Healthy Ireland Limerick Coordinator

The Position

Limerick City and County Council invite applications from suitably qualified applicants who wish to be considered for inclusion on a panel for the position of Healthy Ireland Coordinator. All temporary and permanent vacancies for Healthy Ireland Limerick Coordinator may be filled throughout the lifetime of this panel.

Background

The Healthy Cities project is a global World Health Organisation (WHO) movement, set up in 1986. It involves Local Authorities working to improve health and wellbeing through political commitment, working in partnership with local stakeholders and supporting innovative projects.

A healthy city or a healthy county works to:

• improve health and wellbeing by creating and continually improving its physical and social environments

• develop community resources that help people to support each other and achieve their potential

Accredited to the World Health Organisation, the National Healthy Cities and Counties of Ireland Network (the Network) was launched in November 2016. The aim of the National Healthy Cities and Counties of Ireland Network is to develop a structure to support Local Authorities to implement the Healthy Ireland Framework.

National Healthy Cities and Counties of Ireland Network aim to:

• promote lifelong health and wellbeing,

• provide a means where local issues can influence national policy, and

provide a voice for Ireland in the WHO Network of European National Healthy Cities Networks.

The Network is a key enabler of the Healthy Cities initiative both locally and nationally. All Local Authorities are either a member of the Network or are in the process of becoming a member.

Healthy Ireland:

Healthy Ireland is a government funded initiative and is the national strategy aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of everyone living in Ireland. The Healthy Ireland Fund, funded under the strategy is a key enabler of the Healthy Cities initiative. Since 2017, the Department of Health has provided three rounds of funding under the Healthy Ireland Fund.

The purpose of the fund is to support Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) in delivering actions which will improve health and wellbeing, in line with Healthy Ireland, A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013–2025. This Framework is the national framework for action to improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Ireland.

The Framework aims to bring a concerted focus on life-long wellbeing, prevention of illness, seeks to reduce health inequalities, address the settings in which health and wellbeing is impacted, and emphasises the need to empower people and communities to better look after their own health and wellbeing.

A new Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan (2021–25) has been developed to guide the implementation of Healthy Ireland for the remaining years of the current framework.

Purpose of the Role

Limerick City and County Council wish to recruit a Healthy Limerick Co-ordinator, which is a key role in Local Authorities for the advancement of the local health and wellbeing agenda. The coordinator will be a central resource for driving the local health and wellbeing agenda through the implementation of both the local Healthy Cities and Counties initiative and the local Healthy Ireland programme.

Round 4 of Healthy Ireland will be multi-annual and outcomes focused. The Healthy Limerick Coordinator will therefore be required to coordinate greater partnership working and will work to generate innovative solutions that impact on the determinants of health.

The Coordinator will support the local health and wellbeing agenda through collaboration and coordination with relevant and complementary programmes, initiatives and organisations; coordinate the Healthy Cities project in the catchment area; and lead the development and monitoring of the Programme of Work funded under Round 4 of the Healthy Ireland Fund.

The Person

Character

Candidates shall be of good character.

Health

Candidates shall be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Education, Experience etc. Each candidate must have on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms:

a) A third-level degree (NFQ Level 8 or higher) in a relevant field such as community/sports development, youth work, social sciences, public health, social policy, public administration, planning, or related discipline.

b) A minimum of 2 years’ relevant experience in any of the following:

• Local government, public sector, or similar roles involving strategic planning, project coordination, or community engagement;

• Working with disadvantaged communities or target populations to address social exclusion or inequality;

• Cross-sectoral coordination or partnership development;

• Policy development, research, or evaluation related to the determinants of health;

• Operating effectively within political, community and policy-making environments, demonstrating ability to work across boundaries of role, sector and geography;

• Project management and delivery, budgeting and performance-monitoring experience.

It is desirable that candidates demonstrate through their application form and at the interview the following:

• Strong leadership and project management skills;

• Strong understanding and experience of programme planning and service delivery;

• Good understanding of Local Government;

• Excellent communication skills, including written communication and an aptitude for report writing and social media skills;

• Ability to work simultaneously at both strategic and operational level;

• Excellent collaborative, networking, representation and relationship-building skills;

• Ability to negotiate and handle difficult situations;

• Experience in reporting to Pobal;

• Financial administration and budgeting skills;

• Data management and IT skills.

Duties:

The duties shall include but are not limited to The Limerick Co-ordinator will perform such duties as may be assigned from time to time which will involve the facilitation, implementation and promotion of the policies and objectives of Limerick City and County Council for the advancement of the local health and wellbeing agenda.

The Co-ordinator will report to the (Senior Executive Officer, Community) or any other officer as designated by the Director General.

