Oct 15, 2025 | Current Vacancies, News & Events
Are you ready to lead an organisation that makes a real difference in the lives of young people, families, and communities across Kerry?
Join Our Team at KCYS!
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Kerry Community Youth Service (KCYS) is seeking a dynamic, motivated, and visionary Chief Executive Officer to guide our organisation into its next chapter. Building on a strong foundation of community engagement, collaboration, and positive impact, the CEO will drive innovation, deepen KCYS’s reach and effectiveness, and steer the organisation through the next stage of its development. This includes ensuring that our services remain responsive, forward-thinking, and firmly grounded in the core values that define KCYS — young person-centred, rights-based, empowering, inclusive, respectful, and non-judgemental.
As CEO, you will provide strong, values-led leadership to a committed staff and volunteer team, fostering collaboration, trust, and shared purpose. You will oversee governance, finance, compliance, and reporting across the organisation, ensuring accountability and transparency. A key part of the role will involve building and nurturing partnerships with statutory, voluntary, and community agencies to strengthen service delivery and maximise impact. You will also promote a culture of excellence, learning, and continuous improvement, while championing KCYS’s role as a leading community-based youth and family service provider across Kerry.
We are looking for someone who has:
- A recognised third-level qualification relevant to the role.
- A minimum of 5 years’ senior management experience in the youth, community, or voluntary sector.
- Strong financial and resource management skills.
- Excellent communication, facilitation, and networking abilities.
- Proven leadership and integrity to inspire and motivate others.
- High levels of IT, social media, and administrative competence.
- An imaginative, flexible, and can-do approach.
- A deep commitment to the ethos, values, and culture of KCYS.
A full driving license and access to transport are required for this role.
Why Join Us?
Meaningful Work – Make a real impact on young lives! – Professional Development – Training & career growth opportunities – Supportive Team – Work in an environment that values creativity & collaboration – Competitive Benefits – Salary, enhanced annual leave, paid sick leave scheme & more
Application Process
The recruitment process for this position is being facilitated by Youth Work Ireland. Further information, including a detailed Candidate Briefing Document, is available HERE
Please submit completed application (as outlined HERE) for the post(s) to Breege Kiernan at bkiernan@youthworkireland.ie on or before:
5.00 p.m., Friday 31st October 2025
KCYS is an Equal Opportunities Employer — KCYS is a Gold Standard Health Promoting Youth Organisation — KCYS complies with the Governance Code for Community, Voluntary and Charity Organisations in Ireland
Jul 31, 2025 | News & Events
On Monday 28th July 2025, Norma Foley, Minister for Children, Disability and Equality launched the KCYS Family Support Evaluation Report which was undertaken by Finbarr Fitzpatrick, Business Improvement Solutions.
The launch was attended by a wide cross section of statutory and community services working with children and families in Kerry. In her opening address, Minister Foley commended KCYS for taking this courageous step and congratulated the organisation on its long history of supporting children, young people and families in the community. She particularly welcomed the engagement of young people and parents in the research and stressed that the participation of young people in service design and decisions affecting their lives must be central to how we work.
Researcher Finbarr Fitzpatrick gave a brief overview of the key findings and recommendations included in the report advising that two main strengths emerged: intensive family support interventions led to positive outcomes for family functioning and targeted work with teens produced multiple benefits for youth mental health.
KCYS Intensive Family Support Services receives considerable funding from Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. Breda Lynch, Area 
Manager for Tusla Kerry spoke of the universal need for family support and how the collaboration between Tusla and KCYS, dating back to 1971 when the charity was first founded, enables additional resources to be made available to work more intensively with families when needed. She advised that the ultimate aim of this community-based service is to provide a range of supports to families referred by Tusla which could include increasing parenting capacity, strengthening fostering arrangements or supporting a family reunification process in line with Tusla’s mandate to keep children and young people protected and safe from harm.
Tim Nolan, Interim Manager of KCYS Intensive Family Support Services spoke of the principles that underpin their project’s work: strengths-based, voluntary engagement, partnership approach and a commitment to building trust by meeting the family ‘where they are at’.
Berni Smyth, CEO of KCYS explained that the review of KCYS Family Support Services coincided with the recent name change and re-brand the organisation undertaken in 2024 – transitioning from Kerry Diocesan to Kerry Community Youth Service. The evaluation allowed the organisation the space to reflect upon where family support sits within the KCYS integrated youth work model. KCYS concluded that family support and youth work are complementary and have many guiding principles and approaches in common.
