Relief Home Support Worker Children's Services & Home Support Ref C083

CoAction West Cork provides quality services to support children and adults with an intellectual disability and children with autism.

Relief Home Support Worker

Childrens Services and Home Support Dunmanway

Flexible Hours as Required

For full position details and job description or for details on submitting an application

please visit our website or you can email

Closing date for receipt of applications:

Friday 17th October 2025

CoAction West Cork is an equal opportunity employer.

Job Description

Relief Support Workers

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 CoActions policy to review job descriptions on a regular basis.

Reporting to: The Childrens Services Coordinator

Base: Childrens Home Community

Overall Purpose of Position

To provide additional support to a child with Intellectual Disability who is enrolled in the WCCDS services. To encourage promote and support the child in their own home and facilitate integration in to their local community. The main responsibilities are outlined below however support may vary with individual childrens needs and these are subject to review.

Main Responsibilities

Home support workers are employed by CoAction to support a child in their own home and therefore the main duties and responsibility are to that child. The

Childrens Services Coordinator is the line manager for all support workers.

The hours appointed by the Childrens Services Coordinator are particular to that child in their own home or community.

The role of the Home Support Worker is to meet the individual needs of the child they support with particular focus on the childs care needs physical health

and safety issues.

To treat all children and families with the utmost respect in line with CoActions ethos.

To be attentive to the physical needs of the service users in the delivery of personal and intimate care.

To encourage participation in the day- to- day activities in their home.

To contribute to the provision of a programme of stimulating activities for the child and to assist the child in developing recreation activities and hobbies.

To escort and assist on social outings in their local community

To ensure the child is not subjected to any forms of abuse and in particular to ensure they are not subject to bullying or the threat of bullying.

To implement agreed programmes with the Childrens Services Coordinator .

Under the guidance of the Childrens Services Coordinator to maintain good relationships with the childs family and other professionals.

To ensure that health and safety guidelines are adhered to at all times.

To keep the Childrens Services Coordinator informed of all matters relating to the childs welfare through regular communication.

To develop relevant skills and abilities by taking part in training courses open to you.

To contribute in a positive and energetic manner to the overall development of CoAction and the services it provides.

Whilst acknowledging the need for the professional sharing of information within the team you are required to have strict regard to confidentiality within the

team.

To carry out other duties which may be agreed from time to time in discussion with the Childrens Services Coordinator

Confidentiality

All records and information must remain strictly confidential and all necessary measures must be taken to ensure that this confidentiality is

protected.

Essential Qualifications/Experience

• QQI (FETAC) level 5 in Healthcare or an equivalent qualification.

A Full Clean Irish Drivers Licence for manual vehicles

A relevant qualification in Learning Disabilities Social Studies Social Sciences Nursing or Childcare

Previous experience of working with people with an intellectual disability and / or autism

Previous experience of supporting people with behaviours that challenge

MAPA or CPI Training

First Aid training

Experience of working with arts crafts pottery gardening and cooking

Essential Skills

Effective communication skills verbal and written

Basic IT skills including typing and using Microsoft word.

Team player and initiative

Advocacy skills

The ability to support people with intimate and personal care needs.

Experience of working with arts crafts cooking and gardening.

The ability to support people with positive behaviour support plans

The ability to support people with identified physiotherapy and / or occupational therapy needs

Key Competencies (i.e. what are the key skills that are required to do this job)

ability to build positive relationships with the people we support

ability to carry out intimate and personal care

communication skills both verbal and written / IT

to work well within a team and the ability to work on your own initiative.

5. Advocacy Skills

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 CoActions policy to review job descriptions on a regular basis.