Details of Service

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 in excess of €800m and delivers its services through circa 5,000 people in 350 locations across the Country.

The Child and Family Agency has responsibility for the following range of services:

• Child Protection and Welfare
• Family Support
• Alternative Care
• Adoption
• Tusla Education Support Services (TESS)
• Domestic Sexual and Gender Based Violence (DSGBV)
• Children’s Service Regulation
• Counselling and Therapeutic Supports

Further information is available on www.tusla.ie

Purpose of Role:

The policy of Tusla Child and Family Agency is to enable children / young people to live with their own families wherever possible and to support parents where necessary in fulfilling that role. The Social Care Worker will provide care, protection, and support to vulnerable or dependent clients, individually or in groups, in conjunction with the wider multidisciplinary team and other relevant agencies. The primary aim is to provide intervention necessary to address the child / young person’s issues or the issues that are preventing them from living at home or in relative / foster care. S/he will ensure the welfare of those under his/her care and will act as an advocate as appropriate.

Social Care Workers in a Residential setting work as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide care to service users. Children / young people may be referred to a residential setting for a number of reasons by the Social Work department e.g. family breakdown / separation, history of neglect, sexual / physical abuse, addiction or mental health issues. Residential care aims to provide a therapeutic care placement to service users who most often present with emotional or behavioural difficulties and cannot live with their own families.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Working with Children/Young People:

• To participate in the development and implementation of Care and Placement Plans and to ensure appropriate recording of same.
• To promote the rights and responsibilities of each child/young person within the Service.
• To promote physical, emotional, social and religious welfare of each young person in care.
• To encourage attendance at school, training centres, medical and clinical appointments.
• To be responsible for the organisation of personal documents, arrangements, information and finance on behalf of the young person.
• To liaise with the parent, family, general services and other agencies on behalf of the young person.
• To attend meetings in relation to the care and developments of the young person.
• To engage in age-appropriate play and other activities with each child/young person within the Service.
• To engage in physical intervention where this is in keeping with local policies and procedures.
• To promote the participation of children and young people in decision making on issues that affect their lives at both individual and collective levels.

Household Activities:

• To prepare and provide, in conjunction with the young people, well balanced meals of high quality.
• To undertake various aspects of home management including the household budget, upkeep and cleaning

Administration and Accountability:

• To attend team meetings and to report to the Social Care Leader / Manager on matters affecting the delivery of service.
• To be accountable for any money spent on behalf of the Child and Family Agency during the course of duty.
• To make written and verbal reports to the Social Care Leader / Manager on a regular basis on the progress of development of the young person.
• Reporting and recording any incidents, however minor, that may happen to the young person or are caused by them.
• Assist with the supervision of students, as appropriate/required under the direction of the Social Care Manager.
• To be familiar with emergency procedures and to know who to contact in an emergency.
• Ensure Child protection procedures are followed in accordance with the responsibilities of a designated officer.
• To keep abreast of current legislation and current professional child care knowledge.
• To implement the Child and Family Agency’s procedures and policies.
• To undertake ongoing professional training and development.
• To attend regular supervision with the Social Care Leader / Manager.
• To perform any other duties that may be assigned from time to time.

Team Work

• Participate in working within a team centred consistent approach.
• Develop and implement shift planning.
• Co-operate with the Social Care Manager in the arrangement of duty rosters in accordance with service requirements.
• Ensure consistency and follow through on interventions between shifts.
• Provide accurate and precise information at handover.
• Provide shift leadership as and when required.
• Deputise for social care leader/management as and when required.

Training & Professional Development

• Participate in regular professional supervision.
• Participate in further training and development as required.
• Provide guidance and education for work experience students.
• Undertake ongoing professional training and development.
• Engage in reflective and evidence based practice
• Keep abreast of current legislation and current professional child care knowledge
• Be responsible for own health and wellbeing in order to carry out the duties of the role / is committed to managing own work / life balance.

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) 

i) Ordinary Bachelor's Degree in Childcare awarded by a recognised body (Level 7 on the National Framework of Qualifications) or the National Diploma in Childcare awarded by HETAC / DIT

or

ii) Ordinary Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Social Care Studies awarded by a recognised body (Level 7 on the National Framework of Qualifications) or the National Diploma in Applied Social Care Studies awarded by HETAC / DIT

or

iii) Ordinary Bachelor’s Degree in Social Care awarded by a recognised body (Level 7 on the National Framework of Qualifications) or the Diploma in Social Care awarded by HETAC / DIT

or

iv) Diploma in Applied Social Studies / Social Care from DIT

or

v) Ordinary Bachelor's Degree in Social Care Practice awarded by a recognised body (Level 7 on the National Framework of Qualifications)

or

vi) Ordinary Bachelor's Degree in Applied Social Studies (Disabilities) awarded by a recognised body (Level 7 on the National Framework of Qualifications) or the National Diploma in Applied Social Studies (Disabilities), The Open Training College (HETAC Accredited)

                                                         or

vii) an equivalent Social Care qualification from another jurisdiction

                                                             and

b)  a suitable standard of professional attainments

                                                           and

c) the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability and    ability) for the proper discharge of the duties of 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.