Sports Development Officer

Essential Criteria

CHARACTER

Candidates shall 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.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE Etc.

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

Essential Attributes

• A 3rd level degree qualification in sports development, leisure management, adapted physical activity, community development, health promotion or other relevant discipline e.

• A minimum of 2 years’ experience working in a similar role within a sporting organisation or the community development, disability or education sectors.

• A minimum of 2 years’ experience of piloting, developing, and evaluating physical activity and sport based initiatives within the community.

Desirable Attributes

• Inter-personal skills to involve people, and communities in the planning, delivery and evaluation of sports programmes and physical activity initiatives.

• Competency and experience in the area of sports development and inclusion of people with disabilities and persons from marginalized communities.

• Experience in programme monitoring, evaluation and reporting.

• Proficiency in IT and communication technology systems.

• Excellent communication (oral and written), administration, organisational and presentation skills.

• Awareness and understanding of different models of disability, and methods of inclusion.

• Awareness of current issues for people with a disability/older adults/persons with restricted mobility and the importance and value of their participation in sport and physical activity.

• Ability and commitment to work unsociable hours.

• Experience in managing budgets and preparing financial reports.

Additional Information

• Applicant must hold a full, clean, driving licence and access to own transport for travel incurred at work.

Candidates may be shortlisted on the basis of information supplied on their application form.

Duties

Specific tasks of the Sports Development Officer will be determined locally having regard to the overall job purpose and with reference to any particular issues, challenges and priorities identified in the sports strategy for the area. The Sports Development Officer, as a valuable member of the LSP team will also be responsible for other programme areas as identified by the Head of Sport in Louth Sports Unit. The officer will work to facilitate and support the creation of programmes and initiatives which will develop and expand the range of opportunities for people to fully participate in sport and physical activity in Louth with a particular focus on, but not limited to, persons with a disability, persons with limited mobility, older adults, ethnic minority groups, women, teenage girls etc. The officer will utilise and manage the programme budget the Sports Partnership has secured from its lead body, Sport Ireland and partner agencies to fulfil the objectives of the role. The following represents an indicative list from which the Sports Development Officer tasks may be drawn depending on the above information.

Advocacy & Awareness

• Establish local sport and physical activity networking opportunities within the county.

• Provide appropriate channels for people with disabilities to share their experiences, challenges and needs in relation to Sport & Physical Activity in Louth.

• Foster co-operation, cross collaboration and develop links with local stakeholders from the disability and sporting sectors in Co. Louth.

• Promote the participation of people with disabilities, older adults, and other target groups in sport and physical activity through appropriate channels.

• Work on a cross collaboration basis with local allied health professionals, education sector, and voluntary agencies to develop and promote physical activity and participation in sport for people with disabilities, older adults and other target groups.

• Maintain and update relevant sections on the Louth Local Sports Partnership website and social media channels.

• Enhance the recognition and promotion of quality inclusive practice across the sport and physical activity sectors in Louth.

• Promote and encourage the participation of people with disabilities, older adults and other target groups to take up roles in sport and physical activity in Louth as volunteers, coaches, administrators, officials and committee members.

• Support Local and National Events that promote inclusive sport and physical activity for persons with a disability, older adults and other target groups.

Research & Planning

• Assess via a county audit, the levels of participation of people with disabilities, older adults and other target groups in sport and physical activity in Louth, taking account of socio-economics, gender, age, ethnicity and other factors within the county.

• Assess levels of programme and service provision by local agencies targeted at encouraging increased quality of and participation opportunities for people with disabilities, older adults and other target groups in sport and physical activity within Louth.

• Review and make recommendations on Louth Local Sports Partnership Strategic Plans regarding the provision of sport and physical activity for people with a disability, older adults, and other target groups within the county.

• Assess levels of accessibility in Sport and Physical Activity facilities in Louth and provide guidance and support to facility providers to increase the number of accessible facilities in the county.

