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

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Professional / Clinical

The Senior Social Work Practitioner will:

• Support the implementation of the Barnahus model and national referral pathway across the region.
• Work as part of the multi-disciplinary interagency team (MDIA) at Barnahus in collaboration with other disciplines/agencies as required.
• Attend and actively participate in Barnahus multi-disciplinary and interagency meetings, providing input and analysis where required.
• Undertake joint specialist interviews of children with An Garda Siochana Specialist Interviewers and / or Tusla specialist interviewers.
• Carry out therapeutic screening, assessment and intervention with children, their families, or carer(s) in partnership with the rest of the Barnahus therapy team.
• Provide a social work service in adherence with models of best practice / evidence-based practice, particularly the Barnahus Quality Standards.
• Provide social work services, as part of a wider interagency team, in an integrated and multidisciplinary manner with a range of statutory and voluntary groups and organisations across the region.
• Carry a complex caseload requiring a high level of social work competency, specialist                                    knowledge and trauma informed service provision.
• Make recommendations with regard to the needs of children, their families or carer(s) availing of Barnahus.
• Attend Strategy Meetings, Case Conferences, Court, Tribunals and other relevant fora as required.
• Work within current legislation, Barnahus Quality Standards, relevant policies and procedures, guidelines and protocols as laid down by the employer.
• Work within principles of trauma informed practice
• Adhere to Barnahus Quality Standards and promoting children’s rights and participation
• Incorporate Social Work values and ethical principals in planning, developing, implementing and reviewing interventions.
• Implement models of best practice/evidence-based practice including child youth participation.
• Participate in the evaluation of relevant areas of service provision and the monitoring of key performance indicators.
• Take an active role in the recommended level of planned professional / clinical supervision, group supervision and peer review in accordance with the local/national Supervision Policy.
• Engage in continued reflective practice and continued professional development.
• Engage as required in ancillary work with other team members and by providing Social Work professional knowledge and clinical expertise within a multi-disciplinary team.
• Promote a culture that values diversity and respect in the workplace.
• Take direction from his/her line manager.
• Keep the Barnahus Manager fully informed and up-to-date on all significant matters.
• Support and mentor Social Work and Social Care staff working across Tusla departments in relation to best practice responses to child sexual abuse.
• Deputise as delegated by Social Work Team Leader/ Barnahus Manager when required.

Education & Training

The Senior Social Work Practitioner will:

• 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 in collaboration with the Barnahus Social Work Team Leader / Barnahus Manager
• Complete Specialist Interview training in accordance with the Good Practice Guidelines and undertake joint interviews with Garda and Tusla Specialist Interviewers across the region.
• Undertake specialist therapy training as required in line with the Barnahus therapy team/ Barnahus therapy framework.

• Be available for consultations with professionals where there are allegations/ concerns regarding sexual abuse having occurred which are informed by best practice, national policy, procedure and legislation
• Liaise and consult with other statutory and voluntary services/professionals in the onward                                          referral pathway of children, families and carer(s) as required.

• Keep up to date with advances in Social Work and related research, and ongoing review and evaluation of literature relevant to the assigned area.
• Keep abreast of developments in national and international legislation, policies and strategies and evidence-based practice.
• Keep up to date with organisational developments within the Irish child protection, health and policing services.
• Act as a resource by participating in induction, education and training of Social Work colleagues, other health professionals and service user groups as required.
• Participate in the practice of education of students Social Workers or others as appropriate and nurture links with University Faculties.
• Foster an understanding of the role and contribution of social work by providing professional consultation and education to other members of the Barnahus Multidisciplinary Interagency Team.
• Participate in special interest groups, working groups and international Barnahus-related projects, including financial and operational reporting and service development initiatives as required.

Administrative

The Senior Social Work Practitioner will:

• Maintain a high standard of documentation, including service user files in accordance with local guidelines and Freedom of Information (FOI) Act / Data Protection Legislation.
• Maintain accurate up to date records and submit activity data as required.
• Write accurate, clear, concise, and purposeful reports.
• Effectively utilise the ‘my self-service’ portal for HR and expense related tasks.
• Ensure the maintenance of service user and data confidentiality.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of information sharing protocols and audit systems.
• Contribute to a range of evaluation reports, annual reports, and performance indicators.
• Contribute to policy development, performance monitoring and budgetary control of service in conjunction with the Barnahus Social Work Team Leader/ Barnahus Manager or designate.
• Collaborate with the Barnahus Manager or designate in developing the role of the Social Worker and the service e.g. through planning, audit, production of standards, continuing education, quality improvement initiatives and research.
• Cooperate with any external monitoring or evaluation.
• Assist in ensuring that the social work service makes the most efficient and effective use of developments in ICT.

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 three years’ relevant post qualification experience.

AND

• Must have the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability, professional and managerial ability) for the proper discharge of the duties of the office. Knowledge of legislation, policy, procedures and current issues in Children & Families service. Ability to work in a computer literate environment.

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.