Sláintecare Community Development Officer and Healthy Ireland Co-Ordinator

ROLE

Sláintecare Local Development Officer (Administrative Officer Grade VII)

Healthy Ireland Co-ordinator (Administrative Officer Grade VII)

Introduction

The Sláintecare Local Development Officer and Healthy Ireland Co-ordinator (Grade VII) positions hold functional responsibility for the management and delivery of their respective Healthy Ireland Programme areas.

The Sláintecare Local Development Officer and Healthy Ireland Co-ordinator is responsible for managing the day to day operations of their programme and contributing to strategic and policy making decisions within Cork City Council.

The post holder is expected to contribute to the development and implementation of policies and strategies and to work closely with elected councillors, Oireachtas members and senior managers to deliver services to the highest standard. They may also represent the Local Authority on committees and at meetings, including Local Area Committee meetings and Strategic Policy Committee meetings, and may be asked to report on progress in their respective section or department.

The Sláintecare Local Development Officer and Healthy Ireland Co-ordinator will support the operations of the elected Council, Strategic Policy Committees, Local Area Committees and other Council structures.

Role Overview

The Sláintecare Local Development Officer and Healthy Ireland Co-ordinator positions operate within a multi level governance environment from Local Area Committee meetings and community level to national and European levels. The post holder will be responsible for co ordinating, influencing and aligning activity across political, managerial, sectoral and community domains, working at local, plenary, regional, national and European levels.

The positions require professionals with the ability to co ordinate, influence and lead cross sectoral and community initiatives that:

• Address health inequalities

• Promote prevention and wellbeing

• Build resilient, inclusive communities within Cork City Council

Key Responsibilities

Both roles will support the delivery of:

• The emerging outcomes framework for Healthy Ireland in 2026

• The WHO European Healthy Cities Network Phase VIII objectives at local and regional levels

The positions prioritise actions to improve the wider determinants of health through local government statutory and developmental responsibilities, with a strong emphasis on:

• Empowering communities and fostering inclusive participation

• Research, innovation and evidence informed decision making

• Intersectoral collaboration across public, private and community stakeholders

• Data management, monitoring and reporting on programme outcomes

DUTIES

Roles and Duties of the Sláintecare Local Development Officer

Administrative Officer Grade VII

The Sláintecare Communities Development Officer will perform duties as assigned, facilitating, implementing and promoting the policies and objectives of Cork City Council to advance the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme. The post holder will report to the Senior Social Inclusion Specialist or any officer designated by the Chief Executive. The post holder may be reassigned to other roles or sections within Cork City Council as organisational needs arise.

The role involves co ordinating, influencing and leading multi sectoral initiatives to address health inequalities and promote wellbeing across the Local Authority area.

Key Duties Include:

• Work intensively with identified disadvantaged areas and marginalised groups to co design health and wellbeing interventions that reflect local priorities.

• Apply principles of empowerment, participation, social justice and equality in all aspects of planning and delivery.

• Collaborate with local Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme services such as Health Service Executive, family support and education providers to ensure integrated and improved delivery of health and wellbeing initiatives.

• Use and gather relevant local datasets to target communities experiencing the greatest health inequities and build an evidence base for resource allocation or interventions.

• Develop a five year Sláintecare Healthy Communities Work Programme based on local needs and priorities, established through innovative and participatory community engagement and needs assessment exercises, with Annual Action Plans including seed funding to implement local priorities.

• Map, align and leverage local authority activities that influence the wider determinants of health, incorporating them into relevant Healthy Ireland data gathering exercises.

• Advise elected members and senior executives on policies and programmes related to health, equality and wellbeing.

• Facilitate Community Health and Wellbeing Networks and support the development of local wellbeing forums and leadership initiatives within communities.

• Co ordinate, facilitate and deliver Social Inclusion programmes and projects including but not limited to youth programmes, non fire night and community initiatives.

• Collaborate with social inclusion programmes and initiatives with internal and external stakeholders as required.

• Work confidently and sensitively with elected representatives, senior executives and cross sectoral leaders to address health and wellbeing inequalities.

• Act as a catalyst and connector across directorates and sections such as planning, transport, housing, environment and community to align activity with health and wellbeing objectives.

• Champion whole system, place based, preventative approaches to health and wellbeing, collaborating across local authority directorates and with external partners to create enabling environments.

• Explore funding and resource mechanisms across Government Departments and at European Union level to address local community priorities.

• Leverage research, data, innovation and World Health Organization and European Union collaboration to promote local government leadership in improving health and wellbeing outcomes.

• Develop or contribute to funding bids in conjunction with communities to resource local priority initiatives.

• Demonstrate capacity to influence, align and co ordinate across internal directorates and external stakeholders and manage partnerships effectively, including coordination of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Local Implementation Team.

• Use local data, research and evidence to inform decisions and measure programme outcomes.

• Represent the Local Authority in regional, national and international networks, including platforms such as the WHO European Healthy Cities Network.

• Drive whole of local government, whole of community and whole of place approaches to wellbeing, focusing on the social, economic, environmental and cultural determinants of health.

