Youth Engagement Programme Coordinator

EPIC, Empowering People in Care, is the only independent, national organisation that works exclusively with, and for, children and young people in the care of the state. EPIC aims to advance the rights and best interests of children and young people in the care system by advocating on their behalf, providing information and advice, developing opportunities for their participation in public engagement and campaigns work, and delivering policy and research to inform and improve national standards and practice. All of EPIC’s work is grounded in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, specifically Article 12, which governs the child’s right to be heard and to participate in decisions that affect them.

EPIC is seeking an experienced and well-organised Youth Engagement Programme Coordinator to lead its youth engagement and participation (YEP) activities and advance the organisation’s Strategic Goals for 2022-2027.

Using the Laura Lundy model, the Youth Engagement Programme Coordinator will lead the YEP team to support care-experienced children and young people to come together creatively and build a positive, supportive care community. This will involve growing and diversifying EPIC’s YEP Programme and working closely with EPIC’s Youth Councils and Care Community members to develop and implement opportunities for children and young people to have their voices heard on issues related to the care system. The Youth Engagement Programme Coordinator will also work directly with children and young people to inform EPIC’s research and policy work, and public engagement.

• Continue the development of EPIC’s YEP Programme, including identifying effective delivery of youth work structures, policy development and model development.
• Ensure all services delivered to children and young people are done using best practice and in line with the YEP Code of Practice.
• Ensure EPIC delivers best practice in youth participation.
• Plan, design, and implement participation projects in conjunction with EPIC staff, Youth Council Members and external partners.
• Record and collate data on youth participation and engagement to measure impact, identify new needs, and develop appropriate responses as required.
• Work in partnership with external stakeholders to develop and sustain participation structures for children and young people in appropriate policy and political fora.
• Work in close collaboration with EPIC staff and the EPIC Youth Councils to develop and implement EPIC’s Strategic Plan.
• Co-ordinate structured outreach work plans to establish strong relationships within the youth and community sector and broader civil society to increase awareness of and engagement with EPIC.
• Develop and implement programme evaluation mechanisms.
• Line manage YEP team – a staff team of three located in Dublin, Limerick and Donegal.

• Develop and support opportunities for children and young people within the wider care community and those who have left care to participate and engage in individual and group projects, research, activities, events, media and campaigns.
• Grow and diversify EPIC’s National Youth Council including the recruitment and support of Council members and the development of relevant structures, policies, and protocols.
• Identify opportunities for training, capacity building and skills development for children and young people that engage with EPIC’s YEP Programme.
• Collaborate with the EPIC Advocacy Service and the research and policy team to ensure children and young people are given opportunities to participate.

• Contribute to press activities when relevant.
• Participate in team meetings and provide updates and information as required.
• Participate in regular supervision with your line manager.
• Be vigilant to any child protection risks, health and safety risks and data protection risks in the workplace and bring any concerns to designated officers and/or your line-manager.
• Undertake other duties as may be reasonably required from time-to-time.

Candidates must have a strong interest in how youth engagement and empowerment advance social and political change.

• Third level qualification in a relevant area such as youth work, community development, or equivalent.
• A minimum of five years’ experience working with children and young people in youth work /participation/community engagement or similar roles.
• Experience of supervising or managing staff.
• Strong leadership skills.
• Experience of working with and engaging children and young people who are seldom heard.
• Knowledge and understanding of child and youth participation theories and methodologies.
• Experience in developing new initiatives and projects using a variety of youth work approaches.
• Experience of strategic partnership and working with a range of stakeholders.
• Proven track record of project/programme development.
• Excellent facilitation and written communications skills and an ability to write for and communicate with a variety of audiences including children and young people.
• Proficient IT skills and ability to adapt to new digital tools quickly.
• Full clean driving licence.
• Willingness to travel between EPIC’s regional offices as required.

• Experience in a variety of youth work approaches.
• Knowledge of children’s rights and the Irish care system
• Knowledge of youth justice, education, mental health and related systems.
• Experience in social justice campaigning and theory of change methodology.
• Experience in:
  • developing training and outreach materials
  • drafting funding applications
  • Salesforce or other data management platforms
  • event planning.

• Commitment to the values and mission of EPIC.
• Collaborative working style while comfortable working on own initiative in a small and busy team.
• Flexibility to carry out evening and weekend work as required.
• Ability to take ownership and manage workload to meet deadlines.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development and keeping up to date on best practice within the child and youth sector.
• Commitment to and understanding of a working environment that promotes equal opportunities and has regard for race and ethnicity, culture, sexual orientation, or gender identity and equality.

• This is a full-time post (35 hours per week), with a six-month probation period.
• EPIC currently operates a 2:3 hybrid model of office-based and remote work per week.
• Annual leave entitlement of 25 day per annum, increasing to 27 days after 2 years’ service.
• The office is closed for one day at Easter and three days at Christmas. These holiday days are additional to the annual leave entitlement.
• Participation in the company pension scheme is matched by a 5% Employer contribution, commencing on completion of the probationary period.
• All roles within EPIC are subject to Garda Vetting.
• The post holder will also undertake training on Children First (Tusla e-learning programme) and abide at all times by this and by EPIC’s policies on child protection and welfare.
• This post will involve travel within Ireland and occasional evening and weekend work. Travel expenses and additional hours will be compensated in accordance with EPIC’s Mileage and TOIL Policies.

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