The current vacancy/vacancies is/are in Southeast. However, the initial assignment will be confirmed upon appointment

  A panel may be created for the purpose of filling current vacancies. Once vacancies are   appointed the panel will cease. 

The future vacancies may arise across Tusla Region of Southeast.

For Tusla Regions & Networks please check the following link:

https://www.tusla.ie/get-in-touch/local-area-offices/

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

To co-ordinate and manage the Creative Community Alternatives project in the Southeast region, comprising of five networks: Carlow/Kilkenny, Dublin Southeast, Waterford/South Kilkenny, Wexford and Wicklow.

The main role will involve the day-to-day management of the programme, working closely with the commissioning team, five networks and community organisations involved in the delivery of CCA.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Professional / Clinical

• Liaise directly with networks on prospective referrals to CCA. To assess all such referrals using CCA criteria for admission to the programme.
• Work closely with networks to support children and young people to remain at home, in foster care or step down from TEPs with the CCA supports available.
• Assign supports for children and families to CCA designated organisations and independent workers through our partner agencies and ensure proper records and feedback is provided to Tusla services involved in such work.
• Ensure children and families are kept appropriately informed at all times of interventions that concern them in the spirit and guidance of the CCA programme.
• Work closely with our community-based partner agencies or other statutory services to assess prospective referrals to CCA or to arrange service delivery from such services to CCA.
• Enter into joint community-based service delivery arrangements with community based partner agencies for users of CCA including services to children and families who use CCA.
• Work closely with the Regional Commissioning Team on the financial and contractual management of CCA.
• Support our partner agencies in developing, managing and assessment of workers for the CCA panel of workers.
• Provide direct line management and regular one to one supervision and group supervision, where required.
• Supervise and maintain excellent working relationships between the staff of CCA and other agencies both statutory and non-statutory.
• Engage and develop new partnerships with community-based partners to support the delivery of CCA.
• Ensure that all work undertaken by the CCA is in line with the spirit and guidance of Children First and Tusla policies and procedures.
• Participate in inter-agency groups identified by the Tusla Region.
• Research and develop the CCA project in line with stated aims and objectives and to keep up to date on relevant research and policy development in this area.
• Liaise with other CCA coordinators in other regions to share best practice.
• Work closely with the learning and development leads for the National approach to Practice – Signs of Safety – to maintain a focus on family led practice.

Education & Training

• Maintain continuous professional development and participate in region or network-based development, education training and learning.
• Complete all mandatory training
• Where appropriate, arrange for the induction and training for staff as required (including work experience placements where applicable)

Administrative

• Conduct a Needs Analysis & prepare a CCA Commissioning Plan for the Southeast Region
• Develop reporting mechanisms to ensure staff involved in CCA are kept regularly informed by regular written reports on metrics and progress with children and families.
• Ensure all CCA workers are suitably qualified, experienced and Garda Vetted prior to commencing work and that relevant documentation is in place for audit purposes.
• Maintain data on service users and the service in general to the highest standards and in line with Data Protection legislation and guidance.
• Provide regular updates on progress of the CCA programme to the Regional Chief Officer and Regional Management Team.
• Prepare annual report and quarterly activity reports and case studies on CCA for end of year reporting to Tusla Regional and National office.
• Prepare annual budget and provide regular financial reports on CCA expenditure.
• Prepare business cases as required for the expansion and further development of CCA in the Southeast.

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:

• A relevant degree in Social Work, Social Care, Community Work, Family Support, Youth Work, or other relevant discipline.

• Significant experience of working in the area of direct children and family services provision with a proven track record of working with vulnerable children and families who present with complex needs.
• Have three years’ relevant post qualification experience.

• The requisite knowledge and ability for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.

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