TITLE: Health Promotion Officer, Cancer Prevention
REPORTS TO: Community Programmes Manager
DEPARTMENT: Cancer Prevention
LOCATION: Based in Dublin
HOURS: Full Time (35 hours/week) flexibility required.
CONTRACT TYPE: One Year Fixed Term Contract
About the department
The Cancer Prevention department is responsible for the delivery of evidence based, high-impact cancer risk reduction programmes using a combination of national programmes and community based projects informed by the European Code Against Cancer.
Overall Responsibility:
The Health Promotion Officer, Cancer Prevention will work to implement the Irish Cancer Society’s strategic goal to Reduce the Risk of Cancer with a particular focus on the target to reduce the smoking prevalence in young people to 7% by 2017. This role will focus on a range of projects related to cancer prevention with particular emphasis on the development of X-HALE, a peer education initiative which aims to encourage young people to address the issue of smoking with peers in their own community. There are three components to the programme, X-HALE Awards, X-HALE training in the formal and non-formal education sector and X-HALE interact.
Responsibilities:
Coordinate all aspects of the X-HALE Youth Awards and film festival which involves planning, promotion, recruitment, selection of youth organisations, online voting and judging process.
Raise public awareness of X-HALE; conveying key policy messages to stakeholders, general public an.d media in conjunction with the Advocacy and Communications Department
Coordinate the X-HALE National film festival including communications with media
Develop and manage the production and dissemination of educational resource materials to both formal and informal educational settings.
Facilitate training to youth workers and teachers and other health care professionals to enable them to, a) deliver key tobacco and heath messages to young people, b) raise awareness of the power of the tobacco industry and c) develop new skills through the medium of film making.
Support regional youth groups to promote youth advocacy against smoking in their local community.
Using the Society’s evaluation framework; develop and adapt current evaluation measures to investigate the impact of the programme and report on key indicators.
Assess needs and highlight risk factor statistics and trends in the uptake of prevention interventions including smoking prevalence in young people.
Work to ensure the sustainability of X-HALE or similar projects which have demonstrated impact and delivered key outcomes.
Identify develop and implement other evidence based Health Promotion projects for specific settings and target groups as necessary.
Develop Health Promotion information, resources and materials in print and online.
Use social media and online methods of communication to engage with young people on the issue of a tobacco free generation Work in collaboration with existing community based organisations in areas of high smoking prevalence to develop appropriate initiatives which can further the objectives of the Irish Cancer Society strategic plan.
Work with other departments in the Irish Cancer Society as necessary.
Provide information and support as requested.
Other duties as required by manager.
Selection Criteria:
Essential factors:
Degree or professional qualification in Health Promotion or related area.
Minimum of two years’ work experience in Health Promotion or related area.
Skills in needs assessment, project planning and evaluation methodology.
Facilitation and training skills.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
An excellent understanding of issues related to young people and smoking, and strategies to address health inequalities.
Excellent organisational, administration and communication skills.
Excellent ICT skills, with a good working knowledge of digital media and relevant social media platforms.
Proactive and flexible approach required.
Ability to effectively partner and collaborate with other key stakeholders.Attention to detail.
Desirable:
Postgraduate Diploma/Masters in Health Promotion.
Experience of working in the youth or education sector.
Experience of the Health Sector in Ireland .
Experience of working with different groups including disadvantaged groups.
General:
The Irish Cancer Society operates a no-smoking policy and the post holder must not smoke in the office or when on Society business outside the office.
Have access to a vehicle and be willing and able to travel provincially, and be willing to work outside of normal working hours.
All employees are required to be aware of their responsibilities towards health and safety and to adhere to fire regulations.
This job description is not exhaustive; it merely acts as a guide and may be amended to meet the changing requirements of the Society at any time after discussion with the post holder
HOW TO APPLY: If you are interested in applying for this position, please send curriculum vitae and cover letter including current remuneration package to: Aoife Foley, HR Assistant, Irish Cancer Society, 43/45 Northumberland Rd., Dublin 4. Email: recruitment@irishcancer.ie
The closing date for applications is Thursday 23rd July 2015.
The Irish Cancer Society is an equal opportunities employer.
WE DO NOT REQUIRE THE ASSISTANCE OF AGENCIES