For Be Active After School Physical Activity Programme

NATIONAL CO-ORDINATOR

Job Description & Specification & Terms and Conditions

Job Title and Grade / National Co-ordinator Be Active After Schools Activity Programme
Closing Date / Wednesday 1st July 2015 at 12 noon
Proposed Interview Date (s) / Second Week July 2015
Taking up Appointment / A start date will be indicated at job offer stage.
Location of Post / Navan, CountyMeath
Salary / Aligned to HSE Grade V - GRADE V (CLERICAL) 40,209 41,522 42,834 44,146 45,458 46,980 48,496 LSIs commensurate with experience
Contract / This is a Specified Purpose Contract for a period of 2 years. The post holder will be required to complete a 6 month probationary period. The post is subject to funding availability.
37 hr week
Details of Service / The post of National Co-ordinator for the Be Active After School Activity Programme is hosted by the Meath Local Sports Partnership and funded by the Health Promotion and Improvement Department of the HSEs Health and Wellbeing Division. The work of the Health and Wellbeing Division is focused on helping people to stay healthy and well, reducing health inequalities and protecting people from threats to their health and wellbeing.
A number of national programmes are in place under the direction of the Health and Wellbeing Division, to progress key a policy priority area of healthy eating and active living.
The Be Active Programme is focussed on increasing the number of children participating in physical activity thus delivering on government commitments and recommendations in Healthy Ireland and pending policy/plans for Obesity and Physical Activity which will be published shortly.
Obesity is a major public health problem for Ireland. The statistics are alarming - 1 in 4 Irish children are overweight or obese; 2 out of 3 adults are overweight or obese; 1 in 4 pregnant women are overweight or obese and 4 in 5 people over 50 are overweight or obese. Rates are higher among disadvantaged communities.
Obesity is a significant risk factor for the development of chronic diseases and certain cancers, and tracks strongly from childhood into adulthood bringing with it all the inherent risk factors for the development of future chronic illness which will put further pressure on the health system unless urgent action is taken.
Physical inactivity is now the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality. It is the main cause for approx. 21–25% of breast and colon cancers, 27% of diabetes and 30% of ischemic heart disease burden. Physical activity promotes wellbeing, physical and mental health, prevents disease, improves quality of life and has economic, social and cultural benefits. Currently, 3 out of every 4 Irish adults and 4 out 5 Irish children do not meetthe Department of Health’s National Physical Activity Guideline for maintaining and improving their current and future health.
The cost of obesity is also significant, estimated to be €1.13 billion in Ireland in 2009 with direct costs to the Health Service of circa €400,000 million (35%) and indirect costs €730,000 million (65%). The direct costs represent 2.7% of the total healthcare costs.
The Be Active ASAP programme will ensure young children, their parents, carers and teachers are supported to maintain and achieve good health into the future.
Reporting Relationship / The post holder will report to Meath Local Sports Partnership in relation to all aspects of their employment including day to day operations, performance management and for administrative purposes. The post holder will report to the Chair of the National Executive Group for Be Active ASAP on issues relating to the programme development and delivery in line with HSE policy.
Purpose of the Post / The National Co-ordinator will ensure the programme is maintained in currently participating schools and promoted and supported in new schools. The National co-ordinator will have responsibility for Training of teacher leaders, promotion of the programme with School Principals, maintaining databases of all those trained and engaged with the programme on an ongoing basis. The post holder will ensure the National Executive Group receive accurate and timely information regarding the programme and will take direction from the Chair of this group with regard to ensuring the HSE policy priority area supported.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities /

Co-ordinate and deliver training for trainers on the Be Active ASAP Programme nationally.
Promotion of the Be Active ASAP and the Active Living agenda across the primary education setting and with key external stakeholders.
Report to the National Executive Group for Be Active ASAP on programme delivery.
Development of Service Plans on an ongoing basis and in line with the targets established by the National Executive Group.
Develop and Maintain data to ensure accurate and timely reporting of progress in line with key performance indicators for the programme.
Work collaboratively and negotiate with School staff to ensure the uptake and sustainability of the programme.
Maintain Website and social media platforms relating to the programme.
Keep fully informed of developments relating to physical activity and obesity prevention strategies and programmes specific to children and the school setting.
Contribute to the evaluation of the programme on an ongoing basis and ensure any gaps identified are fully addressed.
Manage administration of the programme
Manage and report on programme budget
Act as spokesperson for the programme in consultation with the National Executive Group as required.

