ILMI Community Development Worker: Engaging Disabled People in Direct Provision Project

 (8 month fixed-term contract)

Full time: 35 hours per week, eight-month contract. ILMI will consider job sharing for his post.

This position is funded by the Disability Participation Awareness Fund (DPAF), administered by Rethink Ireland.

Location: ILMI offers remote working with expectation of attending in-person meetings in Dublin, including training sessions in Carmichael House

Salary: €35,000 to €40,000 pro-rata commensurate with experience. 

ILMI is recruiting a full-time community development worker to join our staff team to lead our “Engaging Disabled People in Direct Provision” project. ILMI is a national cross-impairment Disabled Persons Organisation (DPO). Our vision is an Ireland where disabled people have freedom, choice and control over all aspects of their lives and can fully participate in an inclusive society as equals.

Job Description

Disabled people face structural barriers to their active participation in society and Disabled people in direct provision face additional barriers to their participation in Irish society.

The aim of this project is to work with 20 Disabled People in direct provision, through the provision of technology and Disability Equality training to connect participants with ILMI, the local DPO and to local services.

Through peer connection Disabled People provision will connect with other disabled people on how local systems work . Training provided will also give participants the knowledge and confidence to access mainstream training, education, employment and social inclusion supports in their areas, as well ensuring that their voices are heard in ILMI’s work to develop local Disabled Persons Organisations (DPOs). The project will build on existing skills of participants to increase their confidence in engaging in appropriate local services such as SICAP, Education and Training Board and INTREO.

This project is funded under the Disability Participation and Awareness Fund 2024 was created in partnership between Rethink Ireland and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY).

Main Purpose of the Job:

The Community Development worker will have the responsibility for the deliver of the Engaging Disabled People in Direct Provision Project. Working with ILMI staff, the community development worker will oversee the development and delivery of the project.

• Support the involvement of twenty disabled people in direct provision to participate in this project.
• Maintain regular ongoing contact with participants to ensure their active involvement in the project.
• Maintain a register of details including an asset register for technology provided to participants as part of the project.
• Work with ILMI Design and deliver 8 online capacity training sessions to 20 disabled people from direct provision centres across Ireland.
• Develop and support peer connections for disabled people in direct provision with other disabled people locally and nationally to build awareness on how to navigate systems and structures to access training, education, employment and social inclusion supports.
• Develop and support peer connections for disabled people in direct provision with other disabled people locally and nationally to build awareness on how to navigate systems and structures to access training, education, employment and social inclusion supports.
• Maintain records as per ILMI and Rethink Requirements.
• Work with participants and ILMI staff to develop resources to document the lived experience of disabled people in direct provision to inform ILMI policy, ILMI local DPO development and inform the implementation of the National Disability Strategy.

Key duties and responsibilities: 

The key duties and major responsibilities of the Community Development worker will include the following:

• Outreach to engage with and support the involvement of participants into the project.
• To coordinate the participation of 20 disabled people from direct provision to participate in-person and / or online training delivered by ILMI staff as part of the project.
• Coordinate distribution of IT for participants as part of the project and maintain records accordingly.
• To build the capacity of disabled people as active citizens in their localities through the provision of online capacity development through the provision of appropriate training and peer support.
• To support participants to become actively involved in work of ILMI as members and support their involvement in local DPO
• To comply with all the reporting requirements to ensure robust governance of the project including maintenance of accurate records.
• To ensure compliance with internal procedures and appropriate legislation relevant to the role.
• To participate in appropriate DPAF / Rethink programmes including accelerator programme training.
• To participate in weekly ILMI staff meetings and monthly planning and reporting meetings with CEO and IILMI DPO Development Officer.
• To maintain financial records related to the DPAF expenditure.
• To undertake any other duties as may be required from time to time by ILMI in line with the status of the post.

ILMI reserves the right to vary these terms and conditions of employment at its discretion in circumstances where such variation is in the interests of improving the efficiency of the organisation's business. The organisation also reserves the right to review, revise, amend or replace policies / procedures from time to time reflecting the changing needs of the business.

ILMI offers a dynamic and flexible working environment and the chance to use your skills and knowledge to make a genuine difference. Applicants will be assessed against the following essential/ desirable requirements and are encouraged to use their applications to provide examples of how they meet these criteria.

Essential requirements:

• A qualification in Community Development, Equality Studies, Disability Studies or a or minimum three years experience in a relevant organisation;
• A proven commitment to human rights and equality;
• Proven experience of assessing, identifying and addressing the social isolation needs of disabled people (or other similar disadvantaged or vulnerable groups).
• Knowledge and understanding of the local, national policy and international fora that relate to disabled people;
• Commitment to the values of the ILMI and the philosophy of Independent Living;
• An understanding of the Social model of disability;
• Proven experience of working in a person-centred context
• Experience of working in a human rights or community development organisation experiencing similar issues at local or national level;
• Demonstrated experience to network;
• Excellent communication skills;
• Computer literacy, including familiarity with new media technologies.
• The ability to meet the travel requirements of the post – ie to undertake travel throughout Republic of Ireland

To Apply: 

Please return your CV (with references) and cover letter outlining why you should be considered for this role to info@ilmi.ie

In your email subject, please reference DPAF Project

The closing date for applications is Friday 13th September at 5pm.

Interviews with shortlisted candidates will take place on the week of the 16th September. Interviews will take place through Zoom.

ILMI is an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcomes applications from disabled persons for this position.
This role requires applicants to have the right to work in the Republic of Ireland.