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

Children and Young People’s Services Committees (CYPSC) are the key structure identified by Government to plan and co-ordinate services for children and young people in every county in Ireland. They provide a forum for joint planning and co-ordination of activity to ensure that children, young people and their families receive improved and accessible services. Their role is to enhance interagency co-operation and to realise the national outcomes set out in Ireland’s Child and Youth policy framework Young Ireland 2023-2028 Better Outcomes. The ultimate goal is to improve outcomes for all children and young people in Ireland.

 Shared Vision, Next Steps 2019 – 24 (DCYA, 2019) is the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth’s Road map for the further development of the Children and Young People’s Services Committees (CYPSC) initiative.

Further information is available on www.cypsc.ie

The CYPSC Co-ordinator will support the CYPSC in its work to bring together a diverse group of agencies in local county areas to engage in joint planning and co-ordination of services for children and young people. By ensuring effective interagency co-ordination, collaboration and oversight of policy implementation and provision locally, the Committee will work towards its overall purpose of securing better outcomes for children and young people in the county(ies). CYPSC will also ensure a two-way flow of information and insight from national to local and vice versa. This will aid communication, enhance responsiveness and assist in ensuring effective implementation of policy through to outcomes focussed provision.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The Children and Young Peoples Services Committee Co-ordinator will be expected to establish relevant policies and procedures and perform the following duties:

• Support the establishment and operation of the CYPSC and its sub-groups in line with the stated methodology, principles, purpose and objectives as described in CYPSC; Shared Visions, Next Steps 2019-24
• Co-ordinate the development of the CYPSC’s three-year work plan.
• Assist the Committee and sub-groups to implement the three-year plan and monitor progress in line with the five national outcomes for children and young people as set out in Better Outcomes Brighter Futures the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2014 – 2020. o Support the provision of professional, technical and administrative assistance to the overall committee as well as to sub-groups of the CYPSC and ensure the learning from the CYPSC and sub-groups is captured and disseminated.
• Support the development of joint/integrated commissioning of services for children, young people and families through the CYPSC.
• Ensure the participation of children and young people in the CYPSC structure and it’s decision-making processes.
• Ensure the provision, collection and reporting of relevant data and information.
• Prepare reports and strategic documents as required and provide timely progress reports to Tusla, the National Co-ordinator for CYPSC, the CYPSC, CYPSC sub-groups, and other organisations as appropriate.
• Foster and develop positive working relationships with key personnel including committee members and other stakeholders within associated agencies/service providers involved in the provision of child, youth, family and community services.
• Foster and develop positive working relationships between CYPSC and other local interagency structures and represent the CYPSC as appropriate on relevant local networks / fora as agreed in conjunction with the CYPSC Chairperson.
• Maintain and keep current the CYPSC webpages on the national CYPSC website.
• Maintain knowledge of and keep current with key developments in relevant sectors affecting and informing the operation of Children and Young People’s Services Committees

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:

• Minimum 2 years’ experience of co-ordinating complex multi-agency initiatives programmes or services.

AND

• Minimum 2 years’ experience working in or with child, youth or family support services.

AND

• Knowledge of relevant computer programmes and programming e.g. Microsoft Office Suite including WORD; PowerPoint and Excel etc.

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.