Youth Engagement and Participation Worker – Donegal

Job Type: Fixed-term one year contract

This programme provides youth engagement and participation opportunities for separated children seeking international protection, and young people in receipt of Temporary Protection who are in the care of Tusla.

The role is delivered as part of EPIC’s Youth Engagement and Participation (YEP) Team and involves close collaboration with Tusla staff and private care providers to ensure young people have meaningful opportunities to engage, participate and connect within their communities.

The YEP Worker works directly with young people across three residential units in Donegal close to Letterkenny, supporting the development of youth engagement and participation initiatives that promote inclusion, wellbeing and personal development.

Key areas of work include:

• Building positive relationships with young people through regular outreach and engagement.
• Supporting young people to access local services, activities and community opportunities.
• Creating pathways for participation, ensuring young people’s voices are heard and valued.
• Facilitating group activities that encourage creativity, confidence building and social connection.
•  Supporting young people to develop friendships, peer networks and a positive sense of belonging.
• Helping to build a supportive care community where young people can share experiences, develop skills and contribute to decisions that affect them.

• Ongoing consultation with children and young people to inform bespoke YEP programmes, activities and opportunities for participation.
• Work with local organisations and networks to ensure that separated children and young people in these regions have knowledge of opportunities and services at local level.
• Support the integration of young people with the wider care-experienced community engaged in EPIC’s YEP programme.
• Deliver targeted youth work programmes through YEP’s model of engagement using outreach, online platforms and a flexible approach.
• Deliver planned programmes for the purpose of aiding integration and enhancing the personal and social development of children and young people through their voluntary participation, such as Gáisce, Leadership for Life or other programmes.
• Reporting to Tusla on the progress and outcomes of the programme on a bi-annual basis.

• Work in close collaboration with the YEP team to design and implement new programmes.
• Occasionally delivering information sessions on EPIC’s Advocacy Service and EPIC’s other areas of work.
• Develop and support opportunities to participate and engage in individual and group projects.
• Contribute to the recruitment and support of EPIC Youth Council members.
• Network and establish strong relationships within the youth and community sector, and other services and NGOs in the migration space.
• Collaborate with other EPIC teams and departments as needed.
• Collate data using YEP’s internal database on youth participation and engagement.
• Participate as part of the EPIC team ensuring the values of the organisation are always upheld.

• Participate in team meetings, online and in-person, and provide updates as required.
• Participate in regular supervision with your line manager.
• Be vigilant to any child protection risks, health and safety risks, and data protection risks in the workplace and bring any concerns to designated officers and/or your line-manager.
• Undertake other duties as may be required to meet organisational objectives.

Candidates must have a strong interest in how youth engagement and empowerment advance social and political change.

• Third level qualification in a relevant area such as youth work, community development, social care or equivalent.
• A minimum of three years’ experience working directly with children and young people in youth work/participation/social care/community engagement or similar roles.
• Experience of working with and engaging children and young people who are seldom heard.
• Knowledge and understanding of child and youth participation theories and methodologies.
• Experience of multi-agency working within community settings.
• Experience of project/programme development.
• Excellent facilitation and written communications skills and an ability to write for and communicate with a variety of audiences including children and young people.
• Proficient IT skills and ability to adapt to new digital tools quickly.
• A full clean driving licence and access to a vehicle.

• Familiar with children’s rights, the Irish care system, and international protection system.
• Knowledge of education, mental health and related youth concerns.
• Experience of working with children and young people from diverse experiences and backgrounds.

• Commitment to the values and mission of EPIC.
• Collaborative working style and comfortable working on own initiative as a lone worker and as a member of a busy team.
• Flexible and adaptable to changes and meeting the needs of children and young people.
• Ability to take ownership and manage workload to meet deadlines.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development and keeping up to date on best practice within the child and youth sector.
• Commitment to and understanding of a working environment that promotes equal opportunities and has regard for race and ethnicity, culture, faith, sexual orientation, gender identity, and equality.

EPIC, Empowering People in Care, believes in the value of a diverse workforce and encourages applications from people from all ethnic, cultural, religious, and social backgrounds: in particular, Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic and LGBTIQ+ people. We also welcome candidates with care experience.

The job description attached does not define all responsibilities within the role but offers a detailed overview of the role. It is envisaged that the post-holder will be flexible in using their own initiative to develop the role in line with the objectives and mission of EPIC and the needs of the children and young people they will be working with.

• This is a full-time post (35 hours per week), with a six-month probationary period.
• Annual leave entitlement of 25 day per annum, increasing to 27 days after 2 years’ service.  In addition to annual leave, the office is closed for one day at Easter and three days at Christmas. 
• Participation in the company pension scheme is matched by a 5% Employer contribution on completion of the probationary period.
• This role will be flexible in line with EPIC’s current hybrid working model – requiring some office-based work and some remote work – within the working hours of the organisation.
• This post will involve travel within Ireland and have regular evening and occasional weekend work. Travel expenses and additional hours will be compensated in accordance with EPIC’s Mileage and TOIL Policies.
• The post holder will undertake training on Children First (Tusla e-learning programme) and abide at all times by this and by EPIC’s policies on child protection and welfare.
• All roles within EPIC are subject to Garda Vetting.
• You must have your own car for this role.