• Identify and monitor the level of participation in sport and physical opportunities within the county on an annual basis with a key focus on people with disabilities, older adults and other target groups aligned to the role.

Training & Participation Development

• Coordinate and support the development of sustainable participation programmes and pathways in Sport & Physical Activity for people with disabilities, older adults and other target groups.

• Support the development of new clubs and opportunities for people with disabilities, older adults and other target groups.

• Support the integration of people from target groups into existing mainstream Sport & Physical Activity opportunities within local communities in Co. Louth.

• Identify the training needs of the sport and physical activity sector within Co. Louth specific to the participation of people with a disability, older adults and other target groups in Sport & Physical Activity.

• Through communication with relevant bodies facilitate and support the implementation of training courses specific to volunteers, coaches, parents, teachers, and administrators to raise awareness and the capacity of inclusive sport and physical activity in Co. Louth.

• Support people with disabilities and those from other backgrounds in becoming coaches, officials, administrators and instructors within the sporting community in Co. Louth by working on a cross collaboration basis with local stakeholders to generate and sustain local inclusive opportunities.

Engagement & Support

• Develop and sustain effective working relationships with the National Governing Bodies of Sport operating within the county to increase the range and choice of inclusive sport and physical activity opportunities in Co. Louth.

• Work as part of the national network of Sports Development Officers within the LSP Network in sharing information and experiences to support inclusive sport and physical activity development in Co. Louth.

• Promote and support the development of inclusive practice within sport and physical activity providers in Co. Louth with specific focus on encouraging organisations to adopt the National Sport Inclusion Disability Charter.

The particular duties and responsibilities attached to the post may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or level of responsibilities entailed. The post holder may therefore be required to perform duties appropriate to the post, other than those detailed above and to take instruction from and report to an appropriate officer or such designated officer as may be assigned from time to time by Louth County Council.

COMPETENCY INDICATORS

Candidates will have to demonstrate that they possess sufficient skills and experience in the competencies listed below during the recruitment process. Further, shortlisting may form part of this process and so candidates should demonstrate on their application form, to the satisfaction of a short-listing board, that they possess sufficient skills and experience in these competencies in order to be called for interview.

Management and Change

Delivering Results

Performance Management and Team Work

Knowledge, Experience and Skills

Management & Change

• Demonstrates the ability to develop and maintain positive and beneficial relationships with relevant interests.

• Understand and implement change and demonstrate flexibility and openness to change within the Community and Voluntary Sector.

• Promotes and sustains an appropriate, positive, and cohesive image for the organisation.

Delivering Results

• Plan work and allocation of staff and other resources effectively.

• Implement high quality service and customer care standards.

• Have effective written and verbal skills.

• Have used presentation applications.

• Use of social media and effectiveness in communicating.

• Understanding of different methods of communication and use of same.

Performance Management and Team Work

• Supervise the team or work area to achieve corporate objectives.

• Work as part of a team to ensure delivery of plans and schedules.

• Have a strong team ethic of co-operation and mutual support.

Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• Demonstrate the knowledge and understanding of the structure and functions of the Local Sports Partnership network.

• Demonstrate the knowledge of current issues for physical activity levels.

• Understand the role of a Sports Inclusion Disability Officer within a Local Sports Partnership.

• Has relevant “on-the-job” experience and evidence of similar role.

• Has relevant administrative experience.

• Has experience of working as part of a team.

• Has experience of preparing reports and correspondence.

• Has knowledge and experience of operating ICT systems.

Particulars of Post

Sport Ireland launched the National Network of Local Sports Partnerships throughout the country in 2008. Now with full national coverage, the Local Sports Partnership structure aims to promote participation in sport and physical activity at a local level. Located within the Local Sports Partnerships are Sports Development Officers whose main aim is to increase sport and physical activity opportunities for people of all abilities within communities across the country.

