Community workers work in and with marginalised communities who experience, social exclusion, economic disadvantage and/or discrimination. They work with individuals, families or whole communities to empower them to improve their lives.
Work Environment
This occupation is typically found in the following Career Sector(s):
Videos on the Web
- Community Development Worker / Officer- from: Youtube Search
- Community Development Manager- from: icould [UK] Video
- Community Development Officer- from: iCould [UK] Video
- Community Management Representative- from: icould [UK] Video
- Community Project Manager- from: icould [UK] Video
Working Life
Community workers work with groups and individuals to deal with problems in the community. Their aim is to empower the community by developing the skills required to regain control over and improve quality of life. They give people advice and support, and may arrange services and facilities for them. Their aim is to enable people to act for themselves, for example, by giving them the support and confidence they need to set up community groups, organise social, educational and recreational activities.
Some community workers support and enable people who live in socially disadvantaged areas, where people may face problems such as inadequate housing, unemployment, lack of council facilities, under-achievement in schools and other inequalities.
- Local community development projects.
- Local Development Companies.
- Local and national organisations working with communities of interest (e.g., women, Travellers, new communities, LGBTQI+).
- National and local organisations concerned with particular issues (e.g., unemployment, migrant rights, drugs, poverty, racism, gender equality, disability rights).
- Family Resource Centres.
- Community health initiatives.
- Local authorities/councils and local health services.
- Community engagement initiatives.
- Research organisations.
Community workers are there to support everyone in the community, so they could be involved with people from all sorts of backgrounds. For example, they may help to develop or protect children's play areas, or organise tenants' committees to meet with local authority housing representatives. In rural areas, they may represent people's views on threatened services and facilities, such as bus routes and post offices.
(courtesy of AIEB Community Work Ireland)
Knowledge
• Community work theory, principles and processes.
• Power, power relations and their impact on communities.
• Poverty, inequality, discrimination and social exclusion and its impact on women, men, children and young people, families and communities.
• Social policy, social theory, community studies and the theories and processes of change.
• Public administration including local and national legislation, policy and decision making structures.
• Practice theory including engaging, planning and strategy implementation.
• Group work theory, principles and processes.
• Social movements and their contribution to bringing about change.
• Management and Governance theory and practice
• Analysis of power and disempowerment and its causes and consequences for individuals and groups in society.
• Social analysis.
• Social issues, including poverty, inequality, discrimination and social exclusion, and their implications for community disempowerment.
• Empowering methodologies, approaches and practices for working with communities and groups.
• The laws, policies and practice of government, organisations and society as they affect social justice and sustainable development.
• Local, national and international social justice, environmental justice and sustainable development issues, concerns and priorities and the ways they are interconnected.
• Sustainable development initiatives and frameworks.
• Development theory and processes.
• Understanding of the inter-related ways in which social and environmental injustice impact on communities and groups
• Analysis and understanding of key current equality and human rights issues and concerns, including those for women, and of how other policies e.g. economic, social welfare or health policies impact on them.
• Analysis and understanding of the discrimination faced by marginalised and minority groups.
• National and international human rights mechanisms and frameworks, and their application for the protection and promotion of human rights.
• Policies, legislation and commitments for the promotion of equality, for example relating to Travellers, Roma, women, LGBTI people, older people, migrants, people with disability and all groups covered by equality measures in both jurisdictions, as well as by relevant and applicable EU Directives.
• Knowledge of current civil society and state responses to human rights and equality and of organisations representing groups experiencing inequality and discrimination.
• Theory of participation and participatory democracy including barriers to these.
• Participative methodologies for engaging communities.
• Local, national and international mechanisms and forums for community participation.
• Community work theory.
Further Information
- Community Arts Worker- from: N.C.S. [UK]
- Community Development Worker- from: N.C.S. [UK]
- Community worker/community development worker- from: GradIreland
- Youth and Community Worker- from: N.C.S. [UK]
Qualities - Community Development Worker / Officer
Qualities
• Solidarity and empathy, recognising the diversity that exists within society and communities.
• Commitment to working collectively for social change and social justice.
• Commitment to equality, inclusion and rights.
• Leadership
• Personal awareness and awareness of their own personal power, limitations, roles and responsibilities.
• Empathy with communities and groups and individuals who are a part of them.
• Respect for diversity and sensitivity to diverse opinions.
• Discretion - showing good judgement, tact and diplomacy.
• Solution focussed.
• Openness to change, challenge and questioning, and flexibility to change plans while maintaining overall direction and principles.
• Political consciousness.
• Solidarity, commitment to building co-operation, equality, mutual support and respect for diversity.
• Commitment to social justice including global justice.
• Commitment to sustainable development and environmental justice.
• Commitment to practice which promotes human rights and equality, and rejects and challenges anti-oppressive practice.
• Commitment to rejecting and challenging oppression, discrimination and prejudice in all its forms.
• Valuing, having respect for and supporting diversity.
• Commitment to meaningful participation, inclusive of the voices of women, marginalised, excluded and minority communities and groups.
• Transparency, openness, honesty and accountability.
• Flexibility.
• Resilience – in moving processes forward even through difficult circumstances.
• Commitment to building constructively critical participation.
Skills
• Engaging with people and groups for empowerment and collective action based on a clear understanding of the context, conditions, lived experiences, dynamics and diversity of those involved.
• Identifying and addressing barriers to participation.
