Sláintecare Local Development Officer
The Role
The Sláintecare Local Development Officer positions are assigned functional responsibility for the management of their respective Sláintecare Healthy Communities Area (currently 3 in SDCC). The Sláintecare Local Development Officer is the primary point of contact and liaison with other sections in relation to all operational matters for the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme for which they are responsible and other assigned duties or functions, depending on the organisational arrangements in place.
The post holder will work under the direction and control of the Senior Executive Officer or analogous grade or other officer designated by the Chief Executive or Director of Services as appropriate. The Sláintecare Local Development Officer is responsible for management of the day to day operations of the relevant programme and is a contributor to the strategic and policy making decisions of the local authority.
The post holder will be expected to contribute to the development and implementation of policies and strategies and to work closely with the elected councillors and senior managers in delivering services to the highest standard.
The post holder may represent the Local Authority on committees and at meetings, including for example Area Committee meetings and Strategic Policy Committee meetings and may be asked to report on progress in their respective section or department.
The positions require professionals with the ability to coordinate, influence and lead cross sectoral and community initiatives that address health inequalities, promote prevention and build resilient, inclusive places within their designated Local Authority.
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.
The office is whole time, permanent and pensionable. A panel will be formed to fill permanent and temporary vacancies. When funding ceases the postholders will be reassigned to an Administrative Officer post. Persons employed will be required to work in any location within the South Dublin administrative area.
Salary or Wages
€60,611 - €62,095 - €63,826 - €65,563 - €67,300 - €68,852 - €70,442 - €71,982 - €73,518 - €76,149 (1st Long Service Increment) - €78,795 (2nd Long Service Increment)
Hours of Work
The successful candidates’ normal hours of work will be 35 hours per week. South Dublin County Council reserves the right to alter hours of work from time to time.
Annual Leave
Annual leave entitlement for this position is 30 days.
Qualifications
Character
Candidates will be of good character.
Health
Each candidate must be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.
Essential Education, Training and Experience
Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms:
A third level degree (NFQ 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 a related discipline.
A minimum of 2 years relevant experience in any of the following:
a. Local government, public sector or similar roles involving strategic planning, project coordination or community engagement.
b. Work with disadvantaged communities or target populations to address social exclusion or inequality.
c. Cross sectoral coordination or partnership development.
d. Policy development, research or evaluation related to the determinants of health.
e. Operating effectively within political, community and policy making environments, demonstrating ability to work across boundaries of role, sector and geography.
f. Project management and delivery, budgeting and performance monitoring experience.
Desirable Education, Training and Experience
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 the 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 PowerPoint.
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 the 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.
Demonstrates understanding of the role of Healthy Ireland Programmes and the World Health Organization European Healthy Cities Network in the context of wider local authority service delivery.
Demonstrates awareness of Community Development Principles and a strong understanding of the Social Determinants of Health to support delivery of Healthy Ireland priorities, with clear understanding of the roles that housing, transport, planning, environment and social infrastructure play in shaping health and wellbeing.
Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of the structure and functions of local government and in particular working across boundaries and with elected members.
Demonstrates knowledge of current local government issues, future trends and strategic direction of local and national government and at World Health Organization or European Union level.
Has relevant administrative experience of compiling, preparing and presenting reports and budget and financial and resource management skills.
Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of research methods, data management and innovative approaches to their work.
Key Competencies and Skills
• Strategic Management and Change
• Delivering Results
• Performance through People
• Personal Effectiveness
• Local Government Knowledge and Understanding
Candidates are requested to give an example of a situation which highlights the behaviour, skills and attitude that underpin effective performance in these areas and which demonstrates their suitability to meet the challenges of this role.
Candidates should ensure the example used clearly demonstrates their ability in this area and that the scale and scope of the example given is appropriate to the post and level of the post.
Duties
Duties will include but are not limited to the following.
The Sláintecare Local Development Officer 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 South Dublin County Council for the advancement of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Programme.
The Sláintecare Local Development Officer will report under the general direction of a Director of Service or any other officer as designated by the Chief Executive.
Duties include inter alia:
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.
Work with relevant 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, promotion and support programmes.
Use and gather relevant local datasets to target communities experiencing the greatest health inequities and build evidence for resource allocation or intervention.
Develop a five year Sláintecare Healthy Communities Work Programme based on local need and priorities established from innovative and participatory community engagement and needs assessment exercises with annual action plans comprising seed funding to action local priorities.
Map, align and leverage local authority activities that influence the wider determinants of health and include within relevant Healthy Ireland data gathering exercises.
Advise elected members and senior executives on relevant policies and programmes related to health, equality and wellbeing.
Facilitate Community Health and Wellbeing Networks and support the development of local wellbeing forums and wellbeing leadership initiatives within communities.
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, working across South Dublin County Council directorates and with external partners to create enabling environments that foster wellbeing for all.
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 or 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 the capacity to influence, align and coordinate across internal directorates and external stakeholders and demonstrate partnership management and stakeholder engagement skills such as coordination of the Sláintecare Healthy Communities Local Implementation Team.
Use local data, research and evidence to shape decisions and measure outcomes.
Represent South Dublin County Council in regional and national networks and international platforms such as the World Health Organization 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.
These duties are indicative rather than exhaustive and are carried out under general guidance.
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