Longford Sports Partnership - Call for Tenders

Co-ordinator forCommunity CoachingTraining Programme

Introduction

Longford Sports Partnership in conjunction with the Longford Community Resources Ltd, the Longford/Westmeath Education & Training Board and the Department of Social Protection will be delivering a Community Coaching Programmes for Jobseekers commencing in September 2015. These programmes will be located in Longford Town and each course will be approximately three months in duration. Tenders are now sought from suitable persons or organisations to co-ordinate one or both programmes.

This document sets out the following:

  1. A background to the Community Coaching Programme for Jobseekers
  2. Specific details of the programmes in Longford (number of participants, duration , locations etc)
  3. The proposed modules to be delivered
  4. The range of tasks a co-ordinator will be required to undertake
  5. The suitable candidate for the post of coordinator (person specification)
  6. Application Process (required documents)
  1. Background to the Programme

The Irish Sports Council recently secured Dormant Accounts funding for the delivery of Community Coaching Training Programmes for Jobseekers in each county in the Republic of Ireland. The Coaching programmes are to be delivered through the Network of Local Sports Partnerships (including Longford Sports Partnership)

The Community Coaching Programme is focused on successfully assisting unemployed people to gain employment, coaching, volunteering and further education opportunities in the sports sector for example as coaches, referees, physical activity leaders etc. It will provide the participants with practical and theoretical sport-related skills and help them find relevant work experience in their local community. It will also contribute to the promotion of both physical and mental health amongst participants and in the community through the subsequent employment and/or volunteering work carried out by participants.

The specific aims and objectives for the programme, as identified by the Irish Sports Council, are set out below:

Aim:Delivery of specialised training and education courses for jobseekers

Objective:

  • Assist unemployed people to become qualified as coaches, referees, physical activity leaders etc
  • Improve the participants’ job prospects within the sports industry
  • Motivate participants to pursue the progression routes which have been identified as part of the programme (employment, coaching, volunteering, further education, etc)
  • Promotion of positive mental health through participation in sport; both for the participants themselves and in the communities in which they are based
  • Provision of coaching in disability, school, community and youth club settings
  • Provision of coaching in the sports where there are no full-time development officers

There will be five specific strands to each programme based on Sports Council criteria below:

Strand 1Job Readiness Skills Development (includes Business Development)

Course focusing on CV writing, job seeking skills, IT skills, office skills, telephone skills, etc

Strand 2Personal Development

Courses supporting the trainees to identify individual progression routes in terms of employment/self-employment, further education and training, coaching and volunteering, etc. Other aspects of personal development including confidence-building, leadership and language skills etc

Strand 3Sports Coaching Training

The majority of coaching awards should be offered in sports where there are no full-time development officers within the county (local needs should be taken into account when choosing sports). The course can also include intros / tasters etc.

Strand 4Physical Activity Training

Range of courses to be offered including for example Active Leadership Award, Child Protection Course, Disability Awareness Training, Occupational First Aid Certificate, Walking Leader, Fit4 Life, Go for Life PALs, etc

Strand 5Job Placement Experience

A job placement programme (unpaid) must be incorporated into the course structure. The LSP can decide how to build in the work experience element. NGBs, LSPs, clubs, schools, community centres, etc can provide work experience opportunities to the participants on the course.

  1. Details of the Programmes in Co. Longford

Longford Sports Partnership made a successful application to deliver programmes in Longford in 2015 (details below):

Eligible to Participate / Jobseekers approved by the Department of Social Protection
Number of Participants on Each Course / 12
Number of Courses in Longford in 2015 / 1
Locations of the Courses / Longford
Duration of the Courses / To be determined (10 weeks minimum, 14 weeks maximum)
Days per Week / 3 days per week (participants work experience may be additional in some weeks)
  1. Proposed Modules to be Delivered in Co. Longford

The table below sets out the modules to be delivered in Co. Longford as part of the Community Coaching Programme for Jobseekers

Initiative/Training and Education Module / Lead Organisation/
Provider
Strand 1:
Job Readiness Skills Development (includes Business Development) / Jobs Club for Jobseekers / Longford Community Resources Ltd. / LEO
Strand 2:
Personal Development / Personal GOALS programme
Mental Health / LWETB (FETAC TBC)
HSE
Strand 3:
Sports Coaching Training / Accredited Training:
  • Kickstart 1
  • GAA Football & Hurling Skills
  • Mini Rugby
  • Little Athletics /or Athletics Assistant Coach
  • Basketball Level 1
  • Triathlon Technician or Swim Helpers
/ FAI
GAA
IRFU/Leinster Rugby
AAI
Basketball Ireland
Triathlon Ireland or Swim Ireland
Strand 4:
Physical Activity Training (Child Protection, First Aid and Disability Inclusion Training are mandatory) / Mandatory Modules:
  • Safeguarding 1 - Child Protection
  • Disability Inclusion Training
  • Occupational First Aid
Other modules may be offered based on budget savings and partner contributions:
  • Active Leadership Award
/ LSP
CARA
LWETB
Strand 5:
Job Placement Experience (Unpaid and supervised) /
  • Work Placement Training
  • Personal Placements
  • Field Trips
/ Local schools, colleges, sports clubs and community
Project Coordinator & work experience tutor
  1. Tasks the Co-ordinator will be required to undertake:

The six broad tasks that the coordinator will be required to undertake are:

1Recruitment of Participants. In conjunction with the project partners the appointed coordinator will be involved in interviews for the recruitment of trainees

2Timetabling of modules. In consultation with Longford Sports Partnership, the Co-ordinator will liaise with all training providers of mandatory modules (and taster sessions) to timetable the training programme (including provision for work experience and field visits)

