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 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

Main Duties and Responsibilities
• Oversight and governance of the CYPSC national programme.
• Implement consistent models of practice and processes across all CYPSC.
• Strengthen organisational structures and enablers to better support staff in service delivery.
• Identifying best practice nationally and internationally and driving the strategic development of CYPSC.
• Support Service Director for commissioning with Reform in commissioning & CYPSC when required.
• Informing the work of the Young Ireland – National Policy Framework for Children and Young People 2023 -2028 implementation Structures and represent the CYPSC on the Young Ireland Advisory Council’s Children and Young People’s Policy Forum.
• Representing, informing and supporting the role of CYPSC in developing and delivering cross-Departmental initiatives, for example, Anti-Poverty.
• Liaise with DCDE and the Department of Health to Oversee and manage of the Healthy Ireland initiative.
• Supporting Network Managers with the Induction and training coordination for CYPSC Chairs, Coordinators and Vice-Chairs.
• Day to day liaison with CYSPC coordinators and chairs, providing guidance and resolving issues.
• Oversight of the National CYPSC budget and other funding initiatives.
• Development of tools and resources for the operation of CYPSC.
• Coordinating and supporting provision of relevant data to CYPSCs.
• Reviewing CYPSC areas’ Children and Young People’s Plans and Annual Programmes of Work as needed.
• Coordinating and compiling reports on data, activities, outputs and outcomes from all CYPSCs to government departments and central bodies.
• Inform the resourcing of CYPSCs including the appropriate deployment of coordinators across CYPSCs compliant with relevant service level agreements.
• Leading quality assurance of planning and functioning of CYPSCs informed by best practice.
• Communicating relevant national policies, strategies and initiatives as identified by the CYPSC National Implementation Group and guiding CYPSC to contribute and input as required, as well as delivering relevant associated assigned actions. )
• Reporting on the work of CYPSCs and related operational issues to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency and the Department of Children, Disability and Equality (see below for specific reporting arrangements).
• Communication and liaison with CYPSC member agencies and other prospective stakeholders
• Be part of a commissioning management team
• Be responsible for reporting on and tracking actions required in the Tusla Business Plan.
• Reporting and providing data as required to DCDE, DOH, DOJHAM to inform and support the development of future initiatives.
• Contribute to communication systems with service developments and changes.
• Promote and participate in the implementation of any change management programme.
• Prepare briefing papers and presentations when required.
• Participate and as required lead national working groups for work streams/portfolios that are assigned.
• Liaison with internal and external stakeholders and raise awareness of CYPSC
• To lead a service delivery response with a focus on Tusla’s culture, values, and Public Sector duties.
• Support the DCDE in supporting the democratic process with responses to parliamentary questions, speeches, briefings etc.

Education and Training
• Maintain continuous professional development and participate in team-based development, education training and learning.
• Complete all mandatory training
• Attend relevant conferences, webinars, workshops, training relevant to role
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:
• A relevant third-level qualification in Social Work, Youth & Community, Social Care or related discipline
• Minimum 5 years experience at Senior Management Level.
• Have demonstrated operational management excellence in delivering services.
• Have demonstrated experience of strategic planning and effectively implementing change and improving services.
• Proven leadership ability in a related field
• Experience of interagency collabrative working
• Requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability) 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.