Professionally Qualified Social Worker

Clare County Council/ Comhairle Contae an Chláir is the authority responsible for Local Government in County Clare. The corporate headquarters are located at Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis and there are four Municipal Districts (Ennis, Shannon, Killaloe, and West Clare) which are supported through area offices in Ennis, Scarriff, Shannon, Ennistymon and Kilrush. There are 28 elected members, approximately 990 staff and an annual operating budget of €204 million in 2026.

Clare County Council provides a diverse range of services across a large geographic area. Key services areas include Planning, Placemaking & Economic Development, Rural & Community Development, Housing Services, Housing Activation & Delivery, Capital Infrastructure Delivery, Land Activation, Derelict Sites and Property, Transportation, Mobility and Health & Safety, Climate Action, Environment & Water Services, Fire Service, Building Control & Major Emergency Management, Tourism, Festivals & Events, Libraries, Arts & Cultural Services, Enterprise and Investment, along with Sports & Amenities. These operations are supported by internal services which include ICT & Digital Services, Corporate Services & Governance, Finance, People, Culture and Organisational Development functions.

The Competition

Clare County Council is inviting applications from suitably qualified persons for the post of Professionally Qualified Social Worker. The post will be offered in order of merit as per the panel and will exist for 12 months, extendable for a further 6 12 months at the discretion of the Chief Executive.

Job Description

The Housing Delivery, Infrastructure Provision & Land Activation Section provides a generic social work service to Clare County Council tenants and prospective tenants, including members of the Traveller Community, homeless persons, ethnic minorities, the elderly and other families.

Social work within the Housing Services Section is directed towards enhancing the personal and social functioning of an individual, family or group. Work in this area involves assessment, reporting, advocacy, counselling, mediation and other related therapeutic services.

A Professionally Qualified Social Worker recognises the inherent dignity of every person, operates with commitment, integrity and skill, and works under the direction of an Administrative Officer / Senior Executive Officer / Director of Services or an equivalent grade.

Essential Skills & Experience for the role

• Interpersonal and communication skills
• Engagement with a wide range of people and maintaining good working relationships
• Collaboration with service users, work colleagues and other professionals
• Problem solving & decision making
• Project management
• Stakeholder networking and engagement
• Administration and report writing
• Effective handling of conflicting demands
• Working under pressure to tight deadlines
• Leading and coordinating external agencies
• Engagement with stakeholders including HSE, Tusla, An Garda Siochána, Irish Prison Service, Probation Services, Irish Traveller Movement, etc.
• Acting on own initiative
• Maintaining confidentiality
• Operation of ICT systems and standard office software packages
• Health & Safety Management

Duties

The duties for this role are wide-ranging and support a variety of activities within Clare County Council.

• Provide social work and welfare services to housing applicants & tenants, especially vulnerable groups such as members of the Traveller Community and the homeless.
• Engage clients referred for support and arrange external agency involvement where necessary.
• Participate actively in the Clare County Council Homeless Action team.
• Conduct needs assessments for housing applicants and tenants, including Travellers and homeless.
• Make recommendations on allocations of social housing, with emphasis on Traveller and homeless accommodation.
• Support marginalised groups, particularly Travellers and homeless, to access appropriate accommodation including private rented accommodation.
• Maintain appropriate records and generate reports on clients and projects.
• Assist the Estate Management team with social worker intervention where anti social behaviour issues arise, and support tenants in addressing related issues.
• Liaise with agencies such as HSE, Tusla, Probation Service, Irish Prison Services, An Garda Siochána, etc., to support housing clients and attend inter agency meetings and case conferences.
• Undertake the duties of the Designation Liaison Person per the Council's Child Protection Policy and the 2015 Children First Act, ensuring child safeguarding best practice.
• Represent the Council on the Local Traveller Consultative Committee and the Housing & Disability Steering Group and attend other relevant meetings.
• Assist housing customers, particularly marginalised and vulnerable groups, to engage with other Council sections or Government Departments for assistance.
• Advise on tenancy sustainment and community engagement and support the delivery of estate management services.
• Assist with family and personal problems including tenant relations.
• Provide general welfare activities not necessarily connected with housing, as assigned.
• Advise and recommend policy formulation with a focus on accommodation of marginalised and vulnerable housing customers.
• Collate Traveller needs assessments and aid in the preparation of the statutory Traveller Accommodation Plan.
• Coordinate services for housing customers, especially marginalised and vulnerable, with voluntary organisations.
• Review policies and aid in their implementation for marginalised and vulnerable housing clients.
• Represent the Council on the SORAM Steering Group, the CYPSC, and other committees as assigned.
• Champion the role of Social Worker in delivering housing services and coordinate agencies to support vulnerable clients.
• Support implementation of new and existing initiatives on housing matters.
• Undertake additional training and Continuing Professional Development as required.
• Depute for other Council employees when required and represent the Council on behalf of the organisation.
• Perform any other duties to which the Council assigns.
• Support the Council's activity as required.

Qualifications for the post

Character: Candidates shall be of good character.

Health: Candidates must be in a state of health that indicates a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Professional qualification: Hold a professional qualification in Social Work under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (as amended); or have a letter of Validation issued by CORU/National Social Work Qualifications Board and be eligible for registration with CORU;持有全功能B級駕照 無禁止執照記錄

Administrative & management experience: Candidates must possess a high standard of administrative and management experience and a satisfactory knowledge of public service organization.

Driving licence: Hold a current full Class B driving licence free from endorsements. Failure to provide proof of essential qualifications makes the applicant ineligible.

Salary and Benefits

The salary is fully inclusive and will be determined according to the relevant Department Circular. The current salary scale (June 2026) is: €56,319, €58,971, €61,646, €64,344, €67,028, €69,715, €72,406, €73,812 (LSI1).

The original annual leave entitlement is 30 days per annum. The council's holiday year runs from 1st January to 31st December.

Working Hours

From 1st July 2022, the working weeks are 35 hours over five days. Occasional flexibility outside normal hours, including evenings and weekends, may be required.

Age

Each candidate must be under 70 years of age on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms. The age restriction does not apply to new entrants to the public service.

Eligibility & Citizenship

• Citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA); includes EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
• Citizen of the United Kingdom (UK).
• Citizen of Switzerland, pursuant to the agreement between the EU and Switzerland on free movement of persons.
• Non EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA or UK or Swiss citizen and holds a stamp 4 visa.
• Person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015, or any family member entitled to remain in the State under family reunification and holding a stamp 4 visa.
• Non EEA citizen who is a parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of an EEA member state, the UK, or Switzerland and holds a stamp 4 visa.

Other Employment Conditions

Employees may not engage in private practice or any outside business that interferes with official duties.

Successful candidates will be required to participate in training programmes relevant to the role and may receive opportunities for further professional development.

Governments and statutory policies, such as the code of conduct, attendance management policy, and performance management system, will apply.

All relevant constitutional and statutory regulations will be adhered to, including safeguarding, equality, privacy, and public service principles.

Contact

For emergency matters: Uisce Éireann ; other emergencies (outside office hours).