Role Title Peer Community Health Project Workers, Brighter Beginnings

Term Full-time post of Indefinite duration – subject to continued funding for the role.

Hours 35 hours per week (Part-time hours may also be considered)

Location Castlebar base, along with travel across the county for outreach, meetings, and training

Mayo Traveller Movement (MTM) is looking for suitably qualified candidates to fill the position of Community Health Worker, with a focus on Traveller children’s health. The job is a part of our Peer-Led Primary Health Care Programme covering the Mayo area.

About Us: 

MTM is an independent organisation committed to promoting equality and social justice for Travellers in County Mayo. Funded by the HSE (Health Service Executive) to support the implementation of the National Traveller Health Action Plan (NTHAP). We are actively encouraging applications from members of the Traveller community who are passionate about improving health outcomes and advocating for social justice to join our team as Peer Community Health Project Workers.

Key Responsibilities of the Role

The main focus of this job will be to support the implementation of the Brighter Beginnings initiative under the National Traveller Health Action Plan in the County Mayo region, across the social determinants of health, bringing a focus on the following - inequality, poverty, employment, education, accommodation/housing, administration of justice, racism and discrimination.

The aim of the Brighter Beginnings initiative is to develop a model of good practice in providing healthcare services to improve equality of access, participation and health outcomes for Traveller children aged 0-5. This will include outreach to households, linking with services, and representation at local and regional meetings. The work is underpinned by MTM’s values of Social Justice, Equality, Collectivity, Participation, and Dignity.

This job is a full-time position (35 hours per week) however, part-time hours may also be considered.

Key areas of work:

• To work alongside the Brighter Beginnings workers and the Coordinator in the region.
• To conduct a health needs assessment grounded in community development and the social determinants approach. As part of the health needs assessment, to develop awareness and understanding of Traveller infant and child mental health.
• To participate in the national evaluation of the Brighter Beginnings Project.
• To support community health literacy and Traveller families in signposting and engaging with existing mainstream children’s health services.
• To promote the use and importance of ethnic equality monitoring in services and in the Traveller community.
• Enable and empower meaningful Traveller representation through the active participation of the Traveller community in the decision making.
• To support the delivery of an outreach programme, including administration tasks.
• To develop appropriate responses to the health and wellbeing needs of the Traveller community, especially children.
• Promote the provision of culturally appropriate services.
• Promote the Right to Health and human rights-based approaches to getting results for the Traveller community with a specific focus on children’s rights
• Enable meaningful Traveller participation on key committees, where Traveller representation should contribute to positive change.
• Take an active part in the promotion of Traveller culture through participation in MTM’s cultural events and claiming spaces in the other cultural events in County Mayo.
• Promote the full and effective implementation by public bodies of the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty, provided for in the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014.
• Promotion of the work of MTM across social media platforms
• To prepare reports and adhere to the reporting requirements required by HSE and MTM’s Board of Management.
• Any other duties deemed necessary by MTM Management.

Essential Requirements:

• Good standard of education with reading and writing skills
• Good Computer skills
• Good Communication skills, flexible and motivated
• Ability to work as part of a team and on own initiative
• A good understanding of issues impacting on the Traveller Community
• Driver of a Car with a Full Driver Licence

Desirable:

• An understanding of health issues impacting the Traveller Community, especially children
• Previous experience of working in your community

How to Apply 

If you’re interested, send your CV and a cover letter to mayotravellermovement@gmail.com by 5 pm on Monday 22nd September 2025. Please put ‘Brighter Beginnings’ in the subject line.

Shortlisting will apply. Garda vetting and references are required.

Please note: For those shortlisted, interviews will take place on the 25th of September 2025. Following interviews, a panel may be formed for future vacancies.

As a peer-led programme, we strongly encourage applications from members of the Traveller Community who are passionate about improving health outcomes