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

• Community Engagement: Build and establish direct relationships with advocacy groups, representative bodies, and local networks, clubs or other organisations or networks to promote fostering awareness with a view to diversify awareness of fostering.
• Targeted Strategies: Work with NFRET to develop culturally appropriate recruitment materials and outreach plans.
• Inclusion Support: Advise enquiry and assessment teams on cultural sensitivities to ensure smooth onboarding for applicants,
• Barrier Reduction: Identify and address systemic barriers preventing diverse candidates from applying to foster.
• Plan and execute national-level targeted recruitment campaigns and projects.
• Participate in a national network of regional recruitment teams, including Traveller and Roma focused projects, to share and grow learning in relation to targeted fostering awareness and recruitment.
• Build and maintain intra-agency relationships with Regional Recruitment Fostering Teams.
• Ensure Tusla Fostering brand consistency and alignment with key messaging.
• Impact Tracking: Measure engagement within target communities and report progress to the National Fostering Recruitment Manager.
• Work with NFRET and regional fostering teams to develop and share learning on fostering recruitment initiatives and practice.

Administration

• Support the development and implementation of integrated management reports across relevant performance indicators ensuring transparency and clear accountability on fostering awareness and recruitment work streams.
• Support the development of reports accounting for the work undertaken, challenges and opportunities as well as progress achieved in the work undertaken.
• Support the monitoring and control of resources in accordance with Tusla’s Financial Regulations.
• Ensure appropriate records are maintained as may be required by The National Manager Fostering Recruitment and Team.
• Promote good working practices and uniformity of standards.
• Work with Management to ensure adherence to the legislative framework and internal Tusla policies and procedures.
• Undertake all duties assigned in line with relative policy, procedure and legislation.
• Deputising as appropriate
• Take a lead or support ongoing projects / initiatives within the National Fostering Recruitment and Enquiry Team.

Policy, Research & Quality

• Assist with the development of policy documentation on policy, procedure and guideline development and review processes in relation to fostering recruitment and fostering awareness.
• Set a programme of work to review such policies to ensure it is aligned to the agreed template or format and is updated and implemented across relevant services as applicable.
• Work with the relevant departments, regional and network-based teams to
• 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:

• Have at least two years’ administrative experience as relevant to the role (equality, diversity, or inclusion-focused)
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of how to engage positively with diverse cultures and communities, particularly Traveller and Roma communities.
• Proven track record of designing and delivering targeted awareness campaigns for multi-ethnic, or minority groups.
• Experience building and maintaining strategic alliances with a wide range of advocacy, community/voluntary organisations and statutory bodies.
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills.
• A working knowledge of foster care.

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.