The Child and Family Agency was established on 1st January 2014 and is responsible for a range of statutory functions including provision of child protection, alternative care, specified regulatory services and a range of family support services. The Agency has commenced a major improvement programme with significant focus on Practice, Culture and Structure.

The Agency currently has responsibility for a budget in excess of €1.02billion and delivers its services through circa 5,000 people in 350 locations across the Country.

The Child and Family Agency has responsibility for the following range of services:

• Child Protection and Welfare
• Family Support
• Alternative Care
• Adoption
• Tusla Education Support Services (TESS)
• Children’s Service Regulation
• Counselling and Therapeutic Supports

Further information is available on www.tusla.ie

Prevention, Partnership and Family Support (PPFS) is a dedicated pillar of service provided by the Child & Family Agency. PPFS is currently developing Child and Family Support Networks as part of its structures to support the implementation of more effective family support service provision and to support the implementation of Meitheal, the Early Intervention National Practice Model for all agencies working with children, young people and their families. It is planned to further implement the Meitheal National Practice Model for early identification of need and practical help-provision to children and families and to consolidate and build stronger working partnerships between TUSLA and other allied professions and agencies to support children, young people and families.

Purpose o role:

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Working with Children/Young People/Families/Carers

• To participate in the development and implementation of Care Plans and to ensure appropriate recording of same.
• To promote the rights and responsibilities of each child/young person within the Service.
• Assist in enabling parents/guardians/carers/families to sustain the safe care of their children in the home setting.
• To promote physical, emotional, social and religious welfare of each young person.
• To liaise with the parent, family, general services and other agencies on behalf of the young person.
• To attend meetings in relation to the care and developments of the Children and their families
• To promote the participation of children and young people in decision making on issues that affect their lives at both individual and collective levels.
• Participate in the completion of preliminary screening and assessments, safety planning as required under Children’s First in line with Standard Business Processes, this should be done in consultation with the relevant line manager.
• Compliance with relevant Tusla policies.
• Attendance at Court when required.
• Direct work with children/young people/parents/guardians/foster carers etc.
• Facilitating and supporting family contact for children care.
• Lone working.
• Engage with internal and external stakeholders.

Administration and Accountability

• To attend team meetings and to report to the designated Manager on matters affecting the delivery of service.
• To make written and verbal reports to the designated Manager on a regular basis on the progress of development of the children and their families.
• Reporting and recording any incidents, however minor, that may happen to the / children and their families or are caused by them.
• To be familiar with emergency procedures and to know who to contact in an emergency.
• Ensure Child protection procedures are followed in accordance with the responsibilities of a designated officer.
• To keep abreast of current legislation and current professional child care knowledge.
• To implement the Child and Family Agency’s procedures and policies.
• To undertake ongoing professional training and development.
• To attend regular supervision with the designated Manager.
• To perform any other duties that may be assigned from time to time.

Team Work

• Participate in working within a team centred consistent approach.
• Working with other professionals and external stakeholders
• Participate in regular team meetings, SOS groups, supervision.
• Provision of training to Service User, colleagues and external stakeholders

Training & Professional Development

• Participate in regular professional supervision.
• Participate in further training and development as required.
• Provide guidance and education for work experience students.
• Engage in reflective and evidence based practice.
• Keep abreast of current legislation and current professional child care knowledge.
• Be responsible for own health and wellbeing in order to carry out the duties of the role / is committed to managing own work / life balance.

Health & Safety

• Comply with and contribute to the development of policies, procedures, guidelines and safe professional practice and adhere to relevant legislation, regulations and standards.

• Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the service for example National Standards for Child Protection and Care and comply with associated Tusla – Child and Family Agency protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.
• To support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.

The above Job Description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post which may be assigned to him/her from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.

Please refer to the Candidate Information pack attached to this campaign for full and further detail.

Applicants must by the closing date of application have the following:

• Be registered in the Social Care Workers Register maintained by the Social Care Workers Registration Board maintained by CORU.

or

• Hold a CORU approved Social Care Worker qualification and have applied for CORU registration (evidence of application will be necessary)

(https://coru.ie/health-and-social-care-professionals/education/approved-qualifications/social-care-workers/)

• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Care Practice, Atlantic Technological University
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Applied Social Care, Atlantic Technological University
• Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Care, Atlantic Technological University
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Care Practice, Institute of Technology, Sligo
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Applied Social Care, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology
• Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Care, Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Care, Dundalk Institute of Technology
• Bachelor of Arts in Social Care, Munster Technological University
• Bachelor of Arts in Social Care, Institute of Technology, Tralee
• Honours Bachelor of Arts (Social Care), National University of Ireland, Galway
• Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Studies (Professional Social Care), Quality and Qualifications Ireland, delivered by Carlow College, St. Patrick’s
• Bachelor of Arts in Social Care, Quality and Qualifications Ireland, delivered by The Open Training College
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Professional Social Care Practice, South East Technological University
• Bachelor of Arts in Professional Social Care Practice, South East Technological University
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Applied Social Studies in Professional Social Care, South East Technological University
• Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Studies in Professional Social Care, South East Technological University
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Care Practice, South East Technological University
• Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Care, South East Technological University
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Professional Social Care Practice, Institute of Technology, Carlow
• Bachelor of Arts in Professional Social Care Practice, Institute of Technology, Carlow
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Applied Social Studies in Professional Social Care, Institute of Technology, Carlow
• Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Studies in Professional Social Care, Institute of Technology, Carlow
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Care Practice, Waterford Institute of Technology
• Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Care, Waterford Institute of Technology
• Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Studies in Social Care, Technological University Dublin
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Applied Social Studies in Social Care, Technological University Dublin
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Care, Technological University Dublin
• Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Care, Technological University Dublin
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Applied Social Care, Technological University Dublin
• Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Studies in Social Care, Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Applied Social Studies in Social Care, Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown
• Bachelor of Arts in Social Care, Dublin Institute of Technology
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Care Practice, Institute of Technology, Tallaght
• Bachelor of Arts in Social Care Practice, Institute of Technology, Tallaght
• Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Care, Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest
• Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Studies in Social Care, Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Care Practice, Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest
• Bachelor of Arts in Social Care Work, Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Care Work, Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest
• Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Care, Athlone Institute of Technology
• Bachelor of Arts in Applied Social Studies in Social Care, Athlone Institute of Technology
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Care Practice, Athlone Institute of Technology
• Bachelor of Arts in Social Care Work, Limerick Institute of Technology
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Social Care Work, Limerick Institute of Technology

or
Be eligible for registration in the Social Care Workers Register maintained by the Social Care Workers Registration Board maintained by CORU (evidence of application will be necessary)
and

• Have the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability and ability) for the proper discharge of the duties of office.

Health
A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.

Character
Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character.