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

• Specialist knowledge of commissioning systems and processes i.e. Service Level Agreement Processes on the TCM system
• National coordination and development of key data sets and reports from TCM system.
• Responsibility for data governance and quality assurance.
• Designing and delivering impactful training presentations that build commissioning capacity for both Commissioners and Section 56 partners
• Active participation in the national reform programme for commissioning
• Communicating at different levels of both internal and external stakeholders (including Tusla Managers, Commissioners and Organisations.)
• Development of SOP’s and communications for National Commissioning Unit
• Coordination and preparation of key responses for management to meet deadlines
• Supervision of admin staff.
• Oversee SLA process on TCM Portal, and ensure good governance and compliance
• Developing and producing accurate data reports for national commissioning office,
• Overseeing the reviewing, validating and the cleansing of data held within the TCM Portal to improve data quality, reporting accuracy and governance compliance.
• Supporting Lead Commissioners through the production of data reports from the TCM Portal to assist National, Regional and Network with decision-making.
• Lead support for training on the TCM Portal, providing guidance internally, and externally to ensure consistency, standardisation and effective use of the system.
• Ongoing expert operational support to staff and Section 56 orgs, regarding the Service Level Agreement (SLA) process, ensuring consistency, compliance and adherence to national     procedures.
• Supporting the implementation of the Commissioning, National to Regional to Local Reform Project.
• Development and implementation of improved business processes and standard operating procedures across the National Commissioning Unit.
• Liaising with internal stakeholders, Regional Services and Networks to ensure effective communication, coordination and resolution.
• Preparing reports, presentations, briefing documents and governance information for senior management and contributing to national performance reporting.
• Preparing and coordinating responses for NCU ie Tusla’s Internal Audit and C&AG and relevant stakeholders.
• Participation in National Commissioning Projects and Programmes
• Providing line management and supervision of administrative staff within the National Commissioning Unit, including workload management, performance management and staff development.

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.
• Where appropriate to supervise, plan, allocate and evaluate work carried out by team members. Ensure the wellbeing of assigned staff.
• Where appropriate manage attendance and absenteeism.
• 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

Education and Training

• Maintain continuous professional development and participate in team-based development, education training and learning.
• Complete all mandatory training
• Attend relevant conferences, webinars, workshops, training relevant to role.

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:

• Experience of Commissioning TCM|Portal Management
• Experience and knowledge of Tusla’s Section 56 Service Level Agreement Contract
• Experience of monitoring compliance on TCM Portal regarding SLA requirements
• Ability to provide training to build capacity for Commissioners and Section 56 organisations.
• Experience of analysising complex data to uncover trends and drive evidence-based decisions
• Experience of report writing and presentation Skills
• Experience of developing standard operation procedures (SOP’s) and processes
• Line Management Experience

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.