Social Farming Regional Development Officer (Rdo) - Lismore, Co Waterford

Waterford Leader Partnership CLG wishes to recruit a

Regional Development Officer (RDO)

for the Social Farming Ireland Network

Social Farming is an outcome focused, support placement for people on a farm or with a grower using the natural assets of the people, the place, the activities and the community to support a person to achieve some of their own chosen goals. Social Farming is the practice of offering activity on family farms as a form of social support service and these supports are available and accessible to a range of people in that area including those with disabilities, those in recovery from mental ill health, people who are long term unemployed, refugees & asylum seekers, young people at risk, older people and others. In Social Farming the farm remains a working farm at its core but invites people to participate in the normal day to day activities of the farm. The Social Farming Ireland Office was opened in April 2015 by Leitrim Integrated Development Company CLG with the assistance of the Department of Agriculture Food & the Marine and the CEDRA Fund. https://www.socialfarmingireland.ie/

Waterford Leader Partnership (WLP) delivers the South East regional hub of this national network. You will be required to maintain and develop in a structured manner the Social Farming Ireland Network (SoFI) in the South East Region (Waterford, Wexford Carlow Kilkenny South Tipperary and East Cork) among the many stakeholder groups, which include the farmers and growers in the region, the groups of potential participants, providers, agencies and advocates particularly in the Intellectual Disability, and the Mental Health Sector. You will be required to facilitate / broker Social Farming placements on farms in line with the SoFI quality Framework for Practice and seek continuous improvement and development of these. As outlined above, a significant part of your work will be working with many different service and funders including Health and Social Care Providers to inform them about Social Farming and build relationships towards commissioning, i.e., contracting Social Farming support on farms.

The work requires someone with commitment to inclusion and a good understanding of Social inclusion, Health and Social Care Provision (Social Farming), Rural Development and the issues pertaining to both the service users/project participants and farming families.

Social Farming Regional Development Officer (RDO) – key responsibilities

· Work closely with the Management and staff of Waterford Leader Partnership to deliver on their contract to deliver the regional hub of the national Social Farming network.

· Work closely with the National Project Manager / National Project Coordinator and Research / Policy officer in Leitrim Development Company in the implementation of the project work packages.

· Encourage the active participation of many local and regional stakeholders in the key project activities.

· To engage with people with disabilities and mental ill health and others who wish to choose Social Farming and also to engage with their families, advocates, professionals and services who work with them.

· Develop, facilitate and drive strategic collaborative partnerships and networks focused on developing appropriate initiatives to support the development of Social Farming in the region.

· Build strong working relationships with key stakeholders in the health & social care sectors.

· Provide support to farmers & farm families to participate in the network, which may include leading, participating in, or assisting with various elements of the project such as provision of information, guidance, mentoring.

· Administer participant placements on Social Farms and ensure that all requisite records are maintained.

· Administer available budgets for Social Farming placements and prepare reports for funders.

· Plan/organise regional network events (workshops, meetings, seminars and study visits) associated with the development work in all counties of the region.

· Understand, be aware of and comply with all issues regarding safeguarding and health and safety for farmers and social farming participants.

· Attend any compulsory training organised by the WLP and Social farming Ireland team and participate in other training events or courses relevant to your role.

· Communicate and report to WLP and the project management on all aspects of the Network Development and attend Management and team meetings usually held online and in Tullamore.

· Any other duties as designated by WLP and the National Project Manager / National Project Coordinator under the Contract.

The successful candidate will be:

- Well organised and results driven

- Non-judgemental, empathetic and have a person-centred approach.

- Experienced in supporting people who are excluded, who have a disability or mental ill health or other challenges and/ or supporting the farming community.

Skills:

- Interpersonal and communication skills necessary to establish trusting relationships with people and all stakeholder groups and encourage engagement with the social farming support.

- Excellent organisational skills both for own work and network events within the region.

- Strong administrative skills, finance, I.T., CRM databases, recording and reporting, and attention to detail.

- Influencing and negotiating skills.

- Teamwork; be a positive contributor to small dynamic ambitious national team who deliver the Social Farming Network (SoFI) and provide support across all sectors of the practice.

- A knowledge of health & social care policy and an understanding of linking Social Farming practice to national policies.

- Project delivery experience

Requirements:

- Third Level qualification or equivalent in health & social care / rural & community development / social inclusion.

- Some relevant experience of working in health & social care / rural & community development / social inclusion.

- A strong understanding of and commitment to inclusion and equality.

- Able to work outside of normal office hours on occasions and travel across the region frequently (travel expenses at the appropriate rate will be paid in respect of travel necessarily performed in the discharge of duty).

- Full clean driving licence with own transport.

Location: Position will be based in the company’s office in Lismore Co Waterford with a significant remote/outreach and travel element across other counties in the region.

Hours per week: 37.5 hours /week

Duration: A fixed term contract for minimum of a 12-month period, which will be renewed subject to funding and completion of satisfactory probation period.

Remuneration: Starting Salary Range: €33,147 - €37,425 depending on experience.

Shortlisting may apply. A panel may be formed from which future positions can be filled.

Garda vetting is required for the successful candidate

To apply email a letter of application and current CV, to info@wlp.ie

Before 5pm Wednesday 4th December 2024

NB: Interviews are expected to take place on December 11th, 2024 in Lismore

Waterford Leader Partnership CLG is committed to a policy of Equality of Opportunity in its employment practices.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: €33,147.00-€37,425.00 per year

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Application question(s):

• Do you own your own transport?

Licence/Certification:

• A Driving Licence (required)

Work authorisation:

• Ireland (required)

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 04/12/2024
Expected start date: 13/01/2025