One Family is the leading provider of specialist support services for people parenting alone and sharing parenting in Ireland. We have a number of training programmes that we have developed which support lone parents to progress from welfare to education, training or employment. The role of the Welfare to Work Manager with One Family is to strategically manage the development and mainstreaming of new and existing quality proven services. This job spec is a clarified version of the recently advertised One Family Futures Manager – previous applicants should not apply

Service Development

• To develop the One Family Welfare to Work Service through the identification and development of evidence based programmes for parents to support them to education, training and sustainable employment
• To identify and secure funding sources for pilot programmes and mainstreaming of proven programmes
• To project manage a regional pilot of the New Futures programme in 2010/11 with a view to mainstreaming the programme throughout Ireland
• To strategically inform the work of the One Family Training & Consultancy Service to develop a quality assured training for Welfare to Work train the trainer products
• To be responsible for liaising, establishing and maintaining quality relationships  with referral and training, education agencies, employers  as well as other key partners and relevant stakeholders

Service Management

• To oversee the provision of a best practice Welfare to Work service for One Family clients using adult education principles
• To oversee and manage the delivery of  a range of pre-vocational training programmes for clients of One Family
• To ensure new resource materials and courses are developed as required using an evidence based approach
• To ensure all best practice policies and procedures are in place
• To manage, supervise and direct associated staff and resources
• To ensure competent administration, evaluation, monitoring and reporting of all programmes in the service
• To work in conjunction with other Services Team staff to develop and deliver services in response to client needs and One Family strategy

Other

• To contribute to our practice to policy systems
• To contribute to One Family publications where appropriate  
• To promote the services in conjunction with other staff
• To attend all required staff meetings, trainings and development days
• To undertake other areas of work where necessary or as requested

The One Family Welfare to Work Manager in One Family will be responsible to the One Family Director on a daily basis and will be subject to all the Policies and Procedures of One Family.

The job description of the One Family Welfare to Work Manager is designed in response to a strategic planning process and is subject to change in line with the overall strategic goals of the organisation.

Person specification for One Family Welfare to Work Manager

We require a One Family Welfare to Work Manager. See attached for the Aims & Guiding Principles of the service. This exciting new post will provide the right applicant with responsibility for a dynamic and responsive service that is committed to best professional practice and innovation.

Candidates need to:

• Have strong experience in programme and service development
• Have sound knowledge of educational progression routes, FETAC and education providers in Ireland
• Have knowledge of active labour market programmes
• Have excellent project management skills
• Have the ability to plan, monitor and report on budgets
• Have excellent communication skills, professional boundaries and interpersonal skills
• Have a proven track record in facilitation, training and group work
• Have a proven track record in the design and evaluation of adult education programmes
• Have experience in working with a socially excluded client group

• Have excellent administration skills and IT skills
• Have strong written communication and reporting abilities
• Have a client-focussed perspective
• Be enthusiastic, motivated and innovative
• Be a self-starter with the ability to work in a team
• Be well-organised with good attention to detail

Although not essential, ideal candidates would also:

• Have a third level qualification
• Have supervision/management experience
• Have a background in progression routes from welfare to work/family life education/family support
• Have an understanding of the family support services in Ireland and interventions to support the health and well-being of families

• Have experience of working in the Irish voluntary/community sector

This permanent post (subject to probationary period and ongoing funding) of One Family Welfare to Work Manager will be remunerated on a pay scale of €34K to €54K approx (One Family Grade 3) depending on skills and experience. This is a fulltime post subject to a 6 month probationary period.  One Family offers excellent employment conditions.

A cover letter and CV addressing the required competencies should be forwarded to:        Director, One Family, Cherish House, 2 Lower Pembroke Street, Dublin 2

or by email to: info@onefamily.ie

Closing date for applications, 12 noon Wednesday 5 May 2010

One Family is an equal opportunities employer

The Director of One Family welcomes informal enquiries

One Family Adult Education Service

Aims and Guiding Principles

The One Family Adult Education Service provides adult pre-vocational education and training to members of one-parent families. The service aims to develop and provide a range of best practice programmes that empower clients to:

• Find mutual support amongst their programme group and all Adult Education clients;
• Develop an understanding about the exclusion of one-parent families in Ireland;
• Become aware that the one-parent family can be a strong and healthy family form;
• Develop a range of strategies that can support their family – through the enhancement of practical skills or personal development – thus allowing them to counter the discrimination and disadvantage they might face, and
• Increase their self-confidence and self-esteem.

The Adult Education Service is guided by the principles of adult education. Adult education and training in One Family:

• Is learner-centred, partnering with clients in the development and roll-out of individual programmes and the overall service;
• Employs participatory and creative methods;
• Is rooted in clients’ day-to-day experiences;
• Has links to other educational options that learners can move on to;
• Meets the client where they are at by catering to individual learning styles and life stages;
• Focuses equally on the process of learning as much as the learning objectives, and
• Fosters an analysis of our society or ‘why things are the way they are.”

Volunteer childcare worker wanted

One Family is a leading provider of support services to people parenting alone and sharing parenting. We are currently recruiting for a volunteer, part/time Childcare Worker  to assist the childcare service in providing a quality affordable childcare service to children of one parent families.

Why become a Volunteer with One Family

Fundamentally, volunteering is about giving your time, energy and skills freely. What better way is there to connect with your community and give a little back? As a volunteer in One Family you can give a little back to society by supporting our childcare  service where you can gain experience and ultimately fulfil a desire to help others who need help at a difficult time in their life. We can offer you a supported structure in which to practice your skills.

Job Specification

• To contribute to the provision of a professional and comprehensive childcare service for One Family clients
• To work on a regular part time basis in One Family with the childcare team
• To work under the direction of the Childcare Manager
• To undertake supervision in line with One Family requirements
• Work within all policies and procedures of One Family

Person Specification

You will:

• Have a qualification in Childcare or associated profession
• Have a solid and practical understanding of family dynamics
• Have a solid understanding of challenging behaviours
• Have the ability to offer support to one-parent families
• Have at least 6 months experience of working in a childcare service
• Be available to work on flexible hours on a regular basis to meet the needs of the service

A cover letter and CV addressing the required competencies should be sent to:  Childcare & Parenting Manager, One Family, Cherish House, 2 Lower Pembroke Street, Dublin 2 or by email to: info@onefamily.ie. Informal expressions of interest will be accepted and responded to.

Closing date for applications is 5pm, Monday 22 March 2010. One Family is an equal opportunities employer