Community Link Worker

Roles and Responsibilities:

The successful candidate will work as part of a TESS integrated approach to support attendance, participation, retention and progression. The community link worker will be responsible for building relationships with Traveller, Roma and school communities and will work with a number of stakeholders to identify need and supports. This will include supporting children and young people and their families at key transition points, promoting a culture of inclusion in schools and facilitating positive communication and engagement between schools, families and communities to support the learning environment for Traveller and Roma children and young people and those at risk of educational disadvantage to improve their educational outcomes.

The successful candidate will report directly to the Director of Schools or any other nominated person of MSL ETB and will also have reporting responsibilities to the TESS TRES team.

The community link workers will engage with existing organisations and services such as Traveller and Roma organisations, youth services and projects and community organisations, Home School Community Liaison (HSCL), School Completion Programme (SCP), Educational Welfare Service (EWS) and National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) as relevant to implement local responses to the needs of Traveller and Roma children, young people and families. This will include supporting activities that are relevant to the implementation of the Traveller and Roma Education Strategy in line with national targets and timelines.

The responsibilities of the Community Link Worker will include but are not limited to the following:

• Building trusting relationships with Traveller and/or Roma children, young people, families, organisations and communities.

• Working in partnership with key stakeholders including the whole school community, local Traveller and/or Roma organisations and community workers, including those under education or related disciplines, to identify local needs and provide linkages to available supports and initiatives.

• Supporting children, young people and their families at key transition points e.g. moving from early years to primary, from primary to post-primary and between years moving from Junior cycle to Senior cycle with a specific focus on increasing retention to Leaving Certificate and transition to further education, training and employment opportunities.

• Working with the integrated services operating under TESS which includes SCP, HSCLs, EWOs, at a local level to achieve progress on local education concerns and the priority education actions contained in the TRES which includes improved participation and retention in school.

• Promoting and supporting positive participation, communication and engagement between home, school and the community to enhance attendance, participation and engagement, retention, progression and educational outcomes for children and young people.

• Monitoring school attendance and other relevant indicators and engaging with the appropriate supports to plan for improved attendance.

• Increasing awareness amongst the communities of the rights and obligations of parents/guardians and schools.

• Supporting schools and communities to foster an inclusive and ambitious culture with an anti-racism and intercultural approach in and out of school through initiatives that have been successful in the STAR Pilot project.

• Providing feedback and input to team meetings and evaluations, preparing progress reports for the Director of Schools/Delegated Officer and TESS TRES team which feed into the overall reporting on TRES progress and objectives including improving access, participation and outcomes.

• Following policies and procedures prescribed by MSL ETB in relation to child safeguarding and other matters.

• Participating in continuous professional development and training as required for the role.

This job description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time by the CE and to contribute to the development of the post while in the role.

Professional Qualifications and Experience:

• A relevant qualification in Youth Work, Community Work, Education, Social Care, Psychology or a related field (QQI Level 7 minimum) or a minimum of three years direct work experience with Travellers and/or Roma in an education or youth setting.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (written, verbal and listening), with the ability to engage young people from diverse backgrounds.

• Good knowledge of the Irish education system and understanding of working within a school environment with a proven interest in youth work or community development.

• Experience of working with Travellers and/or Roma with a good knowledge of the issues and concerns faced by these communities.

• Second relevant language beneficial e.g. Romani, Czech.

• Ability to work at an individual, team and community level including across a multidisciplinary setting.

• Good I.T. skills including Word, Excel, PowerPoint.

Note:

• Must be willing to work outside normal office hours as necessary.

• Full clean Irish Driving Licence as travel will be a feature of this role.

• Garda vetting will apply.

• Applications from members of the Traveller and Roma communities are especially welcome.

Key Competencies:

Leadership Potential:

• Is flexible and willing to adapt, positively contributing to the implementation of change.

• Contributes to the development of policies in own area and the broader Department/Organisation.

• Seeks to understand the implications of taking a particular position on issues and how interdependencies need to be addressed in a logical and consistent way.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills:

• Builds and maintains contact with colleagues and other stakeholders to assist in performing roles.

• Encourages open and constructive discussions around work issues.

• Treats others with diplomacy, tact, courtesy and respect, even in challenging circumstances.

• Presents information clearly, concisely and confidently when speaking and in writing.

Administrative, Organisational and Decision Making Skills:

• Ability to use previous knowledge and experience in order to guide decisions.

• Ability to prioritise work and multi-task based on deadlines and demands.

• Is resourceful and creative, generating original approaches when solving problems and making decisions.

Delivery of Results:

• Taking responsibility and accountability for the delivery of agreed objectives.

• Demonstrates enthusiasm for new developments/changing work practices and strives to implement these changes effectively.

• Practices and promotes a strong focus on delivering high-quality customer service, for internal and external customers.

Specialist Knowledge, Expertise and Self Development:

• Has a clear understanding of the roles, objectives and targets of self and team and how they fit into the work of the unit and Department/Organisation and effectively communicates this to others.

• Has high levels of expertise and broad Public Sector knowledge relevant to his/her area of work.

