David O'Connor

Housing Officer Novas

Ireland

About

Development worker and advocate with experience across various strands of community work.

Experience

  • Housing Officer at NOVAS
    Jun 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 2 mos

  • SICAP Community Development Officer at PAUL Partnership Limerick
    Oct 2022 - Jun 2024 · 1 yr 9 mos

    Responsible for the development and coordination of the Residents Strengthening Communities programme. The programme supports residents in four specific communities across Limerick City to engage in community participation. This is achieved by engaging local residents - of all ages - in an informal learning process with a thematic underpinning of personal development. Participants are supported on their journey by the development worker. This can take the form of one to support, signposting and referral to relevant and suitable agencies. This programme is joint funded by Sicap and legacy funding from Atlantic Philanthropies.

  • Carer Supports Manager Clare & North Tipperary at Family Carers Ireland
    Jan 2022 - Oct 2022 · 10 mos

    Family Carers Ireland (FCI) is the national charity supporting over 500,000 family carers across the country who dedicate their lives to caring for loved ones such as children or adults with physical or intellectual disabilities, frail older people, those with palliative care needs or those living with chronic illnesses or addiction. We provide a range of services and supports for family carers through its 22 resource centres nationwide. As Carer Supports Manager I am responsible for: The delivery of individualised supports for family carers. Carers clinics that provide opportunities for family carers to connect through support groups, social activities and community forums. Delivery of education and training programmes. Engagement in community development activities that complement the work of Family Carers Ireland. The role also includes the day to day management of the local centre and fundraising.

  • Homeless Singles Assessment & Outreach at Focus Ireland
    Oct 2019 - Jan 2022 · 2 yrs 4 mos

    • Homeless Single Outreach and Assessment Officer Clare Homeless Action Team (Clare HAT). • Conducting street outreach with individuals who are homeless across the county of Clare. • Conducting holistic needs assessments with individuals who have contacted Clare HAT or those who have been referred by other services. • Signposting & Referring homeless individuals into available and appropriate services. • Advocating to voluntary and statutory housing bodies on behalf of individuals residing in long term emergency accommodation. • Compiling individual service plans on a collaborative basis. • Collaborating with other agencies such as: DEASP, HSE, LCETB and An Garda Siochana. • Collating reports and highlighting service needs of homeless individuals across County Clare.

  • Limerick Youth Service (3 yrs 8 mos)
    • Youth Justice Worker Henry St. Outreach
      Apr 2017 - Oct 2019 · 2 yrs 7 mos

      Assessing and responding to needs of young people aged 12-18 years old in accordance with: ESF, IYJS and Limerick Youth Service policy and procedure and Garda Youth Diversion Project operational requirements. Engaging young people who may have offended or who are on a path to offending in a process of learning and development that will enable them to make positive lifestyle choices. Invariably we look to divert them from involvement in criminal, harmful or anti-social behaviours. Enabling young people to access and get optimum benefit from school, further education, training and employment opportunities. Implementing this engagement through a process of both individual and group-work and through outreach work. Enlisting the support of parents, family members, community groups and other volunteers and enabling them to engage effectively with the target group in youth development activities.

    • Youth Worker
      Mar 2016 - May 2017 · 1 yr 3 mos

      To plan, implement and review programmes for young people based on an assessment of local youth work provision. To work with young people using various outlets, such as: group work, individual work, holiday provision and residential provision. To collaborate effectively with other statutory, community and voluntary bodies to avoid replication and dilution of local youth provision. To build relationships with families and community of the young people by engaging with and providing access to various initiatives, such as, the Strengthening Families Programme. To link with other LYS services to best meet the needs of young people and facilitate their progression. Recruit, support and supervise adult volunteers & students to assist in delivering programmes.