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.

The purpose of this post is to effectively support the work of the Area Manager/Senior Manager in all matters pertaining to Child and Family Services within the Service Area.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• To manage the interface with the Area Manager’s Office and the various services within the area with a view to facilitating good communication and understanding the respective roles.
• To manage the interface between the Area Manager’ Office and the management team and to provide a high level of administrative support as required.
• To help establish and maintain links between TUSLA and HSE colleagues to support service delivery.
• Take special responsibility for meeting deadlines for internal and external communications including HIQA.
• To support the Area Manager in his/her lead roles across the service area and nationally which includes setting and delivering strategic objectives as required.
• Promote and participate in the implementation of any change management programme.
• Responsible for day to day management/ overseeing of administrative support staff in the area.
• Responsible for the financial arrangements and regulations required to manage and oversee the Area’s commissioning processes, service level agreements and C&AG audits.
• Responsible in supporting the commissioners for compliance, governance, ensuring contracts and Service Level Agreements’s in place, Bi Annual Metrics and attending  Service Level Agreement Review Meetings.
• Management of Capital and Minor projects and maintenance of premises in conjunction with Estates and service managers.
• Management of Area Estates and ancillary functions.
• Provide support regarding Estates, ICT, Procurement and Capital Developments as required.
• Co-ordination and preparation for statutory inspections in conjunction with the social work teams In line with HIQA’s Child Protection &Welfare & foster care standards.
• Ability to work on one’s own initiative.
• Responsible for coordinating all PQ’s and public representative requests received within the region and providing a regional oversight to all responses issued and liaise with the national office as appropriate.
• Work with the Area’s Quality, Risk & Service Improvement Manager to progress the agenda within the region.
• Assist in the management and have oversight of the areas compliance with Health and Safety Legislation.
• To create a positive working environment, which contributes to maintaining and enhancing effective working relationships.
• Undertake projects as delegated by the Area Manager.
• Assist in the development, implementation and monitoring of service plans.
• Keep up to date with policy and legislative developments relevant to the post.

Education & Training

• 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.
• Oversee the provision of a framework for the promotion of staff development and training by making recommendations with regard to the ongoing education, mentoring, training and in-service needs of the inspection and monitoring team

Human Resources

• Ensure policies and procedures are well documented and understood by staff within your section who are assigned to you.
• Support the preparation and issuing of office documentation (correspondence, reports etc) to the highest possible standard by monitoring and reviewing team work to ensure quality and accuracy.
• To promote a culture that values diversity and respect in the workplace.
• To provide assist with leadership and motivation conducive to good staff relations and work performance.
• Where appropriate establish and maintain records of attendance, statistical information, annual returns, and any other information as may be requested.
• Work as part of a team and to ensure that all members are treated with dignity and respect.
• Participate in the recruitment, retention and development of staff including training and continual assessment.

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 role.

And                               

• Have at least 3 years’ management experience – managing staff, budgets and general administration.

And

• Possess sufficient administrative capacity to discharge the functions of the role.

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.