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.

The Assessment, Consultation and Therapy Service (ACTS) is a multidisciplinary clinical service within Tusla – Child and Family Agency with the remit of supporting young people who are at severe risk of harm and at risk of placement in special care or detention.

ACTS work in collaboration with other agencies to address the risk of harm leading to referral, using a practice framework informed by Adaptive Mentalization-Based Integrative Treatment (AMBIT). This means that ACTS teams work to integrate systems of support, including supporting key relationships in young people’s lives, while also working therapeutically directly with young people. ACTS work toward therapeutic goals as defined and monitored with young people and the networks of family and professionals involved in their lives.

ACTS teams operate at regional level, accepting referrals through social work services within each region. Services are provided through regional Tusla Therapy structures managed by Regional Therapy Managers and overseen by Clinical Team Managers. Clinical governance is provided across all ACTS MDTs through nationally integrated management and supervision structures.

Purpose of Role

The post holder will be part of the regional ACTS multidisciplinary team. They, alongside their team colleagues, Clinical Team Manger and Principal Social Worker will have responsibility for contributing to the development and maintenance of high standards of clinical practice. 

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Co-ordination/Management

The Senior Social Work Practitioner will:

• Be a key member of the multidisciplinary therapeutic team under direction of the Clinical Team Manager and Principal Social Worker and will be responsible for the social work interventions on the team.
• Be expected to provide support and advice to other team members.
• Be expected to provide social work student placements.

Professional/Clinical

The Senior Social Work Practitioner will:

• Contribute a social work perspective to the development of the ACTS clinical formulation. 
• Establish and maintain therapeutic relationships with young people and their families.
• Collaborate with other professionals to address the clinical needs of young people and work to achieve their identified goals. 
• Provide specific therapeutic interventions to young people and their families.
• Provide supportive counselling, emotional and practical support, and information to young people and their families.
• Engage in systemic interventions as appropriate with young people, families and other professionals.
• Adopt a holistic approach aimed at enhancing the quality of life, health and social well-being of all young people referred to ACTS.
• Promote independence, self-reliance, self-determination and empowerment of young people.
• Make it possible for young people and their families to advocate for their own needs, or where appropriate advocate on their behalf.  Ensure all interventions are in line with Tusla’s Youth Participation Policy.
• Deliver a quality social work service in collaboration with other disciplines/agencies as required.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of Individual Therapeutic Plans.
• Contribute to multidisciplinary clinical reports as required.
• Take responsibility for communicating on behalf of the ACTS team in various arenas eg; Child in Care Reviews, Professionals Meetings, Placement Planning Meetings etc. 
• Uphold and implement the views of young people where it is possible and clinically appropriate.
• Engage with, and implement, AMBIT, the ACTS practice model. 
• Actively participate as a member of the ACTS multidisciplinary team, in team building and change management initiatives.
• Attend court, tribunals etc as required.
• Work within current legislation, relevant policies and procedures, guidelines and protocols within TUSLA.
• Incorporate social work values and ethical principals in planning, developing, implementing and reviewing interventions.
• Implement models of best practice/evidence-based practice.
• Take direction from the Principal Social Worker, Clinical Team Manager or Regional Therapy Manager.
• Take an active role in an appropriate level of planned professional supervision, in accordance with the local/national Supervision Policy.
• Engage in reflective practice.
• Deputise for the Principal Social Worker as agreed/appropriate.
• Promote a culture that values diversity and respect in the workplace.
• Keep the Clinical Team Manager and/or Principal Social Worker fully informed and up to date on all significant matters.
• Engage in direct practice with children and families including, where appropriate co-working with other practitioners.
• Engage with young people and families to promote participation.
• Provide support and advice to others in relation to their practice and professional development which may include mentoring staff.
• Assist in the induction process for new staff.
• Access and participate in, as appropriate, research and other developmental activity relevant to improving standards of practice.
• Participate in the development of evidence-based practice.
• Contribute to the learning and development of students and others as required.
• Promote high standards of Social Work practice.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of TUSLA’s governance framework, audit schedules and quality and service improvement agenda.
• Contribute to reviews of TUSLA policies and procedures relating to service for children and families.
• Contribute to needs assessment and service development.

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 Principal Social Worker, Clinical Team Manager or Regional Therapy Manager.
• Keep up to date with advances in social work research, and ongoing review and evaluation of literature relevant to the assigned area.
• Keep abreast of developments in national policies and strategies and international best practice.
• Actively disseminate specialist knowledge to existing social work staff.
• Develop links with the Schools of Social Work.
• Provide placements for students with appropriate supervision.
• Provide guidance and supervision to student social workers and relevant others.
• In collaboration with the Clinical Team Manager and Principal Social Worker, contribute to the development, provision and implementation of mentoring and individualised training programmes for social work staff.
• Act as a resource by participating in the induction, education and training of social work colleagues, other health professionals and service user groups as required.

Administrative

The Senior Social Work Practitioner will:

• Maintain a high standard of documentation, including service user files in accordance with local guidelines, the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and the Data Protection Acts.
• Maintain accurate up to date records and files, and submit activity data as required.
• Write accurate, clear, concise and purposeful reports.
• Contribute to service developments by monitoring and evaluating emerging needs and trends and in consultation with the Clinical Team Manager, Principal Social Worker and other staff, to propose appropriate service developments.
• Conduct internal case reviews when required.
• Collaborate with the Principal Social Worker in developing the role of the Senior Social Work Practitioner and the service e.g. through planning, audit, production of standards, continuing education, quality improvement initiatives and research.

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.