Sports Development Officer

Sports Development Officer Duties

Specific tasks of the Sports Development Officer will be determined locally having regard to the overall job purpose and with reference to any particular issues, challenges and priorities identified in the sports strategy for the area. The Sports Development Officer, as a valuable member of the LSP team will also be responsible for other programme areas as identified by the Head of Sport in Louth Sports Unit. The officer will work to facilitate and support the creation of programmes and initiatives which will develop and expand the range of opportunities for people to fully participate in sport and physical activity in Louth with a particular focus on, but not limited to, persons with a disability, persons with limited mobility, older adults, ethnic minority groups, women, teenage girls etc. The officer will utilise and manage the programme budget the Sports Partnership has secured from its lead body, Sport Ireland and partner agencies to fulfil the objectives of the role. The following represents an indicative list from which the Sports Development Officer tasks may be drawn depending on the above information.

Advocacy & Awareness

• Establish local sport and physical activity networking opportunities within the county.
• Provide appropriate channels for people with disabilities to share their experiences, challenges and needs in relation to Sport & Physical Activity in Louth.
• Foster co-operation, cross collaboration and develop links with local stakeholders from the disability and sporting sectors in Co. Louth.
• Promote the participation of people with disabilities, older adults, and other target groups in sport and physical activity through appropriate channels.
• Work on a cross collaboration basis with local allied health professionals, education sector, and voluntary agencies to develop and promote physical activity and participation in sport for people with disabilities, older adults and other target groups
• Maintain and update relevant sections on the Louth Local Sports Partnership website and social media channels.
• Enhance the recognition and promotion of quality inclusive practice across the sport and physical activity sectors in Louth.
• Promote and encourage the participation of people with disabilities, older adults and other target groups to take up roles in sport and physical activity in Louth as volunteers, coaches, administrators, officials and committee members.
• Support Local and National Events that promote inclusive sport and physical activity for persons with a disability, older adults and other target groups.

Research & Planning

• Assess via a county audit, the levels of participation of people with disabilities, older adults and other target groups in sport and physical activity in Louth, taking account of socio-economics, gender, age, ethnicity and other factors within the county.
• Assess levels of programme and service provision by local agencies targeted at encouraging increased quality of and participation opportunities for people with disabilities, older adults and other target groups in sport and physical activity within Louth.
• Review and make recommendations on Louth Local Sports Partnership Strategic Plans regarding the provision of sport and physical activity for people with a disability, older adults, and other target groups within the county.
• Assess levels of accessibility in Sport and Physical Activity facilities in Louth and provide guidance and support to facility providers to increase the number of accessible facilities in the county.
• Identify and monitor the level of participation in sport and physical opportunities within the county on an annual basis with a key focus on people with disabilities, older adults and other target groups aligned to the role.

Training & Participation Development

• Coordinate and support the development of sustainable participation programmes and pathways in Sport & Physical Activity for people with disabilities, older adults and other target groups.
• Support the development of new clubs and opportunities for people with disabilities, older adults and other target groups.
• Support the integration of people from target groups into existing mainstream Sport & Physical Activity opportunities within local communities in Co. Louth.
• Identify the training needs of the sport and physical activity sector within Co. Louth specific to the participation of people with a disability, older adults and other target groups in Sport & Physical Activity.
• Through communication with relevant bodies facilitate and support the implementation of training courses specific to volunteers, coaches, parents, teachers, and administrators to raise awareness and the capacity of inclusive sport and physical activity in Co. Louth.
• Support people with disabilities and those from other backgrounds in becoming coaches, officials, administrators and instructors within the sporting community in Co. Louth by working on a cross collaboration basis with local stakeholders to generate and sustain local inclusive opportunities.

Engagement & Support

• Develop and sustain effective working relationships with the National Governing Bodies of Sport operating within the county to increase the range and choice of inclusive sport and physical activity opportunities in Co. Louth.
• Work as part of the national network of Sports Development Officers within the LSP Network in sharing information and experiences to support inclusive sport and physical activity development in Co. Louth.
• Promote and support the development of inclusive practice within sport and physical activity providers in Co. Louth with specific focus on encouraging organisations to adopt the National Sport Inclusion Disability Charter.

The particular duties and responsibilities attached to the post may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or level of responsibilities entailed. The post holder may therefore be required to perform duties appropriate to the post, other than those detailed above and to take instruction from and report to an appropriate officer or such designated officer as may be assigned from time to time by Louth County Council