Sláintecare Healthy Communities Local Development Officer - Admin Officer

The Position The Sláintecare Healthy Communities (SHC) Local Development Officer will report both to the designated Officer in Longford County Council and the SHC National Manager and will be instrumental in organising and assisting the SHC Local Implementation Team. The SHC Local Development Officer will be employed through a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with Longford County Council and will work with the local community, through the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), its member agencies, and other Community and Voluntary Fora, to assess the needs of the local area, to prepare reports and to provide feedback to the LCDC, Longford County Council’s Management Team, and the SHC National Development Officer.

The purpose of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme (SHCP) is to implement change and to focus on the social determinants of health. The SHC Local Development Officer will have responsibility for promoting and facilitating engagement between the local community, through the LCDC and PPN, local agencies and services, the local authority and the HSE and Tusla.

The SHC Local Development Officer will have responsibility for engaging with the LCDC who will provide the oversight structure with the SHC Local Implementation Team.

The SHC Local Development Officer will ensure that the plan for the Longford area is reviewed regularly and will work with the local community to maintain an audit of local needs, to establish how best to tackle problems and to ensure co-ordinated delivery of services and investment.

The SHC Local Development Officer will be supported by the SHC National Manager who will provide mentoring and act as a forum to exchange experiences and learning. Start-up training, ongoing support and monitoring will be provided to the SHC Local Development Officer by the SHC National Manager. The SHC National Manager will also act as a central source of information on activities and programmes in operation and provide updates on their progress.

This role will support the delivery of the emerging outcomes framework for Healthy Ireland in 2026, and the WHO European Healthy Cities Network (Phase VIII) objectives at local and regional levels. The role prioritises actions to improve the wider determinants of health through local government’s statutory and developmental responsibilities, with a strong emphasis on empowering communities, research and innovation, intersectoral collaboration, data management and evidence-informed decision-making.

Role and Duties

The SHC Local Development Officer will work to enable local communities to improve their health and wellbeing.

This role requires strong networking and relationship-building skills as it will be critical to engage with and support communities and build strong relationships with key stakeholders and partner organisations, both internally and externally.

The successful candidate will act as a key point of contact for local communities within the county on SHC issues, ensuring good quality and relevant information is available to those communities. The SHC Local Development Officer will be expected to work in partnership with communities, key statutory organisations and voluntary/community organisations to address issues of social determinants of health, health inequalities and wellbeing.

The SHC Local Development Officer will be expected to work in partnership with:

• The SHC National Manager

• The LCDC Chief Officer and LCDC members

• The Local Authority Community Section and other local authority staff

• The SHC Local Implementation Team

• HSE and Tusla staff working at a local level

• Community, voluntary and statutory organisations working to address health inequalities

Qualifications

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

Hold a recognised third level qualification (Level 7 or higher on the National Framework of Qualifications) in a relevant discipline such as health, education, community development, social sciences or related discipline.

Have at least two years’ satisfactory experience in community development, health promotion, social inclusion, local development, or other relevant areas.

Possess strong interpersonal, communication, facilitation and networking skills.

Demonstrate the capacity to work effectively with statutory and voluntary agencies and community groups.

Demonstrate excellent administrative, report writing and IT skills.

Hold a full current Class B driving licence and have access to a car.

Particulars of Employment

Salary

The salary for the position is the analogous Grade V Local Authority Salary Scale: €50,477, €52,675, €54,884, €57,086, €59,294, €61,511, €63,705, €65,897, €68,112, €70,314, €72,507, €74,716, €76,904, €79,099 (LSI1), €81,303 (LSI2).

Hours of Work

The post is wholetime, 35 hours per week. The role will involve occasional evening and weekend work for which time off in lieu will be given.

Annual Leave

30 days per annum.

Tenure

The position is wholetime and temporary, subject to continued Government funding for the programme.

Location

The SHC Local Development Officer will be based in Longford County Council offices but may be required to work at different locations within the county from time to time.

Pension

The Local Government (Superannuation) (Consolidation) Scheme 1998, as amended, applies.

Probation

A probationary period of 12 months will apply.