‘Our integrated youth work model aims to be as accessible and inclusive as possible. By providing a range of supports, services and activities from universal to highly targeted interventions we are continuously striving to assist young people to reach their full potential which is the ultimate Purpose of our organisation. For some young people, work with their family is the vital first step towards creating stability and opens the door multiple opportunities on offer to young people via our integrated youth work model’.
The KCYS Family Support Evaluation Report is available to download at HERE
Jul 30, 2025 | News & Events
Enlosed below are 2 reports for the KCYS Family Supports Services:
KCYS Family Support Services Review Executive Summary March 2025
KCYS Family Support Services Review – Final Report 2025
Jun 14, 2025 | Health and Wellbeing, News & Events
🌟 That’s a wrap on KCYS Workplace Wellbeing Week 2025! 🌟
This week, the KCYS team took the opportunity to spotlight wellbeing and embraced a wonderful mix of activities focused on connection, reflection, creativity, and fun — all rooted in the Five Pillars of Wellbeing. Our week was filled with fun filled moments, making connections. reminders of what makes us feel good, and ideas on how to mind ourselves and support one another in meaningful ways!
Here’s how we brought each pillar to life:
🤝 Connect – We kicked off with a full-day a Team Building Day on the Lakes of Killarney, organised by Shannon & our social committee — plenty of laughter & antics, with new memories made.
🌿 Take Notice – What a way to start Tuesday with some Mindfulness with Helena, and by Friday we slowed things down with a peaceful walk in Killarney National Park, with our expert guides, Dinny & Stephen!
📚 Keep Learning – Being creative is not only a great way to decompress, but a great way to learn – we had two very different creative workshops delivered by our own Pavlina & Leanne, allowing the artistic (or not so artistic) streak to shine!
💃 Be Active – A feel-good movement session with Ray helped us loosen up, lift our spirits, and shake off the Thursday slump.
🎁 Give – Whether sharing time, a listening ear, or a favourite dish at our Pot Luck Lunch on Friday (organised by Henrique & Selena), we were reminded of the power of generosity and everyday kindness.
Throughout the week, our staff also took part in lighthearted daily challenges (yes, Wordle made the cut!) and reflected on how even small acts of self-care and connection can make a big impact.
In KCYS, we know that wellbeing isn’t a luxury — it’s the foundation of a healthy, compassionate, and thriving organisation. When we support each other to feel well, we all do better — for ourselves, our teams, and the young people, their families and the communities we serve.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined in and helped make the week meaningful!
Here’s to carrying these habits forward!
Jun 12, 2025 | News & Events
We recently held a strategic planning day with our team, taking time to reflect on our journey so far and align on where we’re headed next.
The day kicked off with a lively game of human bingo — a fun way to spark connection and reveal a healthy dose of team competitiveness! This was followed by three insightful workshops led by members of our senior management team, focusing on Trauma-Informed Care, Youth Participation and Our Buildings & Spaces
The energy and engagement in each session truly reflected our team’s commitment to our strategic goals and the young people we support.
In the afternoon, we were joined by Lisa Nicola Dunne from Mantra Strategy, who facilitated a powerful session exploring our why, our brand, and our culture. It was dynamic, insightful, and full of meaningful conversations. Key words and phrases that consistently appeared throughout the day included young people, support, inclusion, and community. The afternoon was visually and creatively recorded by David Fortune from Me & the Moon, 
We opened up important conversations about our culture including psychological safety. 
Of course, no team day is complete without a sweet treat! Our break featured an array of homemade (and maybe a few shop-bought!) desserts — all thoroughly enjoyed. We wrapped up the day with a well-earned ice cream to top it off.
Truly proud of this team and the work we do every day. The day was a reminder of our shared purpose and the strong alignment across the organisation. Excited for what comes next.
Jun 11, 2025 | Health and Wellbeing, News & Events
Date: 9th – 15th June 2025
Where: Cork & Kerry
Babies, toddlers, and their parents will enjoy a week of free events, from fun activities to learning about infant mental health.
Throughout the week, parents, expecting parents, carers, and families are invited to join free talks, playgroups, and storytelling sessions, all designed to support infants’ emotional and social development.
These events offer opportunities to:
- Learn about your baby’s developing brain
- Connect through play and shared experiences
- Build strong, nurturing relationships from the very beginning
- Check out the full calendar of events: https://bit.ly/IMHWeek25
