Exchange House Ireland now wishes to recruit

6 Peer Mental Health Facilitators (PMHF)

Part-time (8 hours/week; Tues-Thurs); 12-Month Contract

The Programme

Thriving Together- A youth Mental Health Programme supporting young members of the Traveller Community.

The Programme Overview (how this came about)

The Thriving Together programme is a community-led mental health initiative designed to improve mental health outcomes for Traveller children, young people, and families by fostering resilience through peer-led support and crisis intervention.

The Traveller Youth Mental Health Co Production Report, launched in 2025 demonstrates the urgent need for a culturally competent and community-led response to the mental health crisis among young Travellers.

High rates of suicide, widespread experiences of discrimination, limited access to mental health services and other challenges demonstrate that existing structures are not meeting the needs of this population.

Young Travellers primarily seek help from their families and close social networks rather than mainstream services. This underscores the need for community-based interventions that empower Traveller families to provide informed support while also ensuring that professional mental health services are accessible, inclusive, and culturally safe.

A Traveller Youth Mental Health Service, designed and led in collaboration with the community, is essential to closing the gap in service provision and fostering trust between Travellers and the healthcare system.

This Project aligns fully with the HSE Youth Mental Health Action Plan and with and with the Sharing the Vision Implementation Plan 2025-2027

Job Description (what you will be doing)

Outline of the position

This job requires an energetic, motivated, and enthusiastic person to work with a 2nd Peer Mental Health Facilitator (working in pairs) to deliver a mental health and wellbeing programme for Traveller youth in one of three regional areas across Ireland: Laois, Louth, and Limerick. The Peer Mental Health Facilitators working together will also be involved in the co-production of the ongoing review and evaluation of the overall programme.

Based in the local partnership office offices in one of the following areas: Portlaoise, Dundalk and Limerick City, you will work with a 2nd Peer Mental Health Facilitator (PMHF) to deliver an eight -ten-week programme each semester to groups of young travellers ages 11-20 years.

The PMHWs will work closely with local Traveller organisations, addressing mental health service gaps and ensuring culturally appropriate support. They will receive training and supervision from the central team to strengthen their skills and capacity.

Reporting to

Clinical Lead (Thriving Together- Youth Mental Health Program)

Working closely with

• The Thriving Together Project Co-ordinator
• The wider Exchange House Ireland National Traveller Mental Health Service Team.
• Local Partnership/Traveller Action Group teams
• The local Partnership/traveller action Group (host the Peer Mental Health Facilitators).

Responsibilities

• Fully participate in a robust induction process which will include familiarisation with the programme content, extensive targeted training to enable you to deliver the programme comfortably and professionally.
• To attend group and one to one support, supervision and reflective practice sessions with the Clinical lead and the programme Co Ordinator to have the supports to help you deliver and evaluate the programme in the way it was designed and intended.
• To be part of the co-production process of final design, delivery and the ongoing evaluation and feedback on the programme process and to seek ongoing feedback from the participants on the programme.
• Ensure the programme is delivered as it was intended and designed, by consistently following the specified steps and procedures and giving feedback on any barriers to these to the co-Ordinator and Clinical Lead.
• Once trained, to be aware of your statutory obligations relating to Child Protection, Safeguarding and Health and Safety and understanding the Exchange House and Local Partner policies in these areas and how to respond correctly to concerns, risks, or disclosures.
• Facilitate groups with adults in how to respond to mental health crisis with young Travellers.
• To adhere to professional boundaries in performing the duties of this job.

Other Duties

• Participate in organisational events, team meetings and individual supervision
• Any other duties as requested by the Clinical Lead, CEO or Board of Directors

Person Specification

The ideal candidate should have as essential:

• Enthusiasm for collaborating with young Travellers.
• An interest in what good mental health and wellbeing is.
• An interest in your own professional development.
• Experience of working or volunteering with Traveller groups or community.
• Ability to work as part of a team to deliver a programme, to give constructive feedback.
• Be able to work with and treat all colleagues, service users the Traveller community in a compassionate and equal way.
• Full driver’s licence and access to a car.
• Be flexible with hours of work during the induction and training phase (only over Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursdays)
• Be willing to travel to various locations to network with Peer Mental Health Facilitators in other locations.
• Be available for the full induction and training programme (June to end September) and be able to commence programme delivery from October 2026.

Desirable

• Basic IT skills and digital literacy (email, Word, outlook, Gmail, Google).

Terms and Conditions

Based in

Local Partnership Offices, in one of the following areas:

• Portlaoise,
• Limerick, or
• Dundalk

Hours of work

• 8 hours net per week (1 day split over 2-3 days, between Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
• Some flexibility may be required on occasion in relation to working hours.
• Probation period: 6 months.

Salary:

• 12-Month contract
• The salary will be as per the HSE’s Peer Support Worker scale €35,945 (€6,343.24)
• Annual leave: calculated pro rata (based on 26 days)
• Auto-enrolment into the Exchange House Ireland Pension Scheme

How to apply

If you feel you are a good fit for Exchange House Ireland and would enjoy working with us, please send your application to hr@exchangehouse.ie with the subject line ‘Peer Mental Health Facilitator’.

• Your application must include a cover letter and up-to-date CV combined and sent in one document
• Please keep your cover letter to a maximum of one page. In your cover letter, include:
  • Why you feel you are a good fit for this role with Exchange House Ireland; and
  • Details of your relevant experience.

Garda Vetting: This role is subject to full Garda vetting in line with safeguarding requirements for working with young people. We are committed to fair and inclusive recruitment practices; therefore, previous convictions will not automatically exclude an applicant. All disclosures will be considered on a case-by-case basis, with particular regard to the nature of the role and the safety and wellbeing of young people. A risk assessment will be undertaken to determine any appropriate measures or safeguards.

Closing date and how to get more information

Closing date for receipt of applications is 5pm, Friday 22nd Macy 2026.

More information is available by visiting Exchange House Ireland’s Careers page or by calling the 087 164 4230

This position is supported with funding from the Health Service Executive Mental Health Access and Integration, the Community Foundation of Ireland and the RTÉ Toy Show Appeal

• This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the responsibilities and requirements of the position. It may be subject to change based on the organisation's needs and the evolving nature of the role
• Exchange House Ireland is an Equal Opportunities Employer
• Applications from members of the Traveller community, with relevant qualifications, are especially welcome
• All positions in Exchange House Ireland are subject to Garda Vetting and full reference checks
• All positions in Exchange House Ireland are subject to ongoing funding
• Applicants must be eligible to work in Ireland