Sport Ireland and its network of Local Sports Partnerships are committed to the equal treatment of all people in Ireland when it comes to their participation in sport and physical activity. In addition to the Sport Ireland Statement of Strategy (2018–2022), the following national policies and plans set the overarching framework under which sport and physical activity participation is underpinned in Ireland:

• The National Sports Policy (2018–2027) recognises the important contribution sport makes to Irish society and the key roles played by the National Governing Bodies of Sport, the Local Sports Partnerships and the representative sporting organisations in the delivery of sport and physical activity in Ireland.

• The National Physical Activity Plan aims to increase physical activity levels across the whole population. It aims to create a society which facilitates people to be physically active in a variety of settings and at all stages of the lifecycle.

• The National Participation Plan sets out how Sport Ireland will deliver on the ambition of both the Sport Ireland Strategy and the National Sports Policy.

• Sport Ireland’s Policy on the Participation in Sport by People with Disabilities sets a clear context and position on the promotion and development of sport and physical activity opportunities for persons with a disability in Ireland.

Job Purpose

The Sports Development Officer will work in a coordinating capacity with all relevant stakeholders to increase and sustain participation opportunities for people with disabilities. The SIDO will be responsible to the Coordinator of Louth Local Sports Partnership in delivering this role.

Salary

The salary shall be fully inclusive and shall be as determined from time to time. The holder of the office shall pay to the local authority any fees or other monies (other than his/her inclusive salary) payable to and received by him/her by virtue of his/her office or in respect of services which he/she is required by or under any enactment to perform.

The salary scale for the position of the Sports Inclusion Disability Officer is: €35,613 - €54,911 (LSI 2) gross per annum.

Entry point to this scale will be determined in accordance with Circulars issued by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. 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. Rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government Policy.

Location of post

The staff member will be based at the offices of Louth Local Sports Partnership in Dundalk Sports Centre, Tom Bellew Avenue, Muirhevnamor, Dundalk, Co. Louth, A91 X36T on specified days which will be confirmed on appointment.

Louth LSP reserves the right to assign you to any premises in use by the Sports Partnership, now or in the future.

Superannuation

A. Officers joining the Public Service after the 1st January 2013 will be required to join the Single Public Service Pension Scheme. A Class rate of PRSI contribution will apply. A rate of 3% of their pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the rate of State Pension Contributory (SPC)). This includes a contribution to a Spouse’s and Children’s Scheme.

OR

B. Officers who became pensionable officers of the Public Service prior to 1st January 2013 and who are liable to pay the Class A rate of PRSI contribution will be required to contribute at a rate of 1.5% of their pensionable remuneration plus 3.5% of the net pensionable remuneration (i.e. pensionable remuneration less twice the rate of State Pension Contributory (SPC)). You will be required to contribute at a rate of 1.5% of your pensionable remuneration to the Spouses & Children’s Pension Scheme.

OR

C. Officers who become pensionable officers of a Public Service prior to 5th April 1995 and who are liable to pay the Class D rate of PRSI contribution will be required to contribute at a rate of 5% of their pensionable remuneration. If an option to join a dependent scheme was made you will be required to contribute at a rate of 1.5% to a Dependents Pension Scheme.

Retirement

Retirement is dependent on the superannuation scheme you become a member of and details will be made available to you upon appointment.

Health

For the purpose of satisfying the requirements as to health, it may be necessary for the successful candidate, before he/she is appointed, to undergo at his/her expense a medical examination by a qualified medical practitioner to be nominated by the local authority. On taking up appointment, the expense of the medical examination will be refunded to the candidate.

Probation

Where a person, who is not already a permanent officer of Louth County Council, is appointed, the following provisions shall apply:

• There will be a probationary period of 9 months from date of employment,

• The Chief Executive may at his or her discretion extend this period,

• You shall cease to hold office at end of the period of probation unless during this period the Chief Executive has certified that your service is satisfactory.