Ensure all communications with internal and external stakeholders are agreed by the National Executive and branded under Healthy Ireland.

The above Job Description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.
Eligibility Criteria
Qualifications and/ or experience / Qualifications & Experience
National Degree in Physical Education, Health & Leisure Management or equivalent qualification. Post Graduate qualification desirable.
Minimum of 3 years management experience in the health, education or sports development sector.
Staff management experience in the areas of staff training, appraisals, work schedules and performance reviews.
Solid financial management background with experience of estimate preparation and managing budgets with particular emphasis on procurement and cost saving/value for money.
Experience presenting and facilitating workshops to teachers and key stakeholders.
Volunteer management background and experience in the recruitment and retention of volunteers.
An in-depth understanding of the Primary School PE Curriculum.
Experience of grant application through national funding streams.
Skills
Strong project management skills with evidence of leading multi-faceted programmes.
Sound working knowledge of the use of social media to include Google+, twitter, facebook & Likendin as a marketing and effective short burst communication tool.
IT proficient in Microsoft office, website maintenance and content management systems.
Excellent literacy and presentation skills with particular emphasis on press releases, stakeholder presentations and report writing.
Superior research and analytical skills and an ability to reference the programme to recent academic publications.
Excellent organisational and communication skills with particular emphasis on event management procedures.
Attitude and Motivation
A constructive, positive and progressive attitude to working as part of the Meath Local Sports Partnership team.
A self-motivated approach to work.
An awareness of the role and importance of the co-coordinated inter-agency approach to thestrategic development of sport, health & education.
Transport
A full clean driving license and use of personal transport for work is required.
Candidate must have a willingness and ability to travel.
Applicants must demonstrate all of the criteria listed below:
Significant experience in a large complex organisation developing and implementing health and wellbeing practice and policies
Experience in managing change and system reform
Experience of project / programme management, deliveringon concurrent programmes of work and performance reporting on progress
Experience of managing and working collaboratively with multiple internal and external stakeholders and disciplines in a large complex environment and in achieving results through cross sectoral working
Experience in staff management and development.
Have the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability and management ability) for the proper discharge of the duties outlined
Health
A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.
Character
Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character.
Age
Age restrictions shall only apply to a candidate where he/she is not classified as a new entrant (within the meaning of the Public Service Superannuation Act, 2004). A candidate who is not classified as a new entrant must be under 65 years of age on the first day of the month in which the latest date for receiving completed application forms for the office occurs.
Skills, competencies and/or knowledge / Professional Knowledge & Experience
Demonstrates:
A track record of delivering on national programmes.
An awareness of health and wellbeing best practice, in particular knowledge of active living programmes and policies
Track record of research and information management
Good understanding of Health Policy
Leadership and Direction
Demonstrates:
A track record of demonstrating effective leadership inprogressing delivery of similar programmes in a challenging environment.
Capacity to lead, organise and motivateteams to the confident and sustained delivery of programme outcomes.
The capacity for management responsibility at a national level and demonstration of initiative and innovation.
Building and Maintaining Relationships – Communication
Demonstrates:
Excellentinterpersonalandcommunicationsskills
The ability to lead, direct and influence key stakeholders and ensure buy-in and uptake of the programme.
An ability to influence and negotiate effectively in furthering the objectives of the role.
Managing and Delivering Results
Demonstrates:
A proven ability to prioritise, organise and schedule a wide variety of tasks and to manage competing demands and tight deadlines while consistently maintaining high standards and positive working relationships.
Campaign Specific Selection Process
Ranking/Short listing / Interview / A short listing exercise may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your application form. The criteria for ranking and or short listing are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of this job specification. Therefore it is very important that you think about your experience in light of those requirements.
Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not being called forward to the next stage of the selection process.
Those successful at the ranking stage of this process (where applied) will be called to interview.