Social Care Worker/Residential Care Worker

Role overview

Odyssey Social Care is hiring a Children’s Residential Care Worker for its Barra Lodge service in Glenville, County Cork, Ireland. The organisation provides residential care for children in Ireland, with a strong focus on trauma-informed support, therapeutic intervention, education, emotional wellbeing, and positive role modelling. Its goal is to help young people grow in a safe, structured, and nurturing environment.

This position may also be referred to as Social Care Worker, Residential Social Care Worker, or Youth Residential Worker. In this frontline role, you will support young people with complex needs, challenging behaviour, and emotional or behavioural difficulties. You will deliver tailored care, follow behaviour support plans, and help develop resilience, confidence, and everyday life skills.

What the role involves

• Creating and applying Behaviour Support Plans, Placement Plans, and risk assessments.
• Providing residential care that is child-centred, trauma-informed, and responsive to each young person’s needs.
• Supporting schooling, homework, routines, and engagement with education.
• Encouraging independence, life skills, emotional regulation, and positive behaviour.
• Keeping detailed daily logs, records, and incident reports.
• Working closely with parents, social workers, schools, and referral agencies.
• Joining team meetings, supervision, training sessions, and service improvement work.
• Helping with household routines such as cooking, cleaning, and maintaining a homely setting.
• Handling petty cash and following financial processes.
• Maintaining safeguarding, child protection, TUSLA requirements, confidentiality, and all company policies.
• Contributing to a safe, structured, and supportive residential home.

Education and registration requirements

A minimum Level 7 qualification in Social Care is required, or another acceptable qualification that meets the criteria for CORU registration as a Social Care Worker. Acceptable alternatives listed by the employer include QQI Level 8 in Psychology; QQI Level 7 in Youth & Community, Social Science, Social Studies, Family Support, Disability Studies, or ABA; a professional practice qualification in Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy, Counselling/Psychotherapy, or Addiction Counselling; Early Years Care for centres supporting children under 12; a professional teaching qualification (non-TEFL) or Nursing; BA in Applied Policing; or a Higher Certificate in Custodial Care from the Irish Prison Service.

Required criteria

• A full, clean manual driving licence that is valid in Ireland.
• Previous experience supporting teenagers with challenging behaviour.
• Knowledge of the National Standards for Children’s Residential Centres.
• Legal permission to live and work in Ireland.
• CORU registration eligibility for the title of Social Care Worker.

Why join Odyssey Social Care

The company offers flexible rostering to help support work-life balance, along with core professional training in areas such as TCI, safeguarding, and trauma-informed practice. Team-building activities, social events, education assistance grants, health insurance grant, life insurance, and an incremental pay scale are also included. From day one, employees and their families can access the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP). The organisation also promotes a collaborative team environment and clear pathways for career progression.

About the organisation and culture

Odyssey Social Care’s mission is to provide safe homes where children and young people can recover from trauma, rebuild trust, and discover their strengths. The team describes itself as caring, compassionate, and resilient, with a belief in healing through trustworthy care relationships.

The Odyssey Way is the company’s care framework. It is flexible, responsive, holistic, trauma-informed, evidence-based, and outcome-led. It supports each child individually and focuses on overall wellbeing. The organisation also runs the Odyssey Saoirse Project, which uses eco-therapy, adventure-based life skills, and positive mentoring to help young people heal, grow, and thrive.

Values and commitment

• Safety: safe homes, safe care, and safe relationships.
• Quality: trauma-informed, evidence-based, and outcome-led practice.
• Trust: built through honesty and consistency.
• Empowerment: giving young people and staff the tools to succeed.
• Inclusion: promoting equity and belonging for everyone.
• Impact: making a measurable difference for young people, staff, communities, and the planet.

Odyssey Social Care also states that it is committed to diversity and inclusion, and as a Certified B Corp it aims to operate sustainably while measuring its impact on people, communities, and the planet.

Additional information

Closing date: Monday 31st August, 2026. Contract type: full-time. Salary: €37,440 to €41,184 per year.