• Conflict management and resolution.
• Practice skills including programme planning, monitoring, reflection and evaluation.
• Governance, organisational management and project management skills.
• Social research.
• Leadership.
• Group work, facilitation and supporting collective decision-making.
• Use of creative and innovative methodologies.
• The design and delivery of programmes and initiatives that build confidence and raise consciousness.
• Social analysis and capacity to link analysis with practice.
• Recognising and addressing differentials in power between women and men, and minorities and majorities, as reflected externally and internally in groups and communities.
• Constructively managing views that are contradictory to the values of community work.
• People skills, including the capacity to give constructive feedback, providing support and supervision to staff, community leaders, volunteers and representatives.
• Critical social analysis and policy analysis.
• Research and policy development.
• Ability to make national and international climate change and sustainable development frameworks relevant and understandable.
• Capacity to link global climate change and sustainable development issues with local concerns and work towards solidarity in addressing them.
• Ability to mobilise communities to recognise common issues and concerns and to work in solidarity with one another.
• Capacity to make national and international human rights and equality frameworks relevant, developing consciousness, understanding and associated actions.
• Ability to network and build connections with organisations representing diverse communities.
• Capacity to probe and question attitudes and assumptions regarding equality concerns and highlighting and responding to stereotyping and discrimination.
• Ability to develop, implement, manage and evaluate policies and codes of practice to promote human rights and equality and address discrimination.
• The capacity to conduct needs analysis and community profiling.
• The ability to support community representatives and to represent communities and organisations.
• Interpersonal and communication skills and ability to develop mutual, reciprocal relationships.
• The capacity to use participative methods, strategies and approaches.
Interests - Community Development Worker / Officer
This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Enterprising
Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.
Social
The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.
Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.
Administrative
Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.
They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.
Entry / Progression - Community Development Worker / Officer
Some community workers have a higher education qualification, including degrees and postgraduate certificates in community work. Experience of community work on a paid or voluntary basis gives applicants a better chance of acceptance on courses, and may be an essential requirement for entry to some courses.
Entrants to community work may also have a background and qualifications in a wide range of other subjects, including social sciences, geography, education and theology.
Garda vetting will form part of any applications for work in this sector.
Sample Education and Training Pathways
A number of courses are available throughout the country that focus on learning and skills that may be useful for this career. The examples and links below may guide you in your research.
Further Education (FET)
Further Education & Training (FET) Courses are delivered by local ETBs, ranging in duration from several weeks up to 20 months. Courses are designed to meet the labour market needs and often include a large element of work experience.
Example search terms include: youthwork, training and development, train the trainer.
Search for FET Courses
PLC Courses (FET)
PLC courses are full-time courses, one or two years duration, with awards at Level 5 and 6 on the NFQ. They are offered nationally in Schools and Colleges of Further Education.
Example search terms include: community and youth work, youth activities worker, youth studies, community development, youth work, SNA, youth work and addiction studies, youthwork, applied social studies, social care.
Search for PLC Courses
Higher Education CAO (Undergraduate)
Higher Education courses at Levels 6 to 8 on the NFQ, delivered in Universities and Technological Universities & Institutes. Courses run from 2 – 5 years and places are allocated on a points-based system, processed by the Central Application Office.
Example search terms include: community development, youth work, social science, arts, child, youth, family, policy and practice, addiction studies, public health, health promotion, health sciences, applied social care.
Search for CAO Courses
AIEB has a list of endorsed community & youthwork programmes click here
Higher Education (Postgraduate)
Postgraduate courses are courses at Levels 9 and 10 on the NFQ and usually last 1 – 2 years full time, or longer if a PhD or part time. Entrants typically require an undergraduate award (Level 8).
Example search terms include: child and youth studies, child youth and family studies, child, youth, community, youth arts and sports education, youth justice, youth work, community health, leadership, management, public sector.
Search for Postgraduate Courses
Professional Development
Professional development (CPD) courses are specialised training, formal education, or advanced professional learning that improves skills, professional knowledge, competency, and overall effectiveness in the professional world.
AIEB All Ireland endorsement body for Community Education & Training
Activelink: Community exchange
National Youth Council Ireland
Check the Useful Contacts tab on this page to see if there are any professional bodies listed who may provide training related to this career.
Pay & Salary - Community Development Worker / Officer
Salary Range (thousands per year)* €30k - €51k
Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, duties, and role.
Data Source(s):
Payscale/ Activelink/ Charitycareersrecruitment/ The Wheel
Last Updated: July, 2024
Labour Market Updates - Community Development Worker / Officer
Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Youth and community workers; Child and early years officers; Housing officers; Counsellors Welfare and housing associate professionals n.e.c.
This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).
The annual average employment growth rate for this occupation continued to be strong across the five-year period. Census data for 2022 indicates that youth and community workers account for the largest share of occupations within this group and vacancies announced through DSP Jobs Ireland in 2022 were primarily for these roles.
Useful Contacts - Community Development Worker / Officer
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The Wheel - Support and Representative Body for Community & Voluntary Sector Organisations
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AIEB All Ireland Endorsement Body Community Work Ireland
- Westside Resource Centre Ltd. Seamus Quirke Road, Galway
- (087)1308273
- [email protected]
- Click Here
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Activelink
- Activelink, 2-4 Merville Road, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin, A94 E3F8, Ireland.
- 01-6677326
- [email protected]
- Click Here
