SECAD Partnership – Employment Support Officer

SECAD have advertised an Employment Support Officer role to work primarily on SICAP. This is advertised on Activelink https://www.activelink.ie/vacancies/community/108016-secad-partnership-employment-support-officer and also through the Irish Local Development Network. Please see below for job description and application details.

Job Description

A vacancy has arisen within SECAD Partnership’s Employment Support Team. This will be a full-time post with an initial twelve-month contract. Applicants seeking part-time employment may also be considered.  The Employment Support Officer will support clients into meaningful employment or pathways towards employment and self-employment, through the provision of a suite of customised supports. The successful candidate will provide group and one-to-one supports including supporting individuals to access employment; skills programmes that will enhance their employability; personal development; and community based social, health & wellbeing, education and employment opportunities which will include assessing and referring clients to appropriate statutory services.

Duties of the post:

• Work within a team to deliver on SECAD’s Employment Support strategies
• One to one support for individuals furthest from the labour market to develop personal action plans and explore options around personal development, employment, self-employment, training etc.
• Deliver individual and group supports on CV preparation, interview skills, career development, technology for work skills, social welfare guidance and access to other public employment initiatives including Tus
• Facilitate and support designated groups and networking activities as required

• Provide appropriate information to new communities to enable access to services

• Support clients to access relevant online and web-based employment supports and recruitment platforms including SECAD’s Online Learning Hub
• Develop and maintain an accurate understanding of the relevant immigration legislation, policies and supports for asylum seekers and refugees
• Attend and contribute to SECAD Board, sub-committee and staff meetings or external meetings as required
• Contribute ideas and creative solutions as part of annual planning, shaping of new programme opportunities etc
• Ensure detailed records of all group /one on one work is maintained and reported, in a timely and efficient manner in line with the reporting requirements and CRM systems for various programmes
• Work collaboratively with other organisations and networks where required
• Ability to travel regularly throughout the geographic service delivery area of SECAD Partnership
• Maintain strict confidentiality of personal information of service users and adhere to GDPR and SECAD policy and procedures in this regard
• Effectively represent and promote the mission, vision and values of SECAD
• Other related duties as required by the CEO

Person Specification

Qualifications:

• A relevant third-level qualification including social sciences/social care, psychology, community development or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience;
• Successful candidates must continue to satisfy Citizenship Eligibility requirements (including any person holding an official letter confirming they have been granted Temporary Protection in Ireland under the EU Temporary Protection Directive 2001/55/EC)

Experience/Knowledge:

• A minimum of three years’ experience in a similar position or in community services/education/social care setting (ideally as a member of a small service team)
• Experience of providing individual and group supports, preferably to people seeking employment supports and services
• A strong interest in and knowledge of the issues facing those who are at risk of social exclusion, poverty and discrimination
• Extensive knowledge of social welfare policies and practices
• Understanding of immigration policies, practices and legislation in Ireland

• Be motivated to and experienced in working within a small team
• Experience in group facilitation
• Experience in managing a diverse workload and undertaking a variety of tasks
• Have a good understanding of the principles of social inclusion / rural development

• Experience of working in partnership with a wide range of other organisations

Skills/Abilities:

• Ability to engage with target groups with compassion and empathy
• Highly organised, with the ability to work well under pressure
• Have a flexible and adaptable work approach
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• Excellent written, verbal, analytical and interpersonal skills
• Strong listening and communication skills with sensitivity to cultural communication skills
• Appreciation of the need for confidentiality and integrity

• Good report writing skills
• Strong IT skills with a proven capacity in relevant software applications and in the use of online monitoring and reporting systems, caseload management etc
• Good knowledge of GDPR requirements

• Ability to work effectively as a team member and independently on own initiative
• High level of self-motivation and ability to set and meet goals and deadlines
• Comfortable working in a busy, dynamic, multi-cultural environment
• Have a full clean driving licence and own transport
• Be flexible in terms of availability and work location within the South Cork area

Personality:

Positive and Resilient: The role requires a person that enjoys working within a team, a person that can listen effectively and be a source of guidance to clients and colleagues when needed.

The person that fills this role will support people positively, helping them to maximise their talents, skills and experiences – in an open and objective manner whilst being resilient in terms of working with clients who have experienced social exclusion, health setbacks or other crisis’s. 

Terms & Conditions

• Working Hours 35 hours per week
• Contract for 12 months – may be renewed depending on performance and funding availability. Applicants seeking part time opportunities may be considered.
• Location: Post requires outreach work with travel required throughout the service delivery area of South Cork.
• Reporting to Social Inclusion Programme Manager and CEO (or their designate).
• Salary will be based on the Development Officer scale depending on experience
• 22 days annual leave per annum

Full and clean Irish/Irish Qualified driver’s licence is required with access to own vehicle

Application Process

Please email your application (CV & Letter of Application) to: info@secad.ie – subject line “Employment Support Officer 2024”

Applicants should pay particular attention to the experience and skills required as part of the job description, your suitability to the role and why you are the best candidate for this post.

Closing date for receipt of Applications (CV & Letter of Application) is 12 noon on Friday 17th May 2024.

Shortlisting will take place. Candidates selected for interview will be informed by Tuesday 21^st  May  and must be available for interview on Friday 24^th May 2024.  A panel may be formed and those interviewed may be considered for other related opportunities in SECAD in the near future.

SECAD Partnership is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

 

About SECAD Partnership

SECAD Partnership CLG (SECAD) is a Local Development Company established in 1995. Our main office is located in Midleton, Co. Cork. SECAD’s main development objective is to promote and enable sustainable development through our Rural Development and Social Inclusion programmes. SECAD has a voluntary Board of Directors and a staff team of c. 50 people.

SECAD works with individuals, community and voluntary groups, business, academia and other stakeholders to create a more vibrant, sustainable and inclusive society. SECAD manages a wide range of funds and services including social investment and employment support programmes, implemented on behalf of various Government Departments, State Bodies, the European Commission and the private sector. SECAD currently delivers a number of major programmes along with other smaller schemes and initiatives.

SECAD is delivering the Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (SICAP 2024-2028) throughout South Cork including the Muscrai Gaeltacht. SECAD is an implementing partner for LEADER 2023-2027 on behalf of the South Cork and West Cork LCDC’s. SECAD has vast experience in administering Irish government and European funds, as well as transnational co-operation projects including LEADER / Rural Development Programmes, Social Inclusion Programmes, the Local Area Employment Service (LAES), Rural Social Scheme and Tús (Employment Schemes), INTERREG, Intelligent Energy Europe, Erasmus + and the Programme for Employability Inclusion and Learning (gender equality). SECAD was recently approved funding for WorkAbility (ESF+ 2021-2027) and the Asylum Migration and Integration Fund.

Wild Work is a SECAD initiative with a social ethos. Wild Work supports employment activation, educates and raises awareness of nature and biodiversity and benefits society as a whole. To read more about Wild Work see www.wildwork.ie  

As a Grant Making Organisation (GMO), SECAD manages community benefit funds throughout Ireland on behalf of various sustainable energy developers, infrastructure providers and others. A key area of expertise is community engagement – developing positive, effective links with communities, supporting them to access and maximise funding and services.

For more information about SECAD and for Job Descriptions for all positions vacant within SECAD, visit www.secad.ie  OR go directly to Job Opportunities – SECAD Partnership CLG