Traveller Mental Health Programme Manager

The Organisation

The Traveller Counselling Service was set up in 2008 to provide one-to-one counselling and therapeutic support to members of the Traveller community. Overseen by a Board of Management, the service is run by Travellers for Travellers and works from a culturally inclusive framework which respects Traveller culture, identity, values, and norms.

The service has now expanded to include Community Development Work and Advocacy Work, and offers counselling in person, by phone and online, nationwide.

We are currently recruiting for a Traveller Mental Health Programme Manager to join our team. The successful candidate will be a motivated, dynamic, self-starter who can manage, lead, develop and promote a series of mental health community development projects nationwide, as well as the Travellers Transforming Conflict Initiative.

The position is Dublin-based and full-time, and will involve nationwide travel.

Person Specification

• An understanding of the implications of social exclusion, racism, poverty, etc. on mental health;

• The ability to work from a culturally inclusive framework;

• High degree of personal integrity;

• Motivated with an ability to work on one’s own initiative, and to plan and set goals;

• Ability to form and maintain strong and positive working relationships with a wide range of stakeholders (staff, counsellors, funders, government bodies, collaborative partners);

• Commitment to capacity-building and empowering Travellers;

• Understanding of and a commitment to the promotion of equal opportunities and cultural diversity (anti-racism stance).

Skills Required

• Excellent project management skills;

• Excellent leadership skills;

• IT Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, Word, WordPress and Salesforce;

• Capacity for report-writing;

• Competent and confident communicator with capacity to communicate to a wide range of stakeholders in simple and clear terms;

• Ability to organise and prioritise a busy, heavy workload;

• Good team-work skills that foster accountability, leadership and inclusion.

Experience

Essential

• Experienced in leading health promotion projects;

• Experienced in facilitating inclusive community health discussions;

• Proven track record in public speaking/public communications;

• Proven track record in qualitative health research, data collection and synthesis.

Desirable

• Third level qualification in public health, social work or community development;

• Experience of working with Travellers or other minority or marginalised groups;

• Experience of grassroots health promotion settings.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and coordinate national mental health engagement initiatives with Traveller organisations and community stakeholders across Ireland;

• Design, implement and oversee peer-led mental health surveys, data collection initiatives and community consultation programmes to inform service delivery and policy development;

• Establish, support and monitor regional Traveller mental health steering groups, ensuring effective governance, reporting and programme implementation;

• Provide specialist community development and mental health support expertise in furtherance of the strategic objectives of the Travellers Counselling Service;

• Support the delivery and expansion of the Travellers Transforming Conflict Initiative through programme coordination, stakeholder engagement and inter-agency collaboration;

• Conduct research and maintain a comprehensive knowledge base of mental health, social inclusion and community support services available to Travellers nationwide;

• Prepare reports, programme evaluations and strategic recommendations relating to Traveller mental health needs, service access and community engagement outcomes;

• Liaise with statutory agencies, healthcare providers, NGOs and community organisations to improve referral pathways and access to culturally appropriate mental health supports;

• Deliver training, awareness and outreach initiatives relating to Traveller mental health, social inclusion and conflict transformation; and

• Promote the work, objectives and services of the organisation at local and national level through professional engagement and partnership development.

Terms and Conditions

• Full time. Some out of hours work may be required occasionally which can be taken back with TOIL.

• 1 year contract initially with a 6-month probationary period. Renewal subject to funding.

• Based in 67 Amiens Street, Dublin 1, with an expectation of nationwide travel.

• €40,000 per annum.

• 21 days annual leave.

To Apply

• Please send your CV, Separate Cover Letter and details of 2 Referees to claire@travellercounselling.ie

• The cover letter must clearly identify how you meet the requirements of the person specification and required skills and experience as outlined above. Only fully complete applications including the letter addressing the person specification will be considered. Please avoid using AI in your application.