3Administration of the Programme. The co-ordinator will be responsible for the administration of the training programme including all logistics. This includes communications with trainees and training providers, ensuring that any equipment and materials needed for any given module is available, the recording of attendance, booking of transport for field trips etc. The co-ordinator is not required to sit in on training modules but may choose to sit in on some. However s/he is responsible to ensure that training providers are on site, that trainees attend training, attendance is recorded and absenteeism reported. The appointed coordinator will also liaise with the Coordinator of Longford Sports Partnership on all budgetary matters pertaining to costs associated with delivery of the programme

4Planning of Work Experience and providing oversight for this. The co-ordinator will work with the group of trainees and local groups to deliver activity in a Community setting. S/he will liaise with local clubs, schools, community groups etc to ensure that each trainee is offered work experience (either in an individual capacity or as part of a delivery team)

5Career Path Planning: Following on from the Personal GOALS training and Job Club Programme, the coordinator, in conjunction with employment support staff from LEO / LCRL will organise a minimum of one mentoring meetings for each trainee during the course of the training programme. The purpose of these meetings will be to provide mentoring for trainees in relation to any challenges or barriers being experienced during the programme and to support them in implementing their career path plans as programme completion nears. On programme completion, they will continue to be mentored by employment support staff.

6Reporting & Evaluation. The co-ordinator will provide a written monthly progress report for project partners and a final project evaluation required.

  1. Person Specification

The successful candidate appointed to coordinate the training programme will combine a passion for sport and an understanding of the Irish sports sector with knowledge or experience of supporting the progression of persons from socially excluded groups (see below). S/he will have strong organisational, administrative and IT skills and be an effective leader and communicator.

Criteria specific to Sport / Criteria specific to Social Inclusion
  • Background in sports participation
  • Prior experience of coaching a sports discipline (whether voluntary or otherwise)
  • Possess an understanding of sports structures in Ireland
  • Possess an understanding of the frameworks for sports coaching awards of governing bodies for sport in Ireland
  • Has a knowledge of college courses specific to sport and recreation (both PLCs and third level)
  • Has an understanding of the work of Offaly Sports Partnership
  • Has an awareness of sports development for low participation groups
  • Is familiar with the concept of “adapted sport”
  • It is also desirable (though not essential) that the candidate would hold a coaching qualification (whether introductory or otherwise) in at least one sporting discipline
/
  • Has a qualification and/or experience in community development / youth work, adult education or training, social studies or related areas.
  • Has experience of working or volunteering with socially excluded groups in support of their advancement / progression
  • Empathy and understanding of the barriers facing unemployed persons and young unemployed and the ability to relate to and motivate individuals from this group
  • An understanding of interventions of Local Development Companies, the Department of Social Protection and Education and Training Boards in supporting the progression of the unemployed

  1. Application

Longford Sports Partnership is now inviting suitable persons or companies to apply to coordinatethe programmes in a self employed capacity. Any individual or company applying will be required to specify the name(s) of the person(s) who would coordinate the programme(s) and to demonstrate that this person/these people satisfy the person criteria set out at V above.

Applications received shall be to a maximum of €3500 for an individual programme. This figure is inclusive of VAT if applicable and applicants are responsible for their own tax affairs.

Applications should be sent in a sealed envelope marked:

“Bid to Coordinate Community Coaching Jobseekers Programme”

and addressed for the attention of

Siobhan McGuinness, Coordinator, Longford Sports Partnership, Aras an Chontae, Great Water Street, Longford.

The following six items shall be included as part of the application:

  1. A short cover letter which shall state:

-availability to commence coordinating the programme and availability for up to 4 months thereafter (to cover recruitment, overseeing programme delivery and writing final reports and evaluation)

-the cost of the bid

  1. A written submission setting out the suitability of the applicant to coordinate delivery of the programme (please refer to the person specification at V above when making this submission)
  2. An outline of the approach to be taken by the applicant when delivering the project (this to include requirements from and expectations of Longford Sports Partnership and project partners
  3. A current up to date CV to include the names of at least two referees not related to the applicant
  4. A current up to date tax clearance certificate
  5. A signed declaration contained in Appendix 1confirming that the applicant believe that s/he is suitable to work with children and vulnerable adults and consents to be Garda vetted if offered the role of coordinator

Applications received after 12 noon on 21st September 2015 will not be considered.

Assessment of Applications

Following the closing date for applications Longford Sports Partnership and its project partners will consider which is/are the most suitable candidates for this specific programme and shall draw a short list of programme coordinators.

Partners reserve the right to interview some candidates if they are split on who the most suitable candidate(s) are.

Appendix 1 – Declaration of Consent to be Garda Vetted

I, <insert name ______, of <insert address below

______, have applied to Longford Sports Partnership to coordinate a Community Coaching Programme for Jobseeker in Co. Longford.

I understand that this programme will involve the training of adults to work with children and vulnerable groups in a range of sporting disciplines. I further understand that if appointed, the role will involve providing supervision and/or oversight to trainees on work placementprojects who will be in contact with children and/or vulnerable persons.

I do hereby declare that I know of no reason why I would be unsuitable to safely work with children and/or vulnerable groups. I have no criminal convictions and I have never been dismissed from a sports club or other organisation. I understand that if appointed to coordinate the Community Coaching Programme for Jobseekers that this will be subject to Garda vetting and I confirm that I have no difficulty with this.

I have been / never have been <please delete as appropriate> Garda vetted in the past^.

^ If Garda vetted in the past please state below year(s) and reason for which vetting was required (e.g. work, sports club volunteer, youth work etc)

Year / Reason for Vetting

The above statement is true and accurate

Signed______Date______