Youth Health Worker

Ligoniel Improvement Association

148 Ligoniel Road Belfast BT14 8DT

27 Nov 2006

Maria Morgan

Ligoniel Improvement Association (LIA) is a community based organisation whose aim is to initiate, facilitate and resource community participation in the improvement of Ligoniel.

Duration: 18 months subject to satisfactory 3 months probationary period.

Salary: £18,537 - £19,824 (NJC scale 25 -27).

Hours of work: 37.5 hours per week (including evenings and weekend work).

Holidays: 24 days plus 11 statutory public holidays.

Project Description

Ligoniel Healthy Living Centre funded through Big Lottery is a health focused initiative. The project vision is "to improve the health and well being of Ligoniel residents, using a Community Development approach to tackle the Social Economic and Environmental determinants of poor health".

This project will seek to strengthen, expand and support the Ligoniel Village Regeneration Partnership (LVRP) initiative, linking changes in healthy living to broader social, physical, economic, educational and environmental improvements in the lives and circumstances of local residents, which will be additional and complementary to existing services while developing new initiatives in this field.

The Job:

To initiate, support and co-ordinate youth development programmes in Ligoniel with particular emphasis on health promotion.

Responsible to:

The Managing Director, through existing Line Management Structures of the LIA and the Executive Sub-Committee of the Ligoniel Village Regeneration Partnership.

Location: The Wolfhill Centre, Ligoniel

Duties and Responsibilities

1. To explore and develop links between the local community and health & social services providers, both statutory and voluntary.
2. To work with other agencies; i.e. BELB, local schools, Health Board, Probation Board to help create a better understanding of the needs of the youth in the area, and determine appropriate care, support and service provision for the area.
3. To develop a youth based programme around health and social well being in conjunction with young people of Ligoniel.
4. To increase understanding among community groups and local youth organisations of the consultation process and inclusion of health and well being issues in government policies and directives which impact on Ligoniel youth.
5. To link this work into the activities of the wider regeneration process, sub-committees and Ligoniel Improvement Association.
6. To develop, implement and facilitate a community based educational programme on health related topics for young people in the area.
7. To develop a youth strategy, in conjunction with young people to enhance and improve life quality and programme sustainability.
8. To establish, implement and co-ordinate appropriate systems to monitor and evaluate the success of the project.
9. To develop and facilitate information group work sessions on issues such as drug awareness, sexual health, teenage pregnancy etc.
10. To develop a youth provider’s forum and task group to empower young people to actively participate in the area, which they live.
11. To work as part of a health team to address the needs of Ligoniel.
12. To enable young people to fully realise their role in society and the responsibility they have for creating initiatives to improve health and social well being in partnership with statutory and voluntary service providers.
13. To promote the project through all mediums i.e.: flyers, press releases, interviews etc.
14. To undertake job related training if required.
15. To participate in applying for funding as and when applicable.
16. To attend meetings and conferences etc as directed.
17. To undertake such other tasks as may be required by the Managing Director of the LIA.
18. To provide individual informal support to youth coping with stresses/difficulties in their lives.

Personal Specification

Essential

1. A 3rd level higher educational qualification in youth work, community development, health promotion or relevant field.
2. At least 2 years experience in youth or health related work including community based outreach and demonstrable experience of work in Youth development initiatives.
3. Knowledge of Health & Social Services providers.
4. The ability to make funding applications.
5. Facilitation and negotiation skills.

Desirable

1. Ability to implement monitoring and evaluation process and carryout individual needs assessments.
2. Experience in co-ordination and networking with community youth groups and other statutory and voluntary youth organisations.
3. Ability to demonstrate effective oral and written communication (including presentation skills).
4. Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team.

Any person not meeting these specifications but who can demonstrate that he / she has 6 years experience in related work may be considered for the post.