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:

The role of a Parenting Support Advisor is to act as a point of contact in a defined catchment area, to provide guidance for parents in respect of parenting supports and information available in their local community. The role will be embedded in the Community Based Parenting Hubs (CBPH) which are in development. The CBPH will provide easily accessible information on parenting services, events, and parenting programmes available in a defined catchment area. The work will be informed by the to the Community Based Parenting Hub National Initiative Implementation Guide, logic model and additional supporting documentation.

CBPH are a central point of information and support on ‘all things parenting’ in a community, working with partners to ensure parents and practitioners are aware of and know how to access the parenting support services in their area, which will in turn, increase participation in these valuable support services.

The CBPH and Parenting Support Advisors will support the objectives of the Tusla Parenting Support Strategy 2022-2027 and the Department of Children Disability and Equality ‘Supporting Parents: A National Model of Parenting Support Services 2022-2027’.

This post is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.

Main Duties and Responsibilities  

• To lead on the development and implementation of Community-based Parenting Hubs (CBPH) in line with the Parenting Hubs National Initiative Implementation Guide.
• To lead the CBPH and act as a central point of contact for all parenting support queries within a defined catchment area.
• To work with both parents and professionals in the community responding to enquiries and providing clear information and signposting in relation to accessing parenting support services and programmes, across the continuum of need.
• Consult on, develop, and implement a local communications plan including public awareness campaigns, with a specific focus on reaching vulnerable and hard to engage parents.
• Raise awareness of parenting support services across the continuum of need (universal and targeted) available both locally and nationally for parents.
• Maintain and promote a calendar of parenting support events and establish key infrastructure such as a dedicated website and phone line.
• Review and update information and data on social media and the Parenting Hub website.
• Promote Tusla’s ‘Parenting 24/7’, HSE’s mychild.ie, DCDE Supporting Parents site, and other relevant sources of information for parents through public awareness raising opportunities.
• To promote parental participation as per the Lundy Model.
• To establish a Parenting Fora to support the ongoing development of the parenting hub.
• To facilitate and promote effective inter-agency cooperation to ensure that services for children, parents and families are well coordinated, working closely with Tusla Colleagues, Child and Family Support Networks, and Children and Young People’s Services Committee.
• Coordinate the delivery of evidence‑based parenting programmes within the defined catchment area, and support both parents and professionals with inter‑agency referrals related to these programmes.
• To work collaboratively with other stakeholders to identify and map the needs of parents across a defined catchment area and to identify gaps in service provision.
• To attend inter-agency meetings, including CYPSC, and provide up to date relevant information in relation to parenting supports as appropriate.
• To work closely with the Parenting Support Champion Initiative to strengthen co-ordination and share best practice
• To gather agreed data on availability and provision of parenting support services in the defined catchment area, in line with the Community Based Parenting Hubs National Initiative Implementation Guide and aligned with parenting data gathered by Parenting Support Advisors nationally.  
• To comply with all ESF+ requirements, including the gathering of data and provision of reports and prepare timely reports to local, regional and national management.
• To keep regular records in relation to all aspects of work, gather information, statistics and prepare reports as required.
• To work closely with your line manager to ensure integrated working and support positive outcomes for all children and young people.
• To implement tailored strategies developed with your line manager for engaging specific sectors and services in prevention, early intervention and family support, for example in schools, early years, youth work, public health nursing, GP’s, primary care, specialist services including disability and mental health, adult services etc.

Induction and Training

• To complete all mandatory training.
• To maintain continuous personal development and participate in team-based development, education, training and learning as appropriate.
• To participate in performance evaluation / review, identifying areas for improvement and appropriate plans / measures to achieve them.
• Where appropriate, arrange for the induction and training for assigned staff, as required to maximise skill resources, (to include workplace experience placements where applicable).
• Where appropriate, provide supervision and assist in the development of knowledge, skills of relevant staff under your supervision.
• To ensure policies and procedures exist for all areas.

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:

Be currently employed by Tusla – Child and Family Agency, the HSE or within other statutory health agencies, or a body which provides services on behalf of the HSE under Section 38/39 of the Health Act 2004 or within a body that provides services on behalf of Tusla under Section 56 or Section 59 of the Child and Family Act 2013

AND

A third level qualification in Social Care, Social Work, Psychology, Education, Youth Work, Family Support or a related discipline

AND

At least 2 years’ experience working with children, parents and families as relevant to this role.

• A proven track record of achieving results through community networking and cross sectoral working as relevant to the role.
• Familiarity with all Tusla’s services and structures, including Meitheal, CFSN, Parenting Support, Child & Youth Participation
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills.
• Possess sufficient administrative capacity to discharge the function of the Grade and the requisite knowledge and abilities for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.

Desirable

• To have a comprehensive understanding of parenting supports across the continuum of need and within an inter-agency context.
• To understand referral pathways with statutory, community and voluntary organisations.

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.