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

• Identify, secure, and manage national/strategic partnerships with businesses and other organizations to promote fostering and Tusla Fostering.
• Act as a key liaison for national corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs and community networks.
• Plan and execute national-level recruitment campaigns and projects.
• Participate in a national network of regional recruitment teams to share and grow learning in relation to fostering awareness.
• Build and maintain intra-agency relationships with Regional Recruitment Fostering Teams.
• Ensure Tusla Fostering brand consistency and alignment with key messaging.
• Track campaign performance and ensure leads are captured effectively. Monitor partnership outcomes and report regularly to the National Fostering Recruitment Manager.

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 implement policies and support the development of these policy and practice in 

• relation to the area of Tusla Fostering recruitment and awareness. 
• Liaise with relevant Tusla Services and external and internal stakeholders to ensure work undertaken is informed by up-to-date policy and research and meets best practice goals.
• To support the research and information requirements of the Service.

Information Management

• Assist in preparation of service planning and business planning process and other planning processes as required
• Develop and maintain processes for monitoring the implementation of business plans.
• Liaise with relevant services to promote inter-department knowledge sharing.
• Ensure effective communication is maintained between the appropriate teams and professionals.
• Co-ordinate responses to queries / requests for information to the National Fostering Recruitment Manager as required.
• Establish, maintain processes for the collation, analysis and reporting of data and collation of associated reports where required.
• Support the development of integrated management reports across relevant performance indicators, human resources, finance, and risk management.
• 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.

Human Resources

Where, and as needed:

• Lead and supervise staff maintaining a positive working environment, aligning with organisational policies.
• Plan, allocate and evaluate work and performance of teams and individuals.
• Provide HR support and act as first point of contact for HR issues
• Conduct regular staff meetings to keep staff informed and to hear views
• Facilitate team development by helping to identify training needs, supporting performance plans, and assisting with the recruitment and onboarding of new staff.
• Encourage and support staff through transformation and change process

Education and Training

• To maintain continuous personal development and participate in team-based development, education, training and learning.
• To complete all mandatory training.

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:

• Have at least 2 years’ administrative experience relevant to the requirements of the role.
• Experience planning, executing and evaluating awareness raising campaigns
• Experience building and maintaining strategic cross-sector partnerships and intra-agency relationships
• Experience in project management and 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.