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 http://www.tusla.ie 

Purpose of Role

• To give guidance and support in consultation with eligible young people who are in transition from care or young adults who have previously left care through the Aftercare Service within the Child and Family Agency to ensure best outcomes are achieved.
• Liaise with the parent, family, general services and other agencies on behalf of the young person / young adult.
• Responsibility for providing on-going support and assessment of need for young people allocated a worker as outlined in their Aftercare Plan. 
• Responsibility for the provision of advice, guidance and support to those availing of an Aftercare Drop-in Service.
• The Aftercare Worker will adhere to the Aftercare Service Policy Guidance Document on ‘Informed Consent’ at all times when sharing information. The Aftercare worker will represent the young adult where consent is given in all inter-departmental discussions in relation to accessing services as an adult, including mental health, on housing issues, accessing financial support.
• Work with partner agencies in the provision of an aftercare service.
• Work with other aftercare workers in the provision of a drop in Service
• Promote a culture where young people are treated with dignity and respect, promoting a culture of unconditional positive regard at all times
• Promote physical, emotional, social, cultural, ethnic, spiritual and religious welfare of each service user.
• Advocate on behalf of the young person / young adult.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Working with Young people / Young adults

The Aftercare Worker will be required to:

• Participate in the development and implementation of Aftercare Plans and Financial Needs Assessment Plans and to ensure appropriate recording of same. Including responsibility for undertaking a leaving care assessment in line with policy requirements in order to inform the aftercare plan.
• Responsibility to review Aftercare plans as per policy / legislative requirements.
• At 18 years of age the Aftercare Worker will take the lead on the provision of service to the young adult.
• Responsible for supporting the implementation of the Aftercare plan, over 18 years through engaging with key stakeholders and relevant others in the delivery of core areas of work as determined by the Aftercare Plan.
• Liaise with accommodation, welfare, education and training resources to source appropriate services for young people leaving the care setting
• Promote the rights and responsibilities of each person within the service setting e.g. following complaints procedure guidelines
• Ensure the involvement of young people and young adults in decision-making on matters that affect their lives, at the individual and collective levels and proactively promote within Aftercare Service provision a range of structures, procedures, processes and practices to give young people and young adults the opportunity to have their voices heard and valued.

Teamwork

• Work as part of the Aftercare Team to promote Aftercare Services, support colleagues in making referrals to the Aftercare Service and assist the team in the implementation into practice the national Aftercare Policy.
• Key role in supporting those who are directly supporting young people in aftercare and for working in close collaboration with all who are making a contribution to meeting the needs of young people in aftercare.  
• Key role advocating on the behalf of young people leaving care with other agencies with particular regard to housing, social welfare, education and training, community resources and counselling services.
• Complete Court Reports when requested for review by Aftercare Manager and attend Court as if necessary and as required
• Required to hold a balanced case load as per Aftercare Service national requirements.
• Supervise Social Care students as appropriate / required under the direction of the Aftercare Manager.

Record Maintenance

• Maintain written records and financial records to a high standard
• Make written and verbal reports to the Aftercare Manager on a regular basis on the progress of development of the young person/ Young Adult.
• Complete Individual Financial Assessment Plans as required under relevant policy
• Review Individual Financial Assessment Plans where necessary (e.g. Change of young person / young adult circumstances).
• Co-operate with external monitoring and statutory inspections and implement their recommendations
• Prepare reports for and to participate in professional meetings (e.g. strategy meetings) ensuring that all records relating to those meetings are maintained to a high standard as appropriate / required under the direction of the Aftercare Manager.

Administration and Accountability

• Attend all relative/appropriate meetings and report to the Aftercare Manager on matters affecting the delivery of service: including participation in area based Aftercare Interagency Steering Committees where required.
• Participate in Child in Care Reviews, Strategy Meetings and Child Protection Case Conferences with Social Worker or other care staff where appropriate 
• Be accountable for any money spent on behalf of the Child and Family Agency during the course of duty.
• Responsible for decision making in the absence of the Aftercare Manager.
• Provide cover for the Aftercare Manager in his/her absence as appropriate / required under the direction of the Aftercare Manager.
• Responsible for own health and wellbeing in order to carry out the duties of the role / is committed to managing own work / life balance.

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 team.
• Attend regular supervision with the Aftercare Manager.

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:

• Be registered in the Social Care Worker Register maintained by the Social Care Workers Registration Board maintained at CORU (or have entitlement to be registered and obtain registration prior to appointment). Proof of CORU application will be required.

And

• Maintain live annual registration on the Social Care Workers Register maintained by the Social Care Workers Registration Board at CORU.

AND

• Must have the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability and professional ability) for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.

AND

• Have a minimum of three years’ post qualification experience of working in a Children & Families Service or other relevant environment with a similarly challenging client group.

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.