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
About Tusla’s Quality Assurance Directorate
Tusla’s Quality Assurance Directorate is concerned with promoting continuous improvement and effective risk management in services for children and families. It delivers its functions though the following teams:
Children’s Services Regulation:
Early Years’ Inspectorate
The Early Years’ Inspectorate is the independent statutory regulator of Early Years’ Services and is responsible for registering and inspecting pre-schools, playgroups, crèches, day care and similar services. Its role is to promote the quality, safety and appropriate care of children by robust regulation of the sector.
Alternative Education
Children who are educated at home or who attend a non-recognised school (i.e. a school that is not funded by the Department of Educational and Skills) must be registered with Tusla by their parents/guardians. The registration process requires that an assessment or assessments be carried out to determine whether the child is receiving a certain minimum education and therefore can be placed on the statutory register of children educated outside of a recognised school.
Alternative Care and Commissioned Services
The team monitors and reports on alternative care settings for children who cannot live with their families. It aims to deliver purposeful intelligence-led regulation with a view to service improvement in commissioned services.
Child Safeguarding Statement Compliance Unit
The CSSCU has a national centralised function for the receipt and processing of referrals and notifications of failure to furnish Tusla with a copy of a relevant agency’s safeguarding statement made under Article 12(1) of the Children First Act 2015. The office is also responsible for appropriately supporting relevant agencies to achieve compliance under Articles 12 (1) – (5) of the legislation.
School Aged Childcare
On the 18th February 2019, the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) (Registration of School Age Services) Regulations 2018 came into effect. Services who cater for school age children must now register with Tusla. School-age childcare services have not, to date, been subject to registration, so this is a significant step forward in ensuring quality school-age childcare. The newly established School Age Childcare Team in Tusla is responsible for promoting the quality, safety and appropriate care of the children by assisting in the registration of services within the sector.
Other functions within Tusla’s Quality Assurance Directorate:
Risk and Incident Management
The team is responsible for the corporate risk register, and all aspects of risk and incident management systems within the Agency. The team aims to ensure Tusla is aware of the nature of its risks, their status and how they are being managed.
Performance Reporting and Information
The Performance Reporting and Information team collates analyses and reports on quality and risk data relevant to the child and services. It identifies trends and performance data to support accountability and transparency, inform policy development and legislative reform, to demonstrate where standards and targets are being met, and identify risk and support decision-making at all levels of the organisation.
Quality Assurance and Monitoring
The team monitors and reports on service delivery against standards, regulations and legislative requirements, and seeks to ensure that service improvement activity takes place in response to reviews.
Service Experience and Feedback
Part 9 of the Child and Family Agency Act 2013 governs complaints procedures and reviews, complainants’ rights, referral to the Ombudsman, and annual report requirements. “Tell Us” is Tusla’s policy governing feedback and complaints. The team is responsible for managing Tell Us, including training other Tusla staff nationwide, collecting metrics, channelling complaints and feedback, and dealing with individual complaints. The team is also involved in encouraging participation of children and listening to the voice of the child in Tusla and Tusla-funded services.

Main Duