Join Our Team at Gheel Autism Services - Prosperous, Co. Kildare

Social Care Worker / Autism Practitioner –Permanent Contract, Full-Time

Location: Prosperous, Co. Kildare - Residential Roster
Salary: €35,216 - €50,954 + Premium Payments up to €12,000/year
Upcoming Salary Increases: Sector-wide agreement with a 9.25% increase over the next two years
Driving Licence: Full manual, clean licence required

As part of the Gheel team, you will receive:

• Professional Growth: Training, career progression, and education support.
• Wellbeing Support: Employee Assistance Programme, reflective practice, and supportive supervision.
• Annual Leave: Up to 27 days, plus various leave types such as paid maternity and paternity leave (dependant on service).
• Financial Benefits: Competitive salary, annual increments, pension (7% employer contribution).
• Travel & Discounts: Bike-to-Work, commuter tickets, and an employee discount scheme.

Who We Are

At Gheel Autism Services, we are dedicated to supporting individuals with autism through their life journey. Our mission is to enable people to have fulfilling life experiences while promoting autonomy and empowering them to make their own choices. Our services include day and vocational opportunities, outreach support, and various supported living options.

We take a strengths-based approach, tailoring personalised plans to meet each individual’s unique needs. Our team is committed to fostering independence, social inclusion, and overall well-being, ensuring that each person achieves outcomes that are meaningful to them.

About the Role

We are hiring for a Social Care Worker/Autism Practitioner this team. This Residential/Respite service is based in Prosperous in North Kildare, across 2 homes.
Our Service Users attend here for community based residential supports. These are busy homes with individuals supported enjoying a mixture of home and community-based activities.

As the ideal candidate you will be proactive and imaginative when it comes to service provision. Excellent report writing skills, experience, and the ability to work on your own initiative are a must.

Staff must have the awareness and skillset to support those who experience sensory differences, therefore, enabling them to maximise their experiences both within their own home and the community. Staff are required to promote the wellbeing of all those supported, across all locations ensuring that they achieve a high quality of life while working under HIQA guidelines and standards.

The successful candidate will be expected to produce, implement and evaluate practical resources and strategies to support a person with Autism’s communication and thinking, alongside assessment documentation for social, healthcare and personal development. Staff will also maintain a comprehensive understanding of the working file/support plan and supporting tools ensuring that details collated are of value and then utilised to support and develop progress plans.

As a practitioner, you will assist in the development of independent living skills, education and employment possibilities and social and leisure groups. The successful candidate will be required to work across all locations on a roster basis.

Applicants must have full manual, clean driving licence. The successful candidate will be working a combination of Residential and day service hours currently between Monday-Friday but this is subject to change as need arises and may result in a Monday-Sunday roster.

Essential Qualifications:

• Level 7 qualification in Social Care/Studies from an accredited institution, OR
• A recognised qualification equivalent to the Irish Level 7 award (NARIC), OR
• Relevant third-level degree in social work, psychology, or allied health, OR
• Post-graduate qualification in Autism Studies.

Essential Criteria:

• Excellent communication and engagement skills.
• At least one year of recent experience in a similar role.
• Ability to promote independence in individuals with support needs.
• A full, clean manual driving licence.
• A thorough understanding of HIQA regulations.
• Must be eligible for CORU Registration.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience supporting individuals with ASD and knowledge of autism.
• Experience in case management.

The individuals supported in the area are seeking support staff with the following skills:

• A person who can support with my activities and routines
• Help learning new things
• Assistance with personal care
• Someone who can have fun
• Someone who is patient, kind and caring
• Someone who is interested in lots of things like music, baking, and crafts and will help me find new things to do also

Gheel Autism Services CLG is an inclusive employer and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the recruitment process, please email recruitment@gheel.ie.

Ready to Apply?

To join our team, submit your cover letter and up-to-date CV. Applications will be shortlisted based on the evidence provided. The application deadline is Friday, 22nd of August 2025 at 5pm with interviews scheduled shortly after. Garda Vetting is required, and late applications will not be accepted.

Be Part of Our Vision

Join Gheel Autism Services and help create a culture of inclusive, independence-focused support. Together, we can empower individuals to live fulfilling lives and achieve their dreams. Apply today to make a difference!