Summary of Role:
Special Olympics transforms lives through sport. We are a sports organisation for people with an intellectual disability from the age of 4 years old with no upper age limit. Currently 6,000 plus athletes from across the island of Ireland participate in 15 different sports through Special Olympics. Through our sports, health and leadership programmes our athletes learn to be physically, mentally and emotionally fit. They get to learn new skills, increase confidence and most importantly they get to experience the joy of sport and make life-long friendships!
Special Olympics Ireland is one of the strongest Special Olympic programmes worldwide and we are looking for a motivated individual to join our dedicated team to help build upon our success.
An opportunity has arisen within the Ulster Region for a Health and Wellbeing Officer.
The person appointed will be required to deliver and expand the Special Olympics Health and Wellbeing programme, to reach more athletes so as to empower them to make life-long healthy choices that will enhance their participation in sport. The individual will contribute to and support the development of the Health and Wellbeing programme. The role will involve evening and weekend work.
There are three key aspects to the Health & Wellbeing programme.
1. The Health Education Programmes provide accessible health information to encourage athletes to pursue a life of health and fitness through physical activity, nutrition, hydration and mental health and wellbeing. Through accessible information and interactive workshops, athletes are empowered with knowledge and skills to make healthier choices on and off the sports field for their overall health and wellbeing.
2. The Healthy Athletes Programme is a free health screening programme for athletes; provides training for health care professionals; identifies and builds capacity for communities to provide health services for people with intellectual disability; collects data to influence change. We offer seven disciplines of the Healthy Athlete Programme.
3. Special Olympics Ireland are proud to be recognised as a Healthy Community. This initiative support the global vision to create a world where people with intellectual disabilities have the same opportunities and access to health care as people without intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics Ireland health and wellbeing programmes work to educate, motivate and empower athletes to achieve their full health potential.
Duties and Responsibilities:
* Drive the strategic objectives in health and wellbeing to meet the needs of current strategic plan.
* Drive and deliver on the key performance indicators (KPIs) in the Health and Wellbeing programme in the Ulster Region.
* Strengthen and develop the health skills of athletes, club leaders, families and other volunteers, empowering athletes to make healthy choices that will enhance their involvement and participation in the Special Olympics programme.
* Develop relationships with external stakeholders, including the department of health and education and agencies to assist in development and roll out of the programmes.
* Engage with universities and third level colleges to promote and raise awareness of the Special Olympics Health and Wellbeing programme with a view to recruiting young trainee professionals and other youth volunteers into the Health and Wellbeing programme.
* Provide opportunities for students in third level establishments to become involved in the Health and Wellbeing programme.
* Recruit, support and manage volunteer support teams to assist in driving forward the Health and Education Programme.
* Work in close collaboration with the Ulster regional team, other Special Olympics Ireland staff and volunteers in the implementation and roll out of the Special Olympics Ireland Health and Wellbeing programme.
* Provide opportunities and recruit volunteers to deliver the Healthy Athletes Screening programme at selected competitions and events and to support the dissemination of health information to athletes, facilitating referral onwards to support services as required.
* Assist with the training and development of Athlete Leaders as Health Messengers and Fitness captains.
* Capture, record and input athlete health data, liaising with a wider team to streamline processes.
* Engage with club leaders to promote and implement health and wellbeing initiatives in clubs.
* Play an active role in the development and review of training tools and materials for use in the Health and Wellbeing programmes with support of the Health and Wellbeing Coordinator.
* Keep up to date with health and education developments worldwide and identify opportunities and links.
* Develop project plans and budgets with guidance from Health and Wellbeing Coordinator.
* Prepare grant applications, reports and provide information to other functional areas.
* Participate in cross-functional training as required from time to time and undertake any other assignments as may reasonably be requested.
Skills & Experience
Essential
* A relevant health sciences third-level degree is essential e.g. Sports Science, Health Promotion/Education, Sport & Health/Leisure
* A minimum of 2 years relevant experience in a multi-faceted health & wellbeing / health promotion role
* An excellent understanding of public health/ health improvement approaches
* A proven record of effective management and leadership of a programme of work
* Demonstrated ability to work with a range of stakeholders to achieve a shared goal
* The ability to work collaboratively and cross functionally with multiple internal and external
* stakeholders
* Effective verbal communication skills, delivering information clearly, concisely and confidently
* Flexibility and willingness to adapt, positively contributing to the Special Olympics Ireland
* health & wellbeing programme
* Good IT skills to include data management and data analysis
Desirable
* Experience working with individuals with an intellectual disability
* Experience in areas of health behaviour change
* Experience in CRM systems
A current full clean driving license and own car or access to a car is required. An applicant who declares that they have a disability which prevents them from driving, access to a form of transport which will permit them to meet the requirements of the post in full is required.
Closing Date: Wed 30 April 2025