Current Job Opportunities

Community Healthcare West is partnering with Mental Health Ireland to continue the development of the Galway Solace Café service through the employment of Peer Connectors. Community Healthcare West is partnering with Mental Health Ireland to continue the development of the Galway Solace Café service through the employment of Peer Connectors. The development of ‘A National Framework for Recovery in Mental Health 2024–2028’ sets out an understanding of recovery and recovery orientated services, the core values that underpin it, and the actions and measures that support such a service. This is also in line with Mental Health Ireland’s strategy 2025-2027 – Empowering, Educating and Connection Communities (Priority Area 1, Objective 1.).

The Mental Health Services of Community Healthcare West provides a secondary mental health service to adults in Galway Mayo & Roscommon. Services are primarily community oriented, and recovery focused with multi-disciplinary community mental health teams working in defined geographical catchment areas. Specialist teams provide a multi-disciplinary service in Mental Health & Intellectual Disability, Psychiatry of Later Life and Rehabilitation and Recovery.

The key purpose of the Café is to provide an out-of-hours mental health peer support service in a café environment. The peer support will be offered in an accessible, safe and inclusive space. The aim is to provide a service to individuals, their family and supporters who need support with (ongoing management of a mental health challenge) maintaining their mental health & wellbeing. The role will also involve recovery working practices to assist with navigating local services and engaging with the mental health services. Service users who present to the Community Café will be supported through A&E if necessary and under conditions to be set by the clinical leadership of CHW mental health Team Lead.

This initiative has three aims:

• To add out-of-hours capacity to support those experiencing mental health distress.
• To demonstrate a socially innovative model for mental health services and potential for extension to other areas.
• To deliver a service that is person centred based on expressed need and developed through consultation and coproduction.

The initiative will implement some significant innovations in pathway design:

• To provide significant engagement and contact with individuals outside of typical service working hours.
• To support some individuals through A&E each evening the Community Café is open where appropriate and when necessary.
• To gauge user satisfaction using a model.
• To demonstrate the value of the co-production process used during the design and delivery of the service.
• Implement the evaluation of the initiative and produce a case study to support and justify further investment, enhancement and extension of the service.

How to apply:

To apply for this position, please submit a cover letter setting out your reasons for applying for the position along with your Curriculum Vitae to recruitment@mentalhealthireland.ie

Closing date for receipt of applications is 12 noon on 5^th February 2026.  Applications received outside this time will not be considered.  Applications received outside this time with not be considered. Shortlisting will be carried out based on the information received in your CV and letter of application. Proposed Interviews will be held on week commencing 16^th February 2026. For informal enquiries, please contact our Romy Garcia contact details at romy@mentalhealthireland.ie Please ensure to include the relevant Job Reference Number 2026-002 in your letter of application and CV.

Mental Health Ireland is a national voluntary organisation, working in partnership with local Mental Health Associations, HSE, and communities.  Founded in 1966, our focus has been on promoting Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing and Living Life Well for people with lived experience of mental health challenges.

Mental Health Ireland is the longest established national mental health charity in Ireland and throughout our history we and the Mental Health Associations have played a central role in reshaping how the public understand mental health issues. In our strategic plan we describe the next steps we will take to advance greater public understanding, empathy and support for people with lived experience of mental health challenges.

We are looking for an organised and focused individual, with great people skills. Candidates should possess an awareness of the importance of the coordinated multi-disciplinary care, acknowledging their own limitation in expertise/qualification to address certain matters that may arise. The successful candidate will be required to successfully organise and manage a caseload and work as part of a multi-disciplinary team. They must be capable of fostering and maintaining relationships with all key stakeholders. They should be capable of liaising with outside agencies (e.g. local leisure facility providers / voluntary organisations) and advocate on behalf of and in collaboration with the service user with regard to engagement in independent physical activity. They must be prepared to work some evenings/weekends if required.

Essential:

1. Level 7 qualification in exercise or health related field with a focus on exercise, physical activity, and working with special populations.
2. Candidates should have a minimum 6 months experience of working directly with group and individual programmes in the context of physical activity, screening, assessing and designing physical activity-based programmes.
3. Level 3 Personal Training Qualification that is registered and recognised by the Register of Exercise Practitioners (REPS) or equivalent.
4. Candidates should hold a current clean driving license in respect of category B vehicles and access to own car.

Desirable:

1. Experience of working with children and/or adolescents.
2. An understanding of commonly encountered mental health issues, the mental health services, structures and management.
3. Understanding of recovery as it pertains to the mental health context, and current policies.
4. Experience of coaching/leading sports activities with people of differing abilities and vulnerable groups, people with mental health challenges and/or other long-term illnesses.
5. Experience of assessing and advising on healthy lifestyle issues.
6. Accredited education or training in clinical exercise prescription, in behaviour change approach (e.g. Motivational Interviewing) and First Aid Training.

How to apply:

To apply for this position, please submit a cover letter setting out your reasons for applying for the position along with your Curriculum Vitae to recruitment@mentalhealthireland.ie

Closing date for receipt of applications is 12 noon on Friday 23^rd January 2026.  Applications received outside this time will not be considered.  Shortlisting will be carried out based on the information received in your CV and letter of application. Interviews will be held week commencing Monday 2^nd February 2026.  

For informal enquiries, Please contact David Gavin HSE Health Promotion and Improvement Officer on 08745 30709 or david.gavin@hse.ie   Please ensure to include the relevant Job Reference Number 2025-025 in your letter of application and CV.