Clare Traveller Community Development Project 

Community Development Worker 

Job title: Community Development Worker

Hours: 21 hrs per week

Contract: 6 months Maternity leave cover contract 1st September 2025- end February 2026.

Location: Based in Ennis, Co. Clare; with travel around Co. Clare required and occasional national travel.

Responsible to: Clare Traveller CDP Coordinator and Traveller CDP Steering Committee

Project description:

Clare Traveller Community Development Project Vision Statement:

Our aim is to improve living conditions, opportunities, and achievement of human rights for Travellers in Clare. This will be pursued through establishing and strengthening local alliances and, most importantly, through building effective Traveller leadership and a strong Traveller voice.

Clare Traveller CDP is currently hosted and managed by Clare Local Development Company (CLDC) The project is actively developing an Independent Board and pursuing funding which will allow the project to become independent.

The CDP staff team will use community work approaches and methodologies based on the All Ireland Standards for Community Work, please refer to same, see www.cldc.ie.

Person specification:

Working closely with the Coordinator the Community Development Worker is responsible for helping to build strong collaborative relationships with the Traveller community in Clare as well as with other service providers and stakeholders.

The candidate should have experience of working directly with marginalised communities, specifically the Traveller Community. They should have respect for and an understanding of Traveller culture and of the diversity which exists within the Traveller Community.

It is very important that the candidate can demonstrate a strong grounding, understanding and/or training in community work approaches which seek to empower people to advocate for themselves. They should have skills in facilitation of groups, delivering training workshops, mentoring and should be computer literate. This important project needs an energetic person who is committed to achieving positive change with the Traveller community on the issues that affect them.

Key areas of work:

• The Community Development Worker’s role in this project is key. They are responsible for building relationships with Travellers in Clare, including site and residential visits and one to one working.
• Working with the Traveller Community to design projects and actions that will help to address the key issues which affect them.
• Developing and delivering training, mentoring, supports and campaigns to help Travellers address human rights, economic and social rights and cultural rights in Clare.
• Working with the Project Coordinator to implement the Traveller CDP strategic plan.
• Maintaining records, compiling reports and respecting the confidentiality of those they work with and with other stakeholders and agencies to ensure the lived experience of the Traveller community is reflected in decisions that affect them.
• Assisting the Coordinator and Project Administrator with promotion of the project and communications whether in local media or through social media channels.
• Any other duties agreed with the Traveller CDP Steering Group.

Qualifications & Experience:

General:

• Have excellent communication, administration and computer literacy skills
• Be able to demonstrate that they have experience working from a community development approach
• Be able to demonstrate a high level of cultural awareness and understanding of the issues faced by the Traveller community in Ireland
• Have a full driver’s license and access to a car for use in this role.

Essential:

• Experience in a similar role in the Community & Voluntary Sector or a related field
• Experience of working with the Traveller Community and/or other marginalised communities
• Have the requisite knowledge, skills and qualities to carry out responsibilities of the post
• An understanding of the effects of social exclusion, discrimination and marginalisation on communities and a commitment and passion for securing better outcomes for the Traveller Community in the areas of health, including mental health, education, housing, employment, culture and creativity and family life.

Desirable:

• We welcome applicants with qualifications in any of the following areas Community Development, Addiction Studies, Sociology, Human Rights, Mediation, Family Support, Coaching, Facilitation, Youth Work or related fields.

If you do not have relevant qualifications but have relevant work experience please let us know in your letter of application and CV.

The candidate will be Garda Vetted and will participate in Child Safeguarding Awareness training as required.

Salary Scale for this position will be in line with CLDC Development Officer Scale.

Application Information:

Please apply with a CV and comprehensive cover letter detailing your experience to date.

Applications to be sent via email to imatthew@cldc.ie Iyabo Matthew, HR Dept., CLDC, Westgate, Kilrush Rd, Ennis, Co. Clare.

Applications due by 4th July 2025 @ 5pm. No application will be considered if received after this date and time. Interviews will be held in Ennis the week of 21st – 26th July 2025

For more information please contact Bridgie Casey, CDP Coordinator, bcasey@cldc.ie mob: 086 0478722.

Clare Local Development Company is an equal opportunities employer and we particularly welcome applications from members of the Traveller Community.