CoAction West Cork provides quality services to support children and adults with an intellectual disability, and children with autism. This is achieved by helping each service user reach their full potential, working in partnership with their families and carers, within the community.

Professionally Qualified Social Worker

Permanent Contract

28.5 hours per week

Closing date for applications : Friday 25th July 2025

Reporting/responsible to:  Social Worker Team Leader

Base: Dunmanway

Vision, Mission and Core Values:

CoAction West Cork CLG (hereafter CoAction) provides a wide range of community based day, residential, respite, supported living, multi-disciplinary services, home based and outreach supports and services to children and adults with an intellectual disability with and without autism, and their families, throughout West Cork. As Lead Agency, CoAction also provides multi-disciplinary services to children with complex needs.  The supports and services we provide are underpinned by CoAction’s Vision, Mission, Core Values and Strategic Plan, which together aim to enable people we support realise their dreams and ambitions. CoAction is also an Approved Housing Body (AHB).  

Overall Purpose of Position:Social workers in adult services play a key role in supporting adults and young people who access CoAction’s services, helping them to live safely, independently, and with dignity. Their main purpose is to promote well-being, uphold individual rights, and coordinate personalised support. This includes delivering therapeutic social work interventions, carrying out assessments, group work, contributing to the safeguarding processes, providing advocacy, responding to crises, and coordinating both internal and external services. They also can offer dedicated support to adults participating in the Home Sharing service. The Social Worker would be part of the Multidisciplinary Team in CoAction.  

Key Responsibilities

Professional and Clinical:

The Professionally Qualified Social Worker will:

• Promote and deliver services within CoAction’s ethos and philosophy. 

• Conduct social work assessments and provide ongoing services to adults and families. 

• Manage and prioritize caseload as appropriate to the post.  

• Write social work reports, complete assessments and provide support  

• Provide individual, group, and family support, with a focus on disability-related issues. 

• Provide supportive counselling, emotional and practical support, and information to people supported and their circles of support. 

• Link individuals with the services/resources appropriate to their particular needs.  

• Deliver social work service in collaboration with other disciplines / agencies as required, in appropriate settings reflecting the needs of the person supported.  

• Actively participate as a member of the relevant team/ service in team building and change management initiatives.    

• Attend case conferences, meetings and other relevant fora as required.  

• Work within current legislation, relevant policies and procedures, guidelines and protocols as laid down by the employer.  

• Incorporate Social Work values and ethical principles in planning, developing, implementing and reviewing interventions.  

• Implement models of best practice / evidence-based practice. 

• Support the Senior Social Worker in training initiatives. 

• Deliver training to the people we support, parents and staff as determined by the team. 

• Participate in service evaluations and research projects. 

• Maintain statistical records and submit reports, including budget reports and annual updates. 

• Stay up to date with developments in social work practice and attend relevant training. 

• Contribute to policy development and quality standards. 

• Foster good relationships and promote interagency collaboration 

• Participate in professional supervision with a focus on reflective practice. 

• Perform other duties as required by the role. 

• Take direction from his/her line manager.  

• Take an active role in an appropriate level of planned professional supervision, in accordance with the local/ national Supervision Policy.  

• Engage in reflective practice.  

• Deputise as agreed / appropriate.   

• Promote a culture that values diversity and respect in the workplace.  

• Keep the Team Leader or Senior Social Worker fully informed and up to date on all significant matters.  

• As a mandated person under the Children First Act 2015 you will have a legal obligation to report child protection concerns at or above a defined threshold to TUSLA & to assist Tusla, if requested, in assessing a concern which has been the subject of a mandated report.  

• As this post is one of those designated under the Protection for Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998, appointment to this post appoints one as a Designated Officer in accordance with Section 2 of the Act.  You will remain a Designated Officer for the duration of your appointment to your current post or for the duration of your appointment to such other post as is included in the categories specified in the Ministerial Direction. You will receive full information on your responsibilities under the Act on appointment.  

• Comply with professional obligations under the HSE Safeguarding Vulnerable Persons at Risk of Abuse National Policy & Procedures (2014) 

Education and Training:

The Professionally Qualified Social Worker will:

• Maintain standards of practice and levels of professional knowledge by participating in continuous professional development initiatives and attendance at courses as appropriate. 

• Engage in career and Performance Achievement Planning collaboration with the Social Work Team Leader / Senior Social Worker  

• Keep up to date with advances in Social Work research, and ongoing review and evaluation of literature relevant to the assigned area. 

• Keep abreast of developments in national policies and strategies and international best practice. 

• Keep up to date with organisational developments within the Irish Health Service. 

• Act as a resource by participating in the induction, education and training of Social Work colleagues, other health professionals and people supported groups as required. 

• Participate in the practice education of student Social Workers.  

• Support and train other staff in accordance with professional standards as appropriate. 

• Foster an understanding of the role and contribution of social work by providing professional consultation and education to other members of the service. 

• Take an active role in professional clinical supervision and engage in reflective practice in accordance with CORU requirements and the local policy. 

Health and Safety:

The Professionally Qualified Social Worker will:   

• Comply with and contribute to the development of policies, procedures, guidelines and safe professional practice and adhere to relevant legislation, regulations and standards. 

• Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc. and comply with associated CoAction protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role. 

Administrative   

The Professionally Qualified Social Worker will:  

• Maintain a high standard of documentation, including service user files in accordance with local guidelines, GDPR and the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.  

• Maintain accurate up to date records and files and submit activity data as required. 

• Write accurate, clear, concise and purposeful reports. 

• Ensure the maintenance of people supported and data confidentiality. 

• Contribute to the development and implementation of information sharing protocols and audit systems. 

• Contribute to policy development, performance monitoring and budgetary control of service in conjunction with the Senior Social Worker / Social Work Team Leader.  

• Collaborate with the Senior Social Worker / Social Work Team Leader or designate in developing the role of the Social Worker and the service e.g., through planning, audit, production of standards, continuing education, quality improvement initiatives and research. 

• Assist in ensuring that the social work service makes the most efficient and effective use of developments in IT. 

Person Specification:

Essential Qualifications:          

• MSW or CQSW or a Letter of Accreditation issued by the National Social Work Qualifications Board (NSWQB). 

• Be registered with CORU. 

• Be registered with CORU (Social Workers Register).

• Full driving licence which qualifies them to drive on Irish Roads with means of transport.

Experience:

• Previous relevant experience of working with children and adults with an intellectual disability and their families is highly desirable.

Skills and Competencies:

• Requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability and professional ability)for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills is essential.

• Organisational skills.

• Initiative.

• Team Worker.

Other Requirements:

Be available for flexible working hours to fit in with the needs of the Home Sharing and Social Work Services.

Please note that a 12 month panel may be formed from these interviews from which future positions may be filled.

For full position details and job description or for details on submitting an application please visit our website

www.coaction.ie or you can email hrgen@coaction.ie

Informal enquiries may be made to Bernadette McCarthy, Social Worker Team Lead at bernadettemccarthy@coaction.ie or on 086-7966408

This job description indicates the main functions and responsibilities of the post and is subject to review and amendment in light of changing circumstances and may include other duties and responsibilities as may be determined from time to time by the Director of Services/CEO or designated Line Manager. You will be given as much notice of such changes as possible. It is CoAction’s policy to review job descriptions on a regular basis.

CoAction West Cork is an equal opportunity employer.