Roles and Duties of the Healthy Ireland Co ordinator

Administrative Officer Grade VII

The Healthy Ireland Co ordinator will perform duties as assigned, facilitating, implementing and promoting the policies and objectives of Cork City Council to advance the Healthy Cities and Counties Programme. The post holder will report to the Senior Social Inclusion Specialist or any officer designated by the Chief Executive. The post holder may be reassigned to other roles or sections within Cork City Council as organisational needs arise.

The role involves co ordinating, influencing and leading multi sectoral initiatives to improve health and wellbeing and address inequalities across the Local Authority area.

Key Duties Include:

• Work intensively with communities of interest and place to co design, develop and implement locally tailored wellbeing initiatives.

• Apply principles of empowerment, participation, social justice and equality in all aspects of planning and delivery.

• Collaborate with relevant Healthy Ireland partners to ensure integrated and improved delivery of health and wellbeing initiatives and support programmes across the Local Authority.

• Use and gather relevant local datasets to target communities experiencing the greatest health inequities and build an evidence base for resource allocation or interventions.

• Develop a five year Healthy Ireland Work Programme based on local needs and priorities, established through innovative and participatory community engagement and needs assessment exercises, with Annual Action Plans including Healthy Ireland Fund or similar funding to implement local priorities.

• Participate in Regional Healthy Ireland Co ordinator Cluster and National Network fora.

• Map, align and leverage local authority activities that influence the wider determinants of health, incorporating them into relevant Healthy Ireland data gathering exercises.

• Advise elected members and senior executives on policies and programmes related to health and wellbeing and deliver relevant upskilling and enabling opportunities.

• Facilitate Local Authority wide or Regional Health and Wellbeing Networks and support the development of local wellbeing forums and leadership initiatives within communities.

• Define, co ordinate and deliver a community development response to disability, accessibility and inclusion for Cork City.

• Collaborate with social inclusion programmes and initiatives with internal and external stakeholders as required.

• Co facilitate the Cork Healthy Cities programme with partners in the Health Service Executive.

• Work confidently and sensitively with elected representatives, senior executives and cross sectoral leaders to address determinants of health activity within the Local Authority.

• Act as a catalyst and connector across directorates and sections such as planning, transport, housing, environment and community to align activity with health and wellbeing objectives.

• Champion whole system, place based, preventative approaches to health and wellbeing, collaborating across directorates and with external partners to create enabling environments.

• Explore resource mechanisms across all Government Departments and at European Union level to address local community priorities.

• Leverage research, data, innovation and World Health Organization and European Union collaboration to encourage local government leadership in improving health and wellbeing outcomes.

• Develop or contribute to funding bids in conjunction with communities to resource local priority initiatives.

• Demonstrate capacity to influence, align and co ordinate across internal directorates and external stakeholders and manage partnerships effectively, including co ordination of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Local Implementation Team.

• Use local data, research and evidence to inform decisions and measure outcomes.

• Represent Cork City Council in regional and national networks and participate in international platforms such as the WHO European Healthy Cities Network.

• Drive whole of local government, whole of community and whole of place approaches to wellbeing, focusing on the social, economic, environmental and cultural determinants of health.

The above duties are not intended to be a comprehensive list of all responsibilities involved. Accordingly, the post holder may be required to perform other duties appropriate to the post, as may be assigned from time to time, and to contribute to the ongoing development and evolution of the role while in office.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE POST

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.

Candidates shall on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms for the post have:

• A third level degree National Framework of Qualifications Level 8 or higher in a relevant field such as community or sports development, youth work, social sciences, public health, social policy, public administration, planning or related discipline.

A minimum of 5 years relevant experience in any of the following:

• Local government, public sector or similar roles involving strategic planning, project co ordination or community engagement.

• Work with disadvantaged communities or target populations to address social exclusion or inequality.

• Cross sectoral co ordination 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, budgeting and performance monitoring experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Attitude etc.

• Knowledge and understanding of Sláintecare Reform and the Healthy Ireland Outcomes Framework.

• Experience of building, managing and nurturing partnerships and relationships across a wide range of key stakeholders.

• An understanding and or experience of local government structures and political environment.

• Facilitation and group work skills.

• Understanding of those who experience health inequalities.

• Experience of report writing, strategic planning and funding application processes.

• Effective communication skills.

• Excellent information technology and administration skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel and Power Point.

• Experience in managing budgets and finances and experience with processing payments.

• An understanding and or experience in gathering qualitative and quantitative data, analysis, research and evaluation to policy and practice.

• Appreciation of use of social media and varied communication platforms.

• Understanding of multi level governance and or experience of working across local, regional, national and European contexts.

Salary

The salary scale for the post is:

€60,011 – €61,480 – €63,194 – €64,914 – €66,634 – €68,170 – €69,745 – €71,269 – €72,790 – €75,395 Long Service Increment 1 – €78,015 Long Service Increment 2

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 at the minimum point.

Hours of Duty

The standard working week is 35 hours per week. The role may on occasion require evening or weekend work.

Holders of the post may be required to attend for duty at any time, in accordance with arrangements made by the local authority. The Council reserves the right to alter hours of work from time to time.

All hours worked will be subject to the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 and the Organisation of Working Time Regulations Act 2001.