The Child and Family Agency was established on 1^st 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 of circa €1.2billion and delivers its services through over 5,500 people in 259 locations across the Country.

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

• Child Protection and Welfare
• Parenting, Family Support and Early Help Services
• Alternative Care
• Birth Information & Tracing and Adoption
• Tusla Education Support Services (TESS)
• Children’s Service Regulation
• Counselling and Therapeutic Supports

Further information is available on www.tusla.ie

Purpose of Role

The policy of Tusla Child and Family Agency is to enable children / young people to live with their own families wherever possible and to support parents where necessary in fulfilling that role. The Social Care Worker will provide care, protection, and support to vulnerable or dependent clients, individually or in groups, in conjunction with the wider multidisciplinary team and other relevant agencies. The primary aim is to provide intervention necessary to address the child / young person’s issues or the issues that are preventing them from living at home or in relative / foster care. S/he will ensure the welfare of those under his/her care and will act as an advocate as appropriate.

Social Care Workers in a Residential setting work as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide care to service users. Children / young people may be referred to a residential setting for a number of reasons by the Social Work department e.g. family breakdown / separation, history of neglect, sexual / physical abuse, addiction or mental health issues. Residential care aims to provide a therapeutic care placement to service users who most often present with emotional or behavioural difficulties and cannot live with their own families.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Working with Children

• To participate in the development and implementation of Care and Placement Plans and to ensure appropriate recording of same
• To promote the rights and responsibilities of each child/young person within the centre.
• To promote physical, emotional, social and religious welfare of each young person in care.
• To encourage attendance at school, training centres, medical and clinical appointments.
• To be responsible for the organisation of personal documents, arrangements, information and finance on behalf of the 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 young person.
• To engage in age-appropriate play and other activities with each child/young person within the centre.
• To engage in physical intervention and / or restraint which is in keeping with local policies and procedures.

Household Activities

• To prepare and provide, in conjunction with the young people, well balanced meals of high quality.
• To undertake various aspects of home management including the household budget, upkeep and cleaning.

Administration and Accountability

• To attend team meetings and to report to the Social Care Leader / Manager on matters affecting the delivery of service.
• To be accountable for any money spent on behalf of the Child and Family Agency during the course of duty.
• To make written and verbal reports to the Social Care Leader / Manager on a regular basis on the progress of development of the young person.
• Reporting and recording any incidents, however minor, that may happen to the young person or are caused by them.
• The supervision of students, as appropriate/required under the direction of the Social Care Manager.
• To be familiar with emergency procedures and to know who to contact in an emergency.
• To work as a member of a team.
• 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 Social Care Leader / Manager.
• To perform any other duties that may be assigned from time to time.

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 Worker Register maintained by the Social Care Workers Registration Board maintained at CORU (or have entitlement to be registered and obtain registration prior to appointment).

AND

• Maintain live annual registration on the Social Care Workers Register maintained by the Social Care Workers Registration Board at CORU.

AND

• Must have the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability and professional ability) for the proper discharge of the duties of the 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.