Background:
The Schools’ Activity Confidence Eating (ACE) project is an example of a whole school intervention, focused on promoting four main aspects of health within the school i.e. nutrition, physical activity, mental and dental health that includes a schools incentive scheme.
The project aims to encourage schools to draw up a tailored and individualised health policy in accordance with particular guidelines given to them, over the course of a year, with the help and support of a lay health worker (Schools’ ACE Supporter) who is trained to facilitate the school in developing and implementing their health policy.
The ACE Schools’ Programme Supporter recruitment:
The ACE Schools’ Programme is currently seeking tenders for the provision of support to schools taking part in the ACE Schools’ Programme for the academic year 2011-2012.
A number of Primary schools across the midlands are currently involved in the ACE School’s Programme in the coming academic year. The ACE schools’ Supporters role is giving schools assistance in their healthy policy development, part of this role will be to visit each school and liaise between the school and community health professionals (dietitians, physical activity co-ordinator etc).
Also as part of an expansion of the ACE schools programmes other primary schools in the region have been invited to join the project. As part of this training will be provided to outline what the programme entails. If numbers does not make it viable to provide central training for schools the school ACE supporter will be engaged to provide this training.
The Supporter Role:
The Supporter will carry out the following tasks:
Visit each school at least twice in the academic year;
Provision of standardised ACE Schools’ nutrition information sessions to parents in the school setting;
Collect pertinent and required information from schools using the ACE Schools’ Process evaluation forms / checklists;
Liaise with the relevant schools, Community Health Professionals and ACE Schools’ Co-ordinator as necessary;
Attendance at Supporter training and updates and schools’ training sessions or provision of training to individuals schools (n=7 or less), who have newly enrolled in the programme.
The Supporter will liaise with Westmeath Community Development Ltd. (WCDL) and the Community Nutrition & Dietetic Service on a regular basis with regards to their progress with each individual school.
Personal requirements:
Essential:
Be an excellent communicator
Hold an Honours Degree in Human Nutrition or Dietetics and be eligible for registration as a Dietitian (RD), or hold registration as an Associate/Registered Nutritionist (ANutr/ RNutr) or hold registration as an Associate/Registered Public Health Nutritionist (APHNutr/ RPHNutr) with the Association for Nutrition (AfN).
Hold a full driving licence and access to transport.
Desirable
Experience in community nutrition/dietetics and/or research in nutrition/dietetics.
Experience working with groups.
Experience working with children / young people in a health promotion setting.
Successful applicants must submit for, and receive, Garda Clearance.
For all enquiries contact:
Pauline Dunne, Senior Community Dietitian, Community Nutrition & Dietetic Service, Primary Care Unit, St. Loman’s Hospital, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
email: Pauline.Dunne1@hse.ie ; Phone: 044 93 95518.
Tenders to be submitted to:
Mr. Frank Murtagh, WCDL, c/o ACT, Ball Alley Lane, Athlone, Co. Westmeath.
For guidance on tender format: email pauline.dunne1@hse.ie
Closing Date for tender submission: Friday 12th July