• Focuses on self-development, striving to improve performance.

Drive and Commitment to Public Service Values:

• Strives to perform at a high level, investing significant energy to achieve agreed objectives.

• Demonstrates resilience in the face of challenging circumstances and high demands.

• Is personally trustworthy and can be relied upon.

• Ensures that customers are at the heart of all services provided.

• Upholds high standards of honesty, ethics and integrity.

The Office:

This is an 18-month, fixed-term position, 35 hours per week (option to be filled by one full-time worker or two part-time workers sharing the role). The successful candidate must be willing to work outside normal office hours, as necessary.

The holder of the office shall not engage in any gainful occupation, other than as an officer of MSLETB, to such an extent as to impair the performance of his or her duties as an officer of MSLETB or in any occupation which might conflict with the interests of MSLETB or which might be inconsistent with discharge of his or her duties as a MSLETB Officer.

Probation:

The successful candidate shall serve a probationary period in accordance with the terms set out in MSL ETB’s Probationary Policy.

Salary:

The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. Holders of the office shall pay to MSLETB any fees or other monies (other than their inclusive salary) payable to or received by them by virtue of their office or in respect of any services which they are required by or under any enactment to perform.

Salary Scale is in accordance with Circular Letter 0052/2025.

Salary scale and entry point on this scale will be determined in accordance with Circulars issued by the Department of Education & Youth.

Rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government Policy.

€41,899 - €57,011 per year.

Sick Leave:

Pay during properly certified sick absence, provided there is no evidence of permanent disability for service, will apply on a pro-rata basis, in accordance with the provisions of the relevant legislation and Department of Education & Youth sick leave circulars.

Annual Leave:

The annual leave allowance for the position of Community Link Worker is 28 days. This allowance is subject to the usual conditions regarding the granting of annual leave in MSLETB, is based on a five-day week and is exclusive of the usual public holidays.

Location/Base:

The initial location for the position of Community Link Worker will be Ballina, Co Mayo. Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board reserves the right to assign you to any other location or base that is under the control of Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board, as the need arises. Any change in location or base by Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board will not be deemed as redeployment as provided for under the Public Service Agreements.

Business Travel:

When absent from home and headquarters on duty, appropriate travelling expenses and subsistence allowances will be paid subject to the normal Civil Service regulations.

Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER):

It is a condition of the Incentivised Scheme for Early Retirement (ISER) as set out in Department of Finance Circular 12/09 that retiree, under that scheme, are debarred from applying for another position in the same employment or the same sector. Therefore, such retirees may not apply for this position.

Department of Education Early Retirement Scheme for Teachers Circular 102/2007:

The Department of Education introduced an Early Retirement Scheme for Teachers. It is a condition of the Early Retirement Scheme that with the exception of the situations set out in paragraphs 10.2 and 10.3 of the relevant circular, and with those exceptions only, if a teacher accepts early retirement under Strands 1, 2 or 3 of this scheme and is subsequently employed in any capacity in any area of the public sector, payment of pension to that person under the scheme will immediately cease. Pension payments will, however, be resumed on the ending of such employment or on the person’s 60th birthday, whichever is the later, but on resumption, the pension will be based on the person’s actual reckonable service as a teacher (i.e. the added years previously granted will not be taken into account in the calculation of the pension payment).

Ill-Health Retirement:

Please note that where an individual has retired from a Civil/Public Service body on the grounds of ill-health his/her pension from that employment may be subject to review in accordance with the rules of ill-health retirement within the pension scheme of that employment.

Department of Health and Children Circular (7/2010):

The Department of Health Circular 7/2010 dated 1st November 2010 introduced a Targeted Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) Scheme and Voluntary Redundancy Scheme (VRS). It is conditions of the VER scheme that persons availing of the scheme are not eligible for re-employment in the public sector or in the wider Public Service or in a body wholly or mainly funded from public moneys. The same prohibition on re-employment applies under VRS, except that the prohibition is for a period of 7 years. People who availed of the VER are not eligible to compete in this competition. People who availed of VRS scheme and who may be successful in this competition will have to prove their eligibility (expiry of period of non-eligibility).

Collective Agreement: Redundancy Payments to Public Servants:

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform letter dated 28th June 2012 to Personnel Officers introduced, with effect from 1st June 2012, a Collective Agreement which has been reached between the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Public Services Committee of the ICTU in relation to ex-gratia Redundancy Payment to Public Servants. It is a condition of the Collective Agreement that persons availing of the agreement will not be eligible for re-employment in the public service by any public service body (as defined by the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts 2009-2011) for a period of 2 years from termination of the employment. People who availed of this scheme and who may be successful in this competition will have to prove their eligibility (expiry of period of non-eligibility).

Declaration:

Applicants will be required to declare whether they have previously availed of a public service scheme of incentivised early retirement and/or the collective agreement outlined above. Applicants will also be required to declare any entitlements to a Public Service pension benefit (in payment or preserved) from any other Public Service employment and/or where they have received a payment-in-lieu in respect of service in any Public Service employment.