• Lead, embed and continuously advance the health and wellbeing agenda in Limerick City and County Council in line with Development Plans, Local Economic Community Plans and other related plans;

• Develop strategies and plans to ensure the implementation and evaluation of the key elements of the role (in line with Service Level Agreement (SLA);

• Ensure that the development of the County Healthy Ireland Plan commences and is completed, with the findings informing key policies and other planning processes including the Local Economic Community Plan;

• To provide an annual plan in conjunction with the Department of Health (DoH) and Local Authority Line Manager and provide for an annual review;

• Coordinate the overall planning delivery of Healthy Ireland Round 4, including development of the Programme of Work for Healthy Ireland Round 4; monitor and review progress of the Healthy Ireland Round 4 approved Programme of Work and meeting all reporting requirements;

• Engage with colleagues across Limerick City and County Council to ensure the functions being undertaken are integrated into the wider community initiatives being undertaken by the local authority;

• Promote co-ordination between, and establish links with, community, voluntary and public sector bodies operating within the catchment area as it relates to health and wellbeing initiatives and outcomes;

• Promote Healthy Ireland and other relevant initiatives within Limerick City and County Council amongst the local community, key target groups, state agencies, voluntary organisations, local businesses, and elected representatives;

• Collaborate with and support complementary health and wellbeing initiatives under relevant and aligned funding streams, including Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme;

• Progress the Limerick City and County Council membership and participation in the Healthy Cities and Counties Network and lead the implementation of Healthy Ireland County/City strategies locally;

• Participate in and exchange experiences with Healthy Cities Networks nationally and internationally;

• Promote awareness of and drive the Healthy Ireland agenda in the relevant Local Authority context;

• Collaborate with and support communities to improve their health and well-being and build their capacity for undertaking actions that can both improve health and strengthen community assets;

• Create and maintain the health profile of Limerick City and County Council;

• Use evidence, data, local health profiles and the Healthy Ireland Outcomes Framework to inform local priorities and the Healthy Ireland Round 4 Programme of Work;

• Apply a social determinant of health lens to service planning and local health and well-being agenda;

• Liaise with the local CYPSC Coordinator to ensure overall coherence of all Healthy Ireland funded actions in the catchment area;

• Support the LCDC/CYPSC Healthy Ireland sub-group to carry out their oversight role;

• Provide networking events and shared learning opportunities for all project stakeholders;

• Develop and implement a communications strategy to highlight activities, strategies and learning from the Fund;

• Identify opportunities for collaboration at local, regional, and national levels including opportunities for match funding and resourcing;

• Such other duties as the Director General may assign to the role so as to promote lifelong health and wellbeing in the community.

Reporting

• Ensure compliance with all required local authority financial, management and governance reporting requirements;

• Collect, maintain and update relevant data;

• Work with project partners to ensure that they are aware of and fulfil their reporting requirements;

• Ensure overall non-financial and financial reporting to Pobal/Department of Health is complete and submitted in a timely manner;

• Prepare short report updates for all LCDC and CYPSC meetings.

Terms and Conditions

The Post:

A panel will be formed for an initial period of one year and this may be extended for a further year at the discretion of the Director General. The panel may be used by Limerick City and County Council to fill permanent and temporary positions that may arise for its duration. Vacancies will be offered in order of merit as per the panel.

Annual Leave:

The successful candidate will have 30 days annual leave.

Salary:

Salary scale: €60,011–€78,015, paid fortnightly. Payment of increments is dependent on satisfactory performance.

Entry point of this scale will be determined in accordance with Circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

In accordance with Departmental Circular letter EL 02/2011, a person who is not a serving local authority employee on or after 1st January 2011 will enter the scale for the position at the minimum point (currently €60,011 per fortnight).

Location:

Limerick City and County Council reserve the right to assign the successful candidate to any department or premises in use by the Council, now or in the future.

Changes in location of employment will not result in payment of disturbance money or other compensation. The person appointed will be required to travel to and from work at their own expense.

Hours of Work

The working hours at present provide for a five day, thirty five hours working week, hours may vary from time to time.

The working hours may be reviewed at any time by the Council. The post may require flexibility in working outside of normal hours, including at weekends, as necessary. No additional remuneration will be paid in respect of such activities.

The provisions of Limerick City and County Council’s Time and Attendance Policy is applicable to this grade at the current time.

Sick Leave:

The terms of the Public Service Sick Pay Scheme will prevail.

Superannuation:

The Local Government Superannuation Scheme applies.

Travel:

Holders of the post should hold a full driving licence for class B vehicles and shall be required drive a motor car in the course of their duties and for this purpose, provide and maintain a car to the satisfaction of the local authority. Travelling expenses and subsistence expenses necessarily incurred in the course of official duties will be refunded in accordance with appropriate rates in line with the relevant Department Circulars and local authority Travel and Subsistence Policy.

Limerick City and County Council, as employer, must be indemnified on your insurance policy. If during your employment, your licence is revoked, even temporarily, or if you receive endorsements on your licence, which may affect your duties, you are obliged to notify the Council immediately.

Residence:

The holder of the post shall reside in the district in which their duties are to be performed or within a reasonable distance thereof.