COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORKER (BALLINASLOE)
The Empowering Communities Programme (ECP) uses a community
development approach to address social exclusion and the impacts of
poverty in specific geographic areas. The approach is driven by
Community Engagement Workers.
The Ballinasloe Community Engagement Worker will strengthen, develop,
and facilitate relationships between the existing community
stakeholders and between community groups and statutory agencies and
structures with the aim of addressing exclusion and lack of meaningful
and effective engagement with community and local services.
The Community Engagement Worker is responsible for ensuring that the
core work of ECP is informed by and driven by the community. To
facilitate effectiveness and efficiency in this role, the Community
Engagement Worker position will be based, in so far as is possible, in
the Ballinasloe community and employed by Galway Rural Development.
OVERALL PURPOSE
The focus of the work will be to directly address social exclusion and
the negative impacts of poverty and marginalisation within the
communities. The Community Engagement Worker will do this by utilising
a community development approach to strengthen the capacity of the
community, and will work together with key voluntary and statutory
organisations and structures.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
* Engage regularly with all relevant local voluntary and statutory
organisations,
* Run a system to regularly consult with the local community,
* Development of leadership capacity in the community together with
the team leader,
* Help develop and grow relationships between the community and the
relevant local and statutory organisations,
* To work with relevant community structures and leaders in scoping
out the strengths and weaknesses in the capacity of local community
representative infrastructure,
* Facilitate a collaborative approach and develop a coordinated
response with the community and other stakeholders in developing a
clear work plan –
* mapping out needs and services of the targeted area with
associated resources
* to put required supports and structures in place to address any
weaknesses and strengthen the capacity of the local community to
engage meaningfully with existing community structures and the ECP.
* To ensure that the work plan is inclusive of all communities
living in the targeted area and oversee work plan implementation,
develop progress reports and flag challenges, delays and possible risk
factors as they emerge,
* Report directly to team leader and provide briefings to local and
national programme structures in a timely manner and as required,
* To collaborate with other Community Engagement Workers and ECP at
a national level.
EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
* At least 3 years’ experience of engaging with disadvantaged at a
community/local level,
* Experience of delivering community development approaches,
planning and addressing social exclusion issues,
* Understanding and experience of working with statutory and local
/community development infrastructure and knowledge of the
national/local policy context that they work in,
* Experience in delivering projects with a defined timeline and work
plan,
* Experience of designing and delivery of capacity building supports
within the community sector,
* Have excellent communication, facilitation and report writing
skills,
* Proficient in MS packages e.g., Word, Excel, Outlook, programme
databases.
* Have a good understanding of the Ballinasloe municipal district
and be able to utilise data and information from resources such as
CSO.
QUALIFICATIONS
* Relevant Third Level qualification (e.g. diploma, degree) or
equivalent in Community Development is desirable.
ADDITIONAL
This is a fixed twelve-month contract with extensions subject to
funding.
Must be a car owner with a clean driving licence.
The candidate must be flexible and willing to work hours suited to the
community sector.
Canvassing will disqualify.
EMAIL CV WITH A COVER LETTER TO JAMES APPLEGATE, EMPOWERING
COMMUNITIES NETWORK TEAM LEADER, AT **APPLY ON THE WEBSITE**.
Closing date for applications is *.**Apply on
the website**pm Friday, *th May **Apply on the
website**.
GRD is an equal opportunities employer.
We need : English (Good)
Type: Permanent
Payment:
Category: Health
