Resettlement Support Worker

General Information

County Leitrim, located in the North-West of Ireland, has a growing economy, picturesque landscape, vibrant communities and a strong arts and cultural sector. Leitrim County Council’s vision is to build an economically strong, creative, inclusive county, making Leitrim the best place to live, work, invest and visit.

Key to the achievement of our priorities and objectives is a skilled and committed workforce, supported by enabling technologies, efficient work processes and learning and development opportunities. We are committed to the training, support and encouragement of our staff and we offer benefits across family-friendly initiatives, personal development and wellbeing of staff.

The Role

The Irish Refugee Protection Programme responds to commitments made by Government to assist a defined number of persons to live in Ireland.

The role of the Resettlement Support Worker will be to:

• Support Programme Refugees in the first weeks post-arrival in the community

• Develop programmes and activities to promote participation and inclusion in society

• Develop mechanisms that promote self-sufficient and independent living

• Enhance the quality and cross-cultural understanding between refugees resettled in the County and their host communities and local public service providers to achieve better outcomes for the Programme Refugees

Leitrim County Council is presently acting as a host county for the reception of Programme Refugees under the International Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP). Leitrim County Council now seeks to recruit a temporary Resettlement Support Worker to provide day-to-day support to Programme Refugees across County Leitrim and to assist service providers to identify and address gaps in service provision.

The Resettlement Support Worker will report to the Local Authority Integration Coordinator in the Leitrim County Council Local Authority Integration Team (LAIT). The Resettlement Support Worker will provide the link between service provider agencies and the Programme Refugees in the community and will co-ordinate the project from the viewpoint of the needs of the Programme Refugees and their families.

The successful candidate will assist service providers to identify and address gaps in service provision and put in place mechanisms for ongoing support and liaison between the refugee community, the local communities in which they have settled and the service providers, to ensure the smoothest possible integration of the Programme Refugee families into Leitrim communities.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons who wish to be considered for inclusion on a panel for the position of Resettlement Support Worker. The position is full-time and temporary (18-month fixed-term contract).

The Qualifications1. Character

Each candidate shall be of good character.

2. Health

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

3. Citizenship

Candidates must, by the date of any job offer, be:

(a) A citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA), or (b) A citizen of the United Kingdom (UK), or (c) A citizen of Switzerland pursuant to the EU-Switzerland agreement on free movement, or (d) A non-EEA citizen who is a spouse or child of an EEA, UK, or Swiss citizen with a Stamp 4 visa, or (e) A person awarded international protection under the International Protection Act 2015, or (f) A non-EEA parent of a dependent child who is a citizen of and resident in an EEA member state, the UK, or Switzerland with a Stamp 4 visa.

4. Education, Training, Experience, etc.

Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms:

(a) Hold a recognised qualification (at least Level 7 in the NFQ) in community development, social science or other similar discipline (b) Have at least 3 years' experience working in a similar role with diverse groups in a community development setting (c) Possess a good working knowledge of the mainstream model of integration and relevant Irish protection programmes (d) Have experience in individual support and outreach (e) Have experience working with both voluntary and public sector agencies (f) Possess knowledge of the youth sector and ability to connect IP, Programme Refugees, and BOTP aged 15–24 with services (g) Be knowledgeable about community development, especially models appropriate to minority ethnic groups (h) Understand cultural diversity and adapt approaches accordingly (i) Hold a clean, current Class B Driving License and have access to a vehicle (j) Have satisfactory knowledge of public service organisation or the ability to acquire it

Note: Candidates must submit a copy of their recognised Level 7 qualification and a copy of their driving licence. If qualifications are from outside Ireland, include a translation or comparability document. Applications without this documentation will not be considered.

Desirable (but not essential):

• Background or knowledge of international development

• Fluency in English (written and spoken)

• Understanding of cross-cultural issues for war-affected families

• Knowledge of other languages spoken by refugees

• Experience with PR or social media, particularly on sensitive issues

Competencies for the PostKnowledge, Experience and Skills

• Understanding of the Resettlement Support Worker’s role within local authority services

• Knowledge of local government structures and functions

• Experience in community, educational, or international development environments

• Experience working with interpreters and awareness of ethical issues

• Experience with ethnic minority communities

• Strong negotiation skills and cross-cultural awareness

• Administrative and teamwork experience

Delivering Results & Communicating Effectively

• Converts objectives into work plans and prioritises appropriately

• Challenges inefficiencies in service delivery constructively

• Allocates resources efficiently to deliver high-quality services

Management & Change

• Understands and communicates role objectives

• Promotes and manages change effectively

• Investigates all relevant information for decision-making

Personal Effectiveness

• Enthusiastic and self-motivated

• Manages time and workload effectively

• Takes initiative

• Understands local authority context and current issues