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

Professional

The Social Care Manager will:

• Provide direct line management, supervision and leadership for a Family & Child Support service in accordance with the service delivery model.
• Work in partnership with parents, children and young people with a view to supporting families in line with the Five National Outcomes for Children.
• Oversee the implementation of the introduction of the Meitheal practice model and the Prevention, Partnership and Family Support Programme.
• Ensure that families receive services which are proportionate to identified needs and risks.
• Work as part of multiagency response providing assessment and intervention with young people and their families.
• Plan, implement and evaluate Meitheal plans, as part of a multiagency response, ensuring the written and verbal reporting of individual programmes.
• Promote the best interests of children and young people and facilitate their participation when planning and reviewing agreed plans with regard to prevention, partnership and family support.
• Liaise with other relevant statutory and voluntary services.
• Treat children/young people and their families with dignity and respect, promoting a culture of unconditional positive regard at all times
• Ensure case records are properly and accurately maintained and that appropriate statistical information is provided.
• Seek the advice of relevant personnel as required.
• Take an active role in supervision in accordance with the local/national supervision policy.
• Provide supervision to Social Care and Project staff as appropriate.
• Contribute to the promotion, creation and maintenance of a welcoming, safe, caring, stable and supportive environment
• Recognise children/young people as expert through experience, promoting their participation in planning, decision-making and service delivery.
• Develop an understanding of how previous life experiences impact on children/young people and incorporate this into their practice.
• Work in partnership with the parent, family, and other agencies on behalf of the child/young person.
• Participate in meetings in relation to the child/young person and their family.
• Work as a key worker/lead Practitioner for the child/young person as required.
• Be a positive role model for children/young people.
• Attend court if required.
• Attend a range of meetings including Child Protection Conferences if required.

Health & Safety

The Social Care Manager will:

• Adhere to the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act (1989) policies and procedures and other relevant legislation.
• Report any immediate concerns/incidents of questionable practice to the Manager or his/her designate.
• Be familiar with Tusla’s policies and procedures local and national and sure that such policies and procedures are strictly adhered to.
• Be familiar with emergency procedures and know who to contact in an emergency.
• Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc and comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.
• Support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.

Training & Professional Development

The Social Care Manager will:

• Participate in regular professional supervision.
• Supervise Social Care Staff and other staff as appropriate.
• Provide guidance and education for work experience students.
• Undertake ongoing professional training and development.
• Engage in reflective and evidence based practice.
• Keep abreast of current legislation and current professional social care and mental health 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.
• Be responsible, in partnership with local Management, for the provision of training for students during placement and through support for workers who are practice educators within their departments.

Administration and Accountability:

The Social Care Manager will:

• Contribute to the ongoing development of the service in keeping with good practice and Tusla objectives.
• Assist in the administration and day to day operation of the service.
• Participate in team meetings and report to the Principal Social Worker on matters affecting the delivery of service.
• Ensure that all information relating to clients, their families, staff colleagues etc is treated in a thoroughly professional manner, in accordance with the principles of confidentiality, data protection legislation and Freedom of Information.
• Perform any other duties that may be assigned from time to time.

Management

The Social Care Manager will:

• Provide leadership and motivation in order to optimise service delivery by developing teams and promoting change management.
• Be responsible for the probationary appraisal of staff and the completion of probationary appraisal reports as required. Make appropriate recommendations regarding whether employees’ standard of work during probation is satisfactory and  whether appointments should be confirmed.
• Ensure compliance with and implement HR policies and procedures and guidelines.
• Manage a budget as defined by the Area Manager, if appropriate.
• Contribute to a range of reports including annual reports, performance indicators etc. as required.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of policy, information sharing protocols, audit systems and referral and integrated care pathways.
• Contribute to service plan process by recognising and replicating successful interventions and by identifying unmet needs and service requirements into the future.
• Ensure a high standard of documentation, including service user files in accordance with local guidelines and the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.
• Ensure the maintenance of service user and data confidentiality.
• Assist in ensuring that the service makes the most efficient and effective use of developments in IT.

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 5 years’ experience of working with children and young people in crisis as relevant to the role.

AND

• 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

• 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