Social Care Worker

About the Role

Enable Ireland is recruiting a Social Care Worker for its respite services in the Carlow/Kilkenny area, based in Kilkenny, County Kilkenny, Ireland. The organisation supports children and adults with disabilities and has been recognised among Ireland’s Irish Independent 150 Best Employers 2025. It also holds a Silver Award in Diversity from the Irish Centre for Diversity and continues to focus on fairness, respect, equality, diversity, inclusion, and engagement.

This is a permanent position with full-time or part-time hours available. The salary band is €39,160 to €54,746 pro rata per annum, and annual leave entitlement is 30 days pro rata per year. The pay scale is expected to increase in 2026 in line with the recent WRC agreement on enhanced pay adjustments for Section 39 organisations.

Service Overview

The Carlow/Kilkenny children’s respite service supports children across the Carlow/Kilkenny area. The service works in partnership with service users and families to plan, deliver, and review support. Kilcar House offers planned short-term respite care, both day and night, and groups children according to age and interests. Staffing levels are designed to match the health and social care needs of the children attending the service.

The full job description contains further detail on the role.

Key Duties

The position involves supporting children and their families in respite care, contributing to person-centred planning, maintaining professional standards, and working collaboratively with colleagues and families. The role also requires clear communication, accurate record-keeping, and active participation in team-based service delivery and development.

Essential Requirements

Applicants must be professionally registered on the Social Care Workers Register maintained by the Social Care Workers Registration Board at CORU, or be eligible to obtain that registration in the coming months. Annual registration must be maintained after appointment. Candidates should have experience working with children with disabilities and their families, along with experience in personal care, key working, and working knowledge of the social model of disability.

A full clean manual driving licence and access to personal transport are required. Candidates must currently be eligible to work in the State. Knowledge of Enable Ireland, HIQA standards and registration requirements, safeguarding, child protection, child development, and relevant legislation is expected. Applicants should also demonstrate the ability to work to professional guidelines, maintain confidentiality, prepare personal plans, engage in supervision, and use basic IT tools such as Word and Excel.

Desirable Experience

Useful additional qualifications and experience include manual handling training, first aid, community-based work with children and families, strong organisational ability, ethical awareness, and experience with quality systems.

Working Style and Competencies

The ideal candidate will be able to support service users in varied activities, build positive relationships with children and families, communicate clearly at all levels, work well with others, take initiative when needed, and contribute actively in meetings. Flexibility, adaptability, openness to change, innovation, creativity, and a proactive approach are important for success in the role.

Benefits

Staff at Enable Ireland can access a broad range of employee benefits, including training opportunities, generous leave, flexible working, long-service recognition, adjusted leave benefits for maternity, adoption, and paternity, wellbeing supports, and a pension scheme.

Application Process

Applicants must complete the online application form and download the job description and person specification for reference. CVs will not be accepted. Candidates who are expected to become professionally registered in the near future may still be considered, and may initially be appointed to an assistant-grade role until registration is in place.

The closing date for applications is Friday 10 July. A panel may be created from this vacancy to fill similar roles that arise within the next 12 months.

Additional Conditions

The role is subject to reference checks and may require Garda vetting or police clearance, where applicable. Due to the volume of applications, individual feedback will not be provided to applicants who are not shortlisted. Applications are welcomed from suitably qualified candidates from all sections of the community.

The information provided is a guide only and may be changed at the employer’s discretion before appointment. Applicants should also note that their personal data will be processed in line with the organisation’s privacy notices and retention policy, including sharing with any virtual interview provider and the interview panel if they are invited to interview.