Work during unsocial hours may be required.
• Have a flexible approach to the work in response to organisational change, development and review of best practice.
• Participate in and engage with a performance management programme.
• Identify training needs with your line manager and participate in training opportunities appropriate to the role
• To be vigilant to any Health, Safety and Welfare risks in the workplace and bring any concerns to the attention of your line manager or local Health & Safety Officer.
• To be vigilant to any concerns regarding the protection and welfare of children and to bring them to the attention of the Barnardos Designated Person in a timely manner, in keeping with the Barnardos Child Protection policies.
• To participate in the efficient flow of information within the organisation by sharing and seeking information as appropriate
• To undertake other duties as may be requested by the line manager from time to time
• To undertake your work in a manner that is friendly, flexible and informal.
  Note: This Job Description will be reviewed and updated in line with the needs of the work.

EXPERIENCE

• Experience of working with children for a minimum of 6 months is essential. (work experience means paid employment, not training courses/student placements)
• Relevant voluntary work may be considered.

QUALIFICATION

Recognised qualification (minimum Level 5 on the QQI/FETAC) that is approved under the Early Years (Preschool) Regulations.
The post-holder is initially assigned to work in the Early Years’ service, Church Road, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15 but may be required in the future to work in other project(s) in the Dublin area in line with organisational needs.

To provide a safe, child centred environment/experience to children in the context of the service in which you work and appropriate to the role.