News
The Association for Health Promotion Ireland would like to present the first edition of the AHPI Exchange for 2014.  This issue highlights some key initiatives, events and activities from around Ireland.  AHPI Newsletter 2014
A Job Bridge internship opportunity exists for an enthusiastic individual to join the Smarter Travel Workplaces and Campus teams as part of a 9 month placement. The intern will gain practical experience in Workplace Travel Plans, Health Promotion, Marketing, Communications and Client Relationship Management, as part of two large scale walking and cycling challenges, run as part of the Smarter Travel Workplaces programme. The intern will receive formal/informal training in the following: Workplace Travel Plans, Event Management, Client Relationship Management. The Intern will also have an opportunity to attend programme seminars/events. On completion the intern will have attained skills in implementing workplace travel plans, communications and implementing large scale walking/cycling promotions including launches and prize giving. The deadline for application is the 11th of April. Details of the role can be found by registering on JobBridge.ie
The Health Promotion Officer 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 the X-HALE Youth Awards project in the formal and non-formal education sector. The X-HALE Youth Awards a peer education initiative which aims to encourage young people to address the issue of smoking with peers in their own community. REPORTS TO: Health Promotion Manager DEPARTMENT: Health Promotion LOCATION: Based in Dublin HOURS: Full Time (35 hours/week) flexibility required. CONTRACT TYPE: One Year Fixed Term Contract About the department The Health Promotion 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. Responsibilities:
  • Co-ordinate all aspects of the X-HALE Youth Awards project, which involves planning, promotion, recruitment, selection of youth organisations, online voting and judging process
  • Raise public awareness of the X-HALE programme; conveying key policy messages to stakeholders and general public in conjunction with the Advocacy and Communications Department
  • Co-ordinate 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
  • Engage with key stakeholders in the health services, education and youth sector to ensure that smoking prevention and cessation initiatives are a core component in health promotion and education programmes
  • Work to ensure the sustainability of the X-HALE Youth Awards 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 dissuade the uptake of smoking in young people and extend the reach and impact of health messages
  • 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 social media
  • 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 Monday, 7th April 2014 at 5pm. The Irish Cancer Society is an equal opportunities employer.
Recently the AHPI secured funding from Health Promotion, HSE to progress initial development work on a registration system for Health Promotion Practitioners in Ireland. This includes profiling the current health promotion workforce, including levels of qualification and education. The need and capacity for health promotion training in the context of professional registration and opinions on the development of a registration system in Ireland are also being explored. Information on the proposed registration system and a link to a short questionnaire have been sent to health promotion practitioners across Ireland. We welcome your input so if you  have not received the link already - apologies and please follow this link to access the questionnaire https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5RYP72W The proposed registration system builds on a Pan European System recently established- for more information follow this link - http://www.iuhpe.org/index.php/en/the-accreditation-system If you want any additional information on the survey or proposed registration system for Health Promotion practitioners please contact Barbara Battel-Kirk bbkconsultancy@eircom.net    
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Formed in 1997, the Association for Health Promotion Ireland provides a forum through which health promotion professionals can exchange knowledge and ideas.