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 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 General Based Violence (DSGBV)
• Children’s Service Regulation
• Counselling and Therapeutic Supports

Further information is available on http://www.tusla.ie

Prevention, Partnership and Family Support (PPFS) is a dedicated pillar of service

provided by the Child & Family Agency. PPFS is currently developing Child and Family Support Networks as part of its structures to support the implementation of more effective family support service provision and to support the implementation of Meitheal, the Early Intervention National Practice Model for all agencies working with children, young people and their families.

Through the recruitment of a permanent Senior Child and Family Support Network Co-ordinator it is planned to further implement the Meitheal National Practice Model for early identification of need and practical help-provision to children and families and to consolidate and build stronger working partnerships between TUSLA and other allied professions and agencies to support children, young people and families. The recruitment of a Senior Child and Family Support Network Co-ordinator is a central component of the new PPFS structure

Purpose of Role:

• To establish and oversee the development of collaborative network(s) of community, voluntary and statutory providers so as to improve access for children and families to support services at all levels of need that support and encourage the effective functioning of families.
• To support the implementation of Meitheal - The Early Intervention National Practice Model for all agencies working with Children, Young People and their Families.
• To promote and generate awareness of Tusla and its Prevention, Partnership and Family Support Programme of work in order to encourage dialogue, close cooperation and good communication between Tusla and its partners.
• To provide line management to basic grade PPFS support personnel, both professional and administrative.
• To develop strong partnerships between Tusla and other agencies involved in supporting children, young people and their families and to facilitate and to promote enhanced inter-agency cooperation to ensure that services for children are co-ordinated and provide
• To build the capacity amongst community and voluntary partners to participate in prevention, partnership and family support and specifically in the Meitheal Model.
• To ensure Tusla’s Prevention, Partnership and Family Support Programme of work is integrated with the work of Children and Young People’s Services Committees.
• To support and promote the development, welfare and protection of all children in the communities in their area through effective intra-agency and inter-agency working.
• To contribute to positive outcomes for all children and young people in their operational area.
• To promote the best interests of children and young people and to facilitate their participation when planning and reviewing the provision of services related to prevention, partnership and family support
• To promote social inclusion including developing an approach to prevention partnership and family support that is specifically inclusive of minority groups.
• To identify and collate information on unmet need emerging through the PP&FS work.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Professional / Clinical
• Along with the Senior Manager for Prevention, Partnership and Family Support, put in place a multi-agency steering committee as a subgroup of the Children and Young People’s Services Committee to engage relevant statutory and voluntary partners in prevention, partnership and family support.
• To work closely and liaise with the Co-ordinator of the Children and Young People’s Services Committee to ensure integrated working towards positive outcomes for all children and young people.
• To provide line management to basic grade PPFS support personnel, both professional and administrative.
• To identify, link with and seek active engagement of the statutory and voluntary services that play a role in children and families’ lives in the relevant catchment area to develop their participation into Child & Family Support Networks (CFSNs).
• To develop tailored strategies for engaging specific sectors and services in prevention, partnership and family support, for example schools, early years, youth work, primary care, specialist services including disability and mental health, adult services etc.
• To work with the Senior Manager for Prevention, Partnership and Family Support to set up and oversee the implementation of the Meitheal Early Intervention National Practice Model in their area.
• To train (with assistance of workforce learning and development and others trained in Meitheal), coach and mentor Tusla staff and partners in order to have a wide range of Lead Practitioners and Meitheal support staff participating in the Meitheal Early Intervention National Practice Model.
• To centrally coordinate and document the implementation of the Meitheal Model including ensuring all requests for Meitheal are processed and the subsequent process is adhered to and recorded in line with the Meitheal Toolkit.
• To support Lead Practitioners to achieve the range of tasks outlined in the Meitheal Toolkit including supporting them with administration, facilitation and coordination.
• To supplement core Meitheal training by delivering presentations and seminars to groups who may not attend the two day Meitheal training programme.
• To support the Senior Manager for Prevention, Partnership and Family Support to operate an information and quality assurance system in relation to the Meitheal Early Intervention National Practice Model and the operation of the CFSNs.
• To support the Senior Manager for Prevention, Partnership and Family Support to implement the Commissioning Guidance to use the total resources available for children and families in order to improve outcomes in the most efficient, effective, equitable, proportionate and sustainable way.
• To support the Senior Manager for Prevention, Partnership and Family Support to undertake a local assessment of child and family needs and strengths in line with the commissioning guidance and in conjunction with the Children and Young People’s Services Committee.
• To support the Senior Manager for Prevention, Partnership and Family support to ensure there is a continuum of support matching the continuum of child and family needs in their area.
• To work closely and liaise with the Duty Intake Social Work Team Leader to ensure that the Prevention, Partnership and Family Support Programme of work is integrated with Social Work Services and the overall Service Delivery Framework and to support implementation of the National Service Delivery Framework Practice Note on Social Work and Local Area Pathways.
• To support best practice development in relation to Hidden Harm, Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based violence, Mental health issues across the CFSNs.
• To support full implementation of all the PP&FS work-streams.

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.
• Make recommendations to the Senior Manager for Prevention, Partnership and Family Support in relation to the ongoing education, mentoring and training needs of Tusla staff and partners.
• Act as a resource by participating in the education and training of colleagues and other health professionals as required for the Meitheal National Practice Model.
• Build and communicate an understanding of the role of the Prevention, Partnership and Family Support Programme of work and its integration with Social Work and the Tusla Service Delivery Framework and with other statutory and voluntary services

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:

• Candidates must be in current employment with Tusla – Child and Family Agency or employed with the HSE or within other statutory health agencies, or a body which provides services on behalf of the HSE under Section 38 of the Health Act 2004 or within a body that provides services on behalf of Tusla under Section 56 or Section 59 of the Child and Family Act 2013.

• A relevant degree in community work, family support, social care, social work, education or other relevant discipline.
• Significant experience of working in the area of direct children and families’ services provision including a proven track record of working with children and families who present with complex needs.
• A track record of achieving results through community networking and cross sectoral working as relevant to the role.
• Experience and skills in working collaboratively and on an inter-agency basis with a wide variety of agencies and networks both statutory and non-statutory
• Experience in the design and delivery of training and facilitation.
• Have the requisite knowledge and administrative ability (including a high standard of management ability) for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.
• Three years post qualification 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