Tipperary Rural Travellers Project/Wallers Lot Working Group /STDC

seek to appoint a

Health and Community Development Worker,

Wallers Lot, Cashel, Co Tipperary

Part-time, fixed term contract

The Health and Development Worker will work alongside the Tipperary Rural Traveller Project (TRTP) Traveller Health Project and with the Wallers Lot Interagency Group to engage directly with Traveller families residing in Wallers Lot, Cashel. The Worker will also be engaged with relevant service providers to address and highlight the needs and issues in the community.

Introduction/Background

The Wallers Lot Working Group, comprised of Tusla, HSE, STDC , TRTP,An Garda Siochana, Youth Work Ireland, Tipperary ETB, Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection,and Tipperary Councy Council was established in 2018, with the support of the LCDC and the Social Inclusion Community Activitation Programme under South Tipperary Development Company to develop a response to the needs of the community residing in Wallers Lot, as identified in the research document “ Assessment of Community Needs and Required Responses”.

The purpose of this post is to work in conjunction with TRTP and with the organisations that are represented on the Working Group towards addressing the issues and challenges experienced by the families living at Wallers Lot, Cashel, Co Tipperary.

Working in cooperation with others, the intention is to work towards self-organising and self-representation of Travellers at Wallers Lot. The research report demonstrated the range of interests and challenges faced by Travellers living there across age groups, gender, health status and experience, education and economic activity and will become the focus of a community development approach, working with families in this community.

Key tasks:

To further identify and respond to the needs of Traveller families in Wallers Lot,Cashel in conjunction with the research report findings.

To plan, develop and deliver programmes to the target group who are identified through various engagement methodologies.

To assist people to successfully participate with the services in order to enhance their capacity and reach their full potential.

To signpost any individuals who may be in need of additional specialised services.

Other Areas of Work

• Interagency work.
• Representation where deemed necessary.
• Targeted outreach in consultation with the Manager
• Planning, monitoring, evaluating and reporting on all the actions and activities undertaken
• To provide reports, both written and verbal to the Manager, Advisory Group & Working Group.

The Role

Title: Part-time Health and Development Worker

Reporting to: Advisory Group

Hours of Work: 16 hours per week (subject to funding available)

Contract: 1 year post

Person Specification

It is essential that the person in this role has:

• A qualification in Social Sciences, Community Development, Health, Mental Health, Human rights or other related field
• Three years’ experience of working with the Traveller Community (other Community Development role) building the capacity of marginalised groups and communities to advocate on their own behalf and become community leaders.
• Knowledge of the impacts of social exclusion and inequality, particularly in the context of mental health and Travellers’ lives;
• Ability to operate on own initiative and as part of a team;
• Excellent communication skills (both verbal and written) and interpersonal skills;
• Commitment to human rights, equality, cultural diversity and anti-racism.
• Capacity to work with people from a wide range of backgrounds, agencies and sectors;
• Experience and deep understanding and knowledge of Community Development work with Travellers.
• Ability to provide a supportive role to Travellers and their families and be able to advocate on their behalf in an empathetic manner.
• A strong teamwork ethic.
• Appropriate level of IT skills to carry out the position.
• A full clean driving licence and own transport to be used at work is essential

Other requirements:

• Available to work flexible hours when necessary and to travel for work.
• Working knowledge of national and local policies and strategies related to health and mental health, e.g. A Vision for Change; Connecting for Life (local and national); and Traveller policy and research, e.g. South East Traveller Health Unit Strategic Plan, All Ireland Traveller Health Study etc.

Applications including C.V and Cover Letter in writing to ;

Chairperson Tipperary Rural Travellers’ Project Ltd

Unit 4, Rossmore Business Park, Dundrum Road Tipperary Town E34FT91

Or by email to: administrator@tipptravellerproject.com

By close of business on Friday 22nd August 2025