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 http://www.tusla.ie 

Purpose of Role

To independently chair child in care and as appropriate other meetings for children/young people in Special Care.

The Independent Chair will ensure that care planning remains effective, responsive and focused on achieving positive outcomes for children and young people receiving a Special Care intervention.

The chair will not have operational responsibility for service delivery but will ensure an integrated care planning process, promoting child/youth and parental/guardian participation within strong integration of social work, special care team, ACTS, family support and other relevant services

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Professional / Clinical

• Chair Special Care Child in Care Reviews in accordance with relevant legislation, national policy and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain independence from case management and local operational structures relating to the child’s care.
• Ensure that reviews are conducted in a child-centred, rights-based and trauma-informed manner and a strong advocate for children’s rights
• Promote and facilitate the participation of the child or young person, ensuring their views are actively sought, represented and clearly recorded.
• Ensure parents, carers and relevant professionals are appropriately involved in the review process.
• Demonstrate strong knowledge and experience relating to special care intervention, the related legislation and integrated service delivery.
• Be responsible for invites, minutes and review of minutes for care planning/review meetings and as appropriate other relevant meetings relating to a young person in special care.
• Provide leadership in the delivery of a high-quality service for young people detained in Special Care and Provide, including independent support regarding the necessity, proportionality and continued appropriateness of the Special Care intervention.
• Develop good working relationships with key stakeholders relevant to the role, including a strong knowledge of Special Care proceedings and as appropriate prepare reports/attendance at Court.
• Ensure the implementation of current and evolving legislation, policies and procedures, guidelines and protocols.
• Ensure each review considers progress against the care plan and safety planning, including readiness for discharge from Special Care.
• Ensure anti-discriminatory practice and cultural competence, at individual and service levels.
• Facilitate clear channels of communication to relevant management structures in relation to issues relevant to the role, including provision of annual report on activity levels.
• Provide professional leadership at meetings, committees and/or other fora as required.

Management

• Report on activity levels relating to care review meetings and other related work as required, including on participation of children/young people and key stakeholders in such meetings.
• Promote as a senior leader strong integrated service delivery, that models Tusla values and good communication.
• Inform relevant managers/leaders including Tusla EMT of key themes/issues arising and contribute to service improvement initiatives required.
• Lead on current and impending legislation and the perceived impact on practice.
• Keep abreast of developments in national policies and strategies and international best practice.
• Demonstrate knowledge of Tusla’s strategic objectives and related actions.
• Ensure service delivery corresponds to best national and international practice.
• Contribute to the development of policies, procedures and guidelines in relation to Special Care and other relevant processes.
• Participate in and contribute to service planning and development.
• Provide service delivery reports as required e.g. service plan, annual report.
• Ensure that there are appropriate systems in place to gather relevant information.
• Ensure compliance with a high standard of documentation, including service user files in accordance with local guidelines and the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.
• Oversee service user and data confidentiality.

Education & Training

• Maintain standards of practice and levels of professional knowledge by participating in continuous professional development initiatives and attendance at courses as appropriate.
• Engage in career and professional development planning.
• Oversee the provision of a framework for the promotion of staff development and training by making recommendations with regard to the ongoing education, mentoring, training and in-service needs.
• Act as a resource by participating in the education and training of Social Work colleagues and other health professionals as required.
• Build and communicate an understanding of Special Care intervention but also the continuum of care and services with a focus on integrated delivery.

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. 

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

• Must be registered in the Social Workers Register maintained by the Social Workers Registration Board at CORU.

And

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

And

• Have 5 years’ relevant post – qualification experience.

And

• Must have the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability, professional and leadership 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.