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Job description

On behalf of the Greater Shantallow Area Partnership to coordinate and actively contribute to the development of the efficient and effective operation of the ETHOS Family Support Intervention Project. A key aim of the project is the development and implementation of a family support and early intervention service within the Greater Shantallow area. The ETHOS project seeks to develop an early intervention partnership within the area, one which will foster effective collaboration between the Health, Education, Training and Community & Voluntary sectors. The Project targets Families with Children & Young People aged 4 to 18 years from the Ballyarnett DEA, Greater Shantallow, Outer North Area who are deemed to be at Levels 1 and 2 on the Hardiker Model - families who are experiencing some level of difficulty and who require support on a short term basis.

Responsibilities

• To co-ordinate and support a team of Family Support Workers in the day to day running of services and to facilitate supervision and team meetings. This team will offer support and practical help to families living within the area
• To co-ordinate referrals, allocate work and review progress against the goals that have been identified and agreed with the children, young people and their families
• To allocate work to the three Family Support Workers and supervise their caseloads in such a way as to make sure that the aims of the service are achieved and that the service provides a steady throughput
• To meet regularly, and work closely, with the family support workers, management team and project board to ensure that family support services are prioritised and targeted appropriately
• To organise joint visits with Family Support Workers as and when appropriate either as a way of supporting the Family Support Worker and/or observing them in action
• To carry out some direct work with children, young people and families if the need arises either because of the complexity of the case or because there would otherwise be an unacceptable delay in allocating a Family Support Worker
• To set up and administer quality assurance systems in order to ensure that individual case files and case records are kept fully up to date and that there is reliable, accurate and detailed information readily available
• To have an understanding (appropriate to the role) of, and comply with, GSAP’s procedures for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and vulnerable adults
• To promote the project through networking with appropriate agencies and stakeholders
• To develop effective partnerships with all stakeholders and local Family Support Service providers (including identifying needs and reporting to appropriate Agencies)
• To ensure that all Family Support procedures and standards are met in keeping with Health Department / WHSCT guidelines, registration requirements, and GSAP policies
• To liaise closely with other key staff & service providers in the effective co-ordination of Family Support services
• To develop innovative, needs led Family Support services, in response to identified need
• To regularly monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of services provided and report back to GSAP Manager
• To liaise with parents and service users seeking their views and opinions regarding the services which they receive
• In general, to promote the aims and objectives of the ETHOS Project

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• An appropriate Degree in Social Work, Nursing, Early Years, Health & Social care, Public Policy, Youth Work, Counselling or Education
• And a minimum 3 years’ experience of providing family support in a paid capacity to children, young people and their families
• Or a minimum 5 years’ experience of providing family support in a paid capacity to children, young people and their families
• Experience of supervising staff or volunteers
• Knowledge and understanding of the development and care needs of children and young people and of the impact of social exclusion and discrimination
• Knowledge and understanding of the difficulties and problems that parents and carers can encounter and of the way in which they can impact on the health and well-being of children and young people
• Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults, including the ability to identify and assess risks and to respond appropriately in line with existing policies, procedures and practice standards
• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills including the ability to engage with people who might initially be resistant, manage and resolve conflict and establish and maintain strong and purposeful partnerships with other agencies
• Experience of collating and analysing information to evaluate and review outputs and outcomes, improve services and produce reports for a range of different audiences
• Experience of reporting to funding agencies, and compiling reports to meet their needs
• Experience of managing budgets
• Experience of writing funding bids / applications
• An ability to chair meetings, either internal or external effectively and well, keeping participants to task, ensuring they remain focused and that decisions taken and action agreed are understood and properly recorded
• Good time management skills and an ability to work under pressure while at the same time managing and maintaining high practice and performance standards
• Good organisational and administrative skills, including the ability to monitor and control budgets and to use Microsoft Office and Outlook
• Experience of partnership working and teamwork in a community setting
• An understanding of community development

Desirable Skills

• Experience of working in community settings
• Experience of working within early intervention
• Knowledge of the community/voluntary and statutory agencies operating within the Greater Shantallow area and across the City

Further Information

This form should be returned, either by email, post, or hand delivered to: The Manager, GSAP, Community Building, Unit C3 & C4 Northside Village Centre, Glengalliagh Road, Derry, BT48 8NN. Closing date for receipt of completed/signed application is: 12pm on Friday 18th September 2026. Please note: Interviews for the post will take place on week commencing Monday 21st September 2026.

Application Information

For a full Application Pack, including Application Form, Job Description and Specification, please contact Marisa on 02871 358787 or email jobs@shantallow.net or call in to our main office at Northside Shopping Centre - Community Building, Units C3 / C4, Northside Village Centre, Glengalliagh Road, Derry, BT48 8NN.