The Empowering Communities Worker

Role: ECP Community Engagement Worker

Contract: 3-year specified purpose contract.

South Dublin County Partnership works with people who are socially excluded or are at risk of becoming so and promotes social cohesion and labour market participation with a focus on the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods. This is achieved through a range of integrated activities in Education, Training, Job Placement, Early Childhood Services, Enterprise Support and Community Development Programmes. South Dublin County Partnership is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applicants from a diversity of backgrounds.

Empowering Communities Programme:

The Empowering Communities Programme will use a targeted development approach to address social exclusion and the impacts of poverty in specific geographic areas. South Dublin County Partnership launched its first ECP programme in 2022 in Clondalkin. With support from the Department of Rural and Community Development we are now launching the empowering communities programme in Tallaght.

The Role:

The Community Engagement Worker will lead the implementation of the Programme by strengthening, developing, and facilitating relationships between the existing community stakeholders and between community groups and statutory agencies and structures. The aim will be to address exclusion and the lack of meaningful and effective engagement with community and local services. The Community Engagement Worker will be responsible for ensuring that the core work of ECP is informed by and driven by the community.

Area of focus: Jobstown.

Purpose:

The focus of the work will be to directly address social exclusion and the negative impacts of poverty and marginalization within the communities. The Community Engagement Worker will do this by utilizing a community development approach to strengthening the capacity of the community to work together and with key voluntary and statutory organisations and structures.

Core responsibilities:

• Engage in door-to-door communication with residents in the designated area to establish contact and build trust
• Listen to the views of the local residents to identify the barriers that are preventing local community engagement
• Establish and run a system to regularly consult with the local community
• Pilot local initiatives to encourage participation and build capacity with the residents within the community
• Help to develop leadership capacity in the community
• Engage regularly with all relevant local voluntary and statutory organisations
• Help establish, develop and/or grow relationships between the community and the relevant local and statutory organisations
• Facilitate a collaborative approach and develop a coordinated response with the community and other stakeholders in developing a clear work plan – o mapping out needs and services of the targeted area with associated resources o 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.
• 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
• Work with relevant community structures i.e., Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) and leaders in scoping out the strengths and weaknesses in the capacity of local community representative infrastructure
• Provide reports, financial and non-financial, and briefings to local and national programme structures in a timely manner and as required
• Work with internal SDCP teams to develop new initiatives and collaborate to support the residents of Jobstown.
• Collaborate with other Community Engagement Workers and ECP at a national level in the development of a programme monitoring framework and ensure that all local reporting and planning mechanisms are in line with this framework

The ideal candidate will:

• Have a relevant qualification in the community/social area
• Have worked in a local community / voluntary setting in a community facing role
• Demonstrated ability to lead in developing collaborative responses to community needs and in working with diverse stakeholders including community and statutory organisations.
• Demonstrated high-level written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks.
• Demonstrated broad knowledge and understanding of policy and practice in the area of social inclusion
• The ability to perform analysis to support service development.

The person should have:

• have excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with other staff members, community, statutory and social partners.
• excellent written and oral communication skills including report writing.
• effective time-management skills and the ability to multi-task
• Be a self-starter with passion for supporting people who are experiencing disadvantage.

Desirable:

• Have worked on a similar project

Renumeration Package & Benefits:

• The salary for this position is €34,486-€48,149. The starting point will be based on the successful individual’s qualifications and experience.
• Excellent Pension of 10% employer’s contribution after successful probation period.
• Access to HSF private health insurance.
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• 35 Hour per week (full time)

Application Process:

Applicants should pay particular attention to the essential and desirable criteria in the job description, your suitability and why you are the best candidate for this post in question.

Please send three copies of your up-to-date detailed CV (no more than 2 pages) and cover letter accompanied with completed confidential form marked: The Empowering Communities Worker Ref. 164/2024 to:
Administration & Operations Department,
South Dublin County Partnership,
Unit D1,
Nangor Road Business Park,
Nangor Road,
Dublin 12

OR alternatively email your CV, Cover letter and an application form to jobs@sdcpartnership.ie – subject box to be marked The Empowering Communities Worker Ref. 164/ 2024

Closing date for receipt of applications: 16th December 2024, 5pm
Note no late applications will be accepted.

South Dublin County Partnership is an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcomes applicants from a diversity of backgrounds.