Boarding Support Worker – PartTime & FullTime

Job Title: Support Workers
Reporting to: Team Leader/Care Manager
Location: Reach Deaf Services Boarding Campus
Salary: €33,072.50 (for the academic year) from September to June
Contract Type: Fixed term specified purpose for one academic year
Hours of Work:
Full Time 39 hours per week
Part Time 20 hours per week

Purpose
Reach Deaf Services provides services to the Deaf Community, including a supported living service, and a boarding campus for Deaf children attending the Holy Family School for the Deaf.

We are committed to empowering the people we support to live fulfilling and independent lives. We invest heavily in our staff through comprehensive training and ongoing development, ensuring they are well prepared to support individuals transitioning into their new homes and communities.

Reach Deaf Services is currently seeking compassionate, motivated, and flexible individuals to join our Boarding Campus as Support Workers to provide support to boarders and young people. Our vision is to promote inclusion, equal opportunities, and independence by empowering each person to shape and direct their own future.

The successful candidates will provide person-centred support to Deaf and DeafBlind young people that we support.

Key Responsibilities

• Workday and night shifts as per roster that is in line with service needs.
• Staff members are expected to carry out specific duties assigned to both day and night shifts.
• Implement operational plans as determined by the Care Manager and Team Leaders
• Ensure compliance with practice with organisational policies, procedures, national legislation, Children First, HIQA/TULSA and other applicable standards
• Promote an ISL environment with ISL being the first language in use within the service
• Support each child or young person as required throughout their educational journey within the campus, following guidance from the organisation and adhering to relevant regulations and procedures as set out by the Department of Education
• Support and follow guidance outlined in general support plans designed to meet the individual needs of children and young people, ensuring all agreed strategies and interventions are implemented consistently
• Provide care in line with each child’s identified health care needs, following the instructions set out in their health care and/or support plans, and adhering to relevant training and organisational policies.
• Act as a keyworker by supporting children and young people in developing life skills, education, and personal goals, following personal care plans and regularly providing progress updates to relevant staff for review.
• Encourage and support children and young people to express themselves creatively through age-appropriate activities, hobbies, and interests, in line with their individual support plans.
• Complete progress on all documentation e.g , complaints, Individual Crisis Support Plan`s
• Report any incidents, concerns, or complaints promptly in line with organisational policies and procedures.
• Follow all medication-related procedures, ensuring safe administration in line with the Medication Management Policy and training received.
• Follow and adhere to Health & Safety guidance as outlined in the organisation’s Safety Statement, and complete health and safety checks as required.

Why work for us:
Reach Deaf Services is a not-for-profit organisation, providing services to the deaf community in Ireland and are currently recruiting for Support Workers in the Boarding Campus.

• We offer a competitive salary
• Flexible workingarrangements
• Generous employer pension
• Learning and Development opportunities with a focus on personal and professional progression
• A job with purpose, working as part of a diverse and inclusive team
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Maternity Leave
• Free Parking
• Paid Sick Leave

Knowledge (Education & Related Experience):
Key Requirements:

• Minimum Level 5 qualification in Healthcare/ Social Care or related social science , Applied Social Studies, Community and Youth Work or Deaf Studies
• Fluency in ISL signed language or willingness to complete the assigned ISL classes and exams through the in-house ISL Tutor program (currently Levels 1 and 2) within the assigned timeframe, or commitment to complete them as required.
• Full clean driving licence
• Experience of working effectively with a range of stakeholders to provide services to young people either in the community or within a residential setting
• Minimum of one years’ experience working in a boarding/residential care setting
• Experience of providing /receiving reflective supervision to facilitate professional development
• Experience of HIQA/TUSLA or equivalent audit processes

Key Behaviours

• Adapts communication to each young person’s needs (e.g., ISL/visual communication), with strong Deaf awareness.
• Shows respect, empathy, patience, and builds positive, trusting relationships.
• Maintains a calm, regulated, and responsive presence; supports co-regulation; engages in neuro-affirming practice; and promotes each young person’s wellbeing and independence.
• Works collaboratively, maintains boundaries, reliability, and accountability.
• Uses creativity, reflective thinking, and calm decision-making in day-to-day situations.
• Responds effectively to changing needs, routines, and care plans.
• Actively engages in ongoing development, including ISL and specialist training.
• Contributes to a culture of high standards, inclusion, and continuous improvement.

Do you not meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and members of underrepresented groups are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet all qualification criteria.

At Reach Deaf Services, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role but your experience does not align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles

If this exciting opportunity sparks your interest, please contact us

Any interested applicants should forward their CV and a short cover letter stating their suitability for the role. Please email recruitment@reachdeafservices.ie by 5pm on 25^th July 2026.

For a full copy of the job specification or any other enquiries about the job, please email Kristina Harris HR Generalist at kharris@reachdeafservices.ie

Reach Deaf Services is an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all qualified candidates. Please note that we may contact you to arrange an interview before the application deadline.

All offers of employment are subject to Garda Vetting.