Prison to Community Coordinator

The Irish Red Cross Society (IRC) is part of the world’s largest independent humanitarian network, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The IRC is committed to and bound by its Fundamental Principles of Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity and Universality. The vision of the Irish Red Cross is to be a leading humanitarian organisation, providing impartial services and support to vulnerable communities both at home and abroad. Our mission is to identify and deliver humanitarian assistance to those who are most in need.

SUMMARY OF ROLE

The Community Based Health & First Aid programme has been operating since 2009 in Irish prisons under a partnership between the Irish Red Cross (IRC), Irish Prison Service (IPS) and Education Training Boards (ETB’s). Each year, groups of volunteer inmates are recruited in each prison and attend a weekly CBHFA training session with the full duration of the course taking place over 6-9 months. During their training, volunteer inmates develop skills to promote the health and safety of their prison community through peer-to-peer education.

In 2015, a partnership with the Probation Service was developed to support the transition of inmate volunteers from prison to the community. Currently, trained volunteers are facilitating various CBHFA related workshops in the wider community to clients of the Probation Service and their funded projects nationwide.

This role will provide support and guidance to the CBHFA community team, volunteers and those attending the workshops. It will also include an element of training and mentorship of new volunteers and developing areas for programme expansion in the community.

Duration: May to December (with possibility of extension)

ROLE RESPONSIBLILTIES

• Line manage and coordinate team of community based staff facilitators

• Coordinate rollout and expansion of CBHFA community-based pilots in Probation funded community projects

• Coordinate and manage workshops in Probation regions across Ireland

• Develop and manage internal reporting systems and procedures

• Coordinate monthly and annual reports of national project work

• Liaise with justice partners from the justice system and community projects

• Coordinate and develops  partnerships with community based probation funded projects

• Coordinate recruitment processes for volunteer facilitators 

• Manage monitoring, evaluation and reporting procedures 

• Liaises with the CBHFA programme manager regarding processes for volunteers transitioning from prison into the community

• Support identification and coordination of funding opportunities to ensure project sustainability

• Represent the project at conferences, academic and professional events

• Responsible for reporting to the Programme Manager, any issues that arise that might bring the Red Cross emblem into disrepute.

• Attends monthly team meetings and contributes to CBHFA reports and evaluations

• Submits monthly workplans to programme manager

• Provides biannual reports to the Programme manager on the progress of the Key performance Indicators identified for the role

• Provides support to the Programme manager in the implementation of the IRC strategic plan

• Undertake any other reasonable work-related duties that are consistent with the nature of the job and level of responsibility

• Assist with ongoing research for the Prison to Community Project

• Assist in the overseeing of the University of Western Ontario student placements in the community

• Attend sensitizations as required

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

Essential Criteria

• A relevant 3rd level Qualification

• Experience of working with vulnerable groups within the Community

• A high level of organisational ability, administrative and IT skills including experience with MS Office Suite

• Ability to work efficiently as part of a team as well as independently.

• Be responsible, reliable and able to work in a remote environment.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to interact professionally with a diverse range of stakeholders.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of the criminal Justice system

• Knowledge of the Community Based Health in Prisons programme

• Holds an Irish Driving License

The Irish Red Cross is an equal opportunities employer. We value diversity and aspire to reflect this in our workforce. We welcome applications for people from all sections of the community, irrespective of gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race or membership of the Traveller community. This role requires applicants to have the right to work in Ireland.

The closing date for applications is 6pm on 6th April 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.

Shortlisting will be basis of the essential and desirable criteria for this role.

Initial interviews for this role will take place on 13th April 2026