Youth & Community Engagement Worker

POSITION SUMMARY:

The role of the Youth and Community Engagement Worker cuts across several aspects of Jigsaw's work at local Service level including youth voice and engagement and youth mental health promotion in community and education settings. The role involves delivering a range of youth mental health promotion activities for young people, parents/guardians and those who work and volunteer with young people in settings where they live, learn, work and play. It also focuses on supporting Jigsaw's youth advocates to participate and have their voice heard in the local Jigsaw Service and to influence decision-making across the organisation.

Please Note: This is a full time, permanent position based in our Jigsaw Cork Service.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Youth voice and engagement

• Support the implementation, evaluation and ongoing evolution of Jigsaw's youth voice and engagement framework
• Facilitate the engagement and participation of youth advocates in Jigsaw through a planned process of recruitment, induction, training and ongoing support
• Facilitate youth advocate meetings on a regular basis to ensure that young people are at the centre of the work of Jigsaw and in order to enable the ongoing identification of issues and concerns relating to youth mental health as perceived and experienced by young people
• Support the development and implementation of initiatives that build the capacity of youth advocates to act as ambassadors and change agents in promoting youth mental health in their own communities
• Support youth advocates to develop and resource a youth voice and engagement plan that sets clear goals and actions for the active and inclusive participation of young people from the local community, in the ongoing planning, implementation, promotion and evaluation of Jigsaw.
• Review the effectiveness of the youth advocate work plan and the various youth voice and engagement strategies in conjunction with the Jigsaw Service Manager
• Liaise with the Jigsaw Service Manager/Clinical Manager to ensure that the mental health and wellbeing of youth advocates is promoted and supported, as needed.

Youth mental health promotion

• Strengthen and further develop local networks, collaborations and partnerships with key community-based organisations with a focus on achieving better mental health outcomes for young people
• Supporting the development and implementation of initiatives that build the capacity of communities to support and promote youth mental health where young people live, learn, work and play
• Coordinate and respond to requests for workshops and programmes at local Service level
• Facilitate/co-facilitate a broad range of mental health promotion workshops and programmes for young people and those who work/volunteer with young people
• Represent Jigsaw at local community meetings (e.g. Child and Family Support Networks)
• Play a key role in communicating with a broad range of stakeholders and producing reports / presentations for various audiences
• Developing appropriate promotional materials for the Service, in collaboration with Jigsaw.
• Work in collaboration with the Fundraising and Communications to identify funding opportunities for youth and community engagement activities.

General duties

• Ensure that all activity is delivered in compliance with Jigsaw policies and procedures
• Ensure all activity is recorded on TeamDesk – Jigsaw's data management system
• Ensure accurate monitoring and reporting of Key Performance Indicators across all areas of work
• Participate in Jigsaw education, training and networking events as appropriate, e.g. Jigsaw Learning Network
• Comply with Jigsaw's Child Protection and Welfare Policy
• Comply with responsibilities under the Data Protection Acts 1988-2011, Freedom of Information Acts 1999-2014 and the General Data Protection Regulation 2018
• Be flexible regarding working hours in line with the needs of the Service and community (incorporating late evening and occasional weekend work)
• Prepare reports and updates for the Service Manager/Jigsaw
• Participate in team meetings and attend other meetings as deemed necessary
• Undertake other duties as may be requested by the Service Manager/Jigsaw as required.

Requirements:

Essential Criteria:

• Degree or equivalent youth/community work, health promotion or a relevant education or social sector discipline
• Minimum of two years' experience in developing and implementing programmes relevant to working with young people
• Experience of working with young people and community groups in a community, education or health care setting
• Passion for enabling youth voice and engagement
• Strong presentation, communication and group facilitation skills
• Full, clean driving license and access to a car.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience of working in a collaborative manner across multiple agencies and sectors
• Knowledge of theory and practice in youth participation and/or health promotion
• Experience of planning and evaluating projects
• Familiarity with local services for young people e.g. education, health, community and voluntary agencies
• Familiarity with Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017)
• Strong organisational, administrative and report writing skills
• Ability to work in an independent and self-directed manner while also being part of a team
• Demonstrate evidence of computer skills including use of Microsoft Office, e-mail and social media.

Benefits

Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. Factors taken into account in determining an appropriate scale include the candidate's knowledge, skills, experience and qualifications relevant to the job. The salary range for this role will be €32,000 - €46,800.

Jigsaw operates the following benefits for its employee's

• Defined contribution pension scheme. 10% Employer / 5% Employee
• 10% Discount on Laya Healthcare
• Annual leave 25 days, exclusive of public holidays and 1.5 company days.
• Comprehensive annual CPD schedule
• Financial support for further education

Please Note:

• The closing date for applications is 12pm Thursday 24th July.