Job Title: Community Garden Project Development Worker

Churchfield Community Trust CLG invite applications from a professional, energetic, supportive, person with an interest in working within St .Marys Health Care Campus in the Northwest of Cork City as a Community Garden Project Development Worker.

• A relevant qualification and experience in this field or associated field, is desirable but not essential.
• The post is a Fixed Term 12-Month Contract, subject to a 3-month probationary period.
• The successful candidate will be appointed on a salary of €21,960 per annum pro rata (based on 20 hrs per week excluding lunch breaks).
• Garda Vetting will apply.

Please forward 3 hard copies of your C.V. together with a personal statement outlining your qualities, skills and experience relevant to the post [maximum 300 words] to:

Administrator,
Churchfield Community Trust,
107-109 Knockfree Avenue,
Churchfield,
Cork.

The Board of Churchfield Community Trust CLG is an equal opportunities employer.

• Applicants may be shortlisted.
• Canvassing will disqualify.
• Applications received by email will be disqualified.
• Job description and further details attached.

Closing date for applications: 12 noon on Friday 10th January 2025

THIS PROJECT IS SUPPORTED BY HEALTH SERVICE EXECUTIVE

Job description for: Community Garden Project Development Worker

Place of work: post is based in St Marys Health Campus

Reports directly to: Project Manager SMHC

Overview

Churchfield Community Trust is a community-based organisation located on the Northside of Cork City. We respond to a specific group of people who need intensive support, therapeutic interventions, stability and acceptance, to achieve sustainable change at a crucial time in their lives.

St Marys Health Campus is a 30-acre site situated on the North-side of Cork City. The community health care campus offers a wide range of services being delivered on site which include Primary Care Services.

The Growing Places for Wellbeing programme provides opportunities for social inclusion and empowerment though community development spaces that develop the culture of sustainability on the campus and with wider connected community growing projects.

The Community Garden Project Development Worker role aims to continue the development of St Marys Health Campus with inclusive social initiatives that focus on sustainable development with community partners Churchfield Community Trust and HSE Health Action Zone “Growing places for wellbeing”.

Community Garden Project Development Worker Post

The Community Garden Project Development Worker will play a key role in sustaining and expanding the existing range of food-growing, biodiversity and sustainability projects at the campus through this programme micro-projects.

They will be motivated to empower and activate community members, fostering connections with staff, residents, volunteers, groups, local schools and local community health projects and organisations.

Key roles across three micro projects –

• Administering and developing Community compost initiative
• Work with HAZ community health worker and campus Project Manager on a weekly basis to develop community garden activities, groups and specific fruit & food gardens
• To liaise with Heather house nursing team and residents in designing sustainable and sensory seasonal therapeutic spaces

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop the projects in collaboration with the Growing Places for Wellbeing steering group:

Community Compost

• Facilitating and support set up of compost area
• Develop education and learning experience around compost and health
• Receiving compost making materials from community projects and campus designated composter staff
• Make compost to a high standard
• Facilitate the distribution of compost to on-site growing locations

Grow community food

• Grow and maintain vegetable and fruit gardens while engaging community group activities
• Co-Facilitate campus biodiversity action plan implementation with partners
• Continue to co-Design and develop sensory gardens spaces on wellness walk
• Engage regular maintenance and advice of campus perennial gardens

Social and therapeutic

• Design seasonal programme with specific groups of Heather House Residents
• Support co-design and sensory friendly garden
• Support Residents who express interest with home-based plants
• Liaise between Churchfield Community Trust food project and Heather house kitchen staff

General

• Maintain good environmental, health, and safety practices.
• Learn about the Community Health model and connect community gardening to broader social, health, and environmental benefits
• Participate in supervision and training as required

Qualifications

Essential: 

• FETAC level 5 or higher
• Knowledge and experience of practicing community development principles related to community gardens
• At least 3 years of experience in community-based setting
• Ability to demonstrate a strong background in horticulture, biodiversity and sustainability and in ability to connect with people
• Demonstrate skillset in time management of multiple projects
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Self-motivation, responsibility, and trustworthiness
• Adaptability to changing needs, resources, and project direction
• Commitment to social inclusion and equality

 Desirable:

• Full Clean Driver Licence