Outreach Project Worker to join our Drugs, Alcohol and Sexual Health (DASH) Team.
2 Year Fixed Term Contract - 2 days per week. Some weekend and evening/nighttime working will be required.
Salary: €32,000 – €35,000 (pro – rata)
About the Sexual Health Centre:
Originally founded in 1987,as Cork AIDS Alliance, to provide support to people living with HIV, we are now a leading organisation supporting and promoting sexual health in Ireland. In partnership with Cork Local Drug & Alcohol Task Force and the Southern Regional Drug and Alcohol Taskforce, we are now seeking a seeking a positive and self-motivated person to join the team to support the delivery of our DASH (Drugs, Alcohol, Sexual Health) project. This innovative project has a specific focus on delivering health promotion services to vulnerable communities and to people as they socialise.
Brief Description of the Role:
As an Outreach Worker you will be part of a new vibrant team that will deliver an innovative and unique project across Cork and Kerry through a mobile health unit. The mobile unit will combine drugs, alcohol and sexual health services across the region and will have a particular emphasis on responding to and engaging with people as they socialise. These enhanced services, delivered through an inclusive lens will provide access to information, signposting and support to enable behaviour change opportunities and improve outcomes for service users - with particular emphasis on delivering health promotion to people as they socialise. This is a part time fixed term contract until November 2027. The post may be extended subject to funding. Applicants must have a full clean driving (regular B licence). Interviews will be conducted shortly after application close.
To Apply:
This is a collaborative project with our HSE partners, CV and accompanying cover letter can be directed to Muire O Farrell, Head of Operations at the Sexual Health Centre via muire@sexualhealthcentre.com.
Applications will not be accepted after 2 p.m. on Friday, March 28th, 2025. Interviews will be held within a short time of the closing date.
Responsibilities of your role will include:
- Support the delivery of a mapping exercise of the current provision of Drugs, Alcohol and Sexual Health services in the Cork and Kerry region and identify gaps e.g. geographical, cost related, time etc.
- Proactively source opportunities to communicate and advertise the project to drive overall stakeholder and client engagement.
- Deliver a service that provides equitable access to information and resources as well as one-to-one support services in the Cork and Kerry region.
- Support the services being offered as part of the project, for example, rapid HIV testing and drug and alcohol support sessions and appropriate signposting.
- Provide, where appropriate, brief intervention / motivational interventions to clients in relation to their sexual health, drugs, or alcohol use
- Create an awareness of the DASH project and the wider services of the Sexual Health Centre and Cork Local Drug & Alcohol Task Force and their services to relevant stakeholders, clients, and service users.
- Support the delivery of one-to-one interventions, drop-in services, condom demonstrations, condom distribution and helpline call within the organisation.
- Establish and maintain an excellent rapport with partners and stakeholders.
- Provide testing (Rapid HIV, Hepatitis C, Pregnancy) opportunities as relevant to the role.
- Provide day-to-day office and administrative duties as required.
- Complete data collection and collation for a variety of funders and services as required.
- Work within the Sexual Health Centre’s internal pathways to refer clients to the appropriate professional team member or external service.
- Represent the Sexual Health Centre at events, conferences, meetings etc.
- Establish and maintain an excellent rapport with clients to create a respectful and trusting relationship whilst providing ‘persistent and challenging support.’
- Adhere to the goals and targets of the Strategic Plan for The Sexual Health Centre
- Assist with the provision of health promotion work, including information stands where required.
- Participate in the overall administration of the Health Promotion team.
- Perform other duties commensurate with the nature of the post. It is important that all members of staff are prepared to take on additional duties or relinquish existing duties to maintain efficient running of the organisation. All roles will develop, and the Sexual Health Centre may change the role scope in consultation with the post holder.
Education / Professional Qualifications:
- A relevant qualification in health promotion, social care, community development or other relevant area (Level 7 NFQ, desirable)
- Excellent communication and project development skills, with the ability to collaborate with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Excellent IT skills, proficiency in Microsoft Office
- Suitable experience in developing, evaluating, and managing projects.
Requirements
- A full clean driving licence is essential (regular B licence)
- Relevant experience in sexual health and/or drugs and alcohol is desirable.
- An ability to work with people from a wide range of backgrounds in a variety of settings.
- The ability to work as part of a team and in partnership with other organisations and individuals.
- Have a “can do” attitude and a positive solution focused approach to problem solving and conflict resolution.
- Capacity to work effectively under pressure.
- Flexible working style and the ability to respond effectively to emerging/unexpected needs.
- Innovative thinking, self-motivated and project planning skills are essential.
Terms and Conditions
Salary: Scale €32,000 – €35,000 (pro rata) commensurate experience.
Contract: Fixed Term Contract to April 2027. The post may be extended subject to funding.
Hours: Part time contract based on 14 hours, 2 days per week, Due to the nature of the post, evening and or weekend work will regularly be required.
Holidays: 24 Days annual leave (pro rata)
Garda Vetting: Please note that any offer of employment will be subject to Garda Vetting.
The Project Worker will report to the Dash Nighttime Lead of the Sexual Health Centre.
As this is a collaborative project with our HSE partners, CV and accompanying cover letter can be directed to Muire O Farrell, Head of Operations at the Sexual Health Centre via muire@sexualhealthcentre.com. Please put ‘DASH Outreach Worker’ in the subject line of the email.
Applications will not be accepted after 2pm on Friday, March 28th, 2025. Interviews will be held within a short time of the closing date.
A panel may be formed from this campaign from which current and future permanent, fixed-term and specified purpose vacancies of full or part time duration may be filled.
Sexual Health Centre is an equal opportunities employer.
