Job Description:

The Traveller Visibility Group (TVG) Community Drugs Initiative is a Cork Local Drugs Task Force funded project. The Community Drugs Worker advises, refers and supports Travellers and their families in Cork in addressing substance misuse and addiction issues. They will be employed by TVG.

Job title: Community Drugs Worker#

Host Agency: TVG

Responsible to: Director of Operations and Director of Advocacy, TVG

Base of work:

TVG, 25 Lower Johns St., Cork. There is significant outreach work in the community and from time to time you will be required to work outside your base in order to attend meetings, activities, training etc. All work will strictly follow Covid 19 restrictions best practice ad government guidelines allowing for possible remote working when advised.

Job summary:

The worker will advise, refer and support Travellers and their families in Cork city in addressing substance misuse and addiction issues. They will work with individuals and their families who are actively involved in addictive behaviour or identified as being at serious risk of becoming so.

Principal Duties:

• To deliver culturally appropriate addiction work response
• To engage on a 1-1 basis with Travellers in Cork who are involved actively in addictive behaviour
• To engage in outreach work within the community
• Support and advise TVG in development of TVG response to addiction amongst Travellers
• To implement TVGs response to addiction amongst Travellers and work with TVG’s Traveller Health Care Workers, Health team Coordinator and Community Development Workers to provide support and information for Travellers impacted by the misuse of drugs and alcohol and addiction related issues.
• Raise awareness and provide a safe space for Travellers to discuss substance related issues
• To build a relationship with the Traveller community and have the ability to gain their trust
• To build on the project referrel system to related addiction services
• To assess the needs of clients and prepare individual tailored interventions as deemed appropriate
• To evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention on an ongoing basis
• To network and work with local agencies/ groups in order to source relevant supports and programmes. This will include working with the Local and Regional Drugs Task Force Projects, Gardai, Probation and Welfare, Addiction Treatment Services, G.P.s and other health officials, Social Workers, Counselling supports training and education providers such as the Department of Edcuation and FAS.
• To prepare for and attend individual supervision on a regular basis
• To attend appropriate in-service training and participate in staff development as required
• To prepare a monthly work report for the TVG staff meetings and for the TVG Board of Directors

Terms and Conditions:

Community Drugs Worker Person specification

Skills and attributes

Essential:

• Relevant qualification in youth/community/substance misuse work
• Training and experience of working in field of substance misuse
• Training and experience of working with people in addiction and outreach work
• Ability to advise individuals and their families on addiction treatment options available
• Knowledge of the National Drugs Strategy 2017-2025
• Car owner with full clean driving licence
• Empathetic attitude / approachable personality
• High level of motivation and ability to work on own initiative
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with relevant local agencies
• Work as part of a team/group and in outreach context
• Good communication skills including oral and written
• Good organisational skills
• An understanding of addiction
• An understanding of youth and community work methodologies

Desirable:

• Experience and knowledge of working with the Traveller Community
• Knowledge of the All Ireland Traveller Health Study and Pavee Pathways: Good Practice Guidelines for drug and alcohol services working with Travellers
• Ability to evaluate the effectiveness of the Drugs and Alcohol Project programme
• Flexibility with working hours- some project work may include evening and weekend work.
• Holistic therapy skills

Please note this job description may be altered from time to time depending on the needs of the project and following consultation between the worker and the management.

Closing Date for Submissions is 13th December with interviews taking place via Zoom or in person on week of 16th or 17th December.

For further queries on this position please contact Eileen O’Shea on tvgeoshea@gmail.com or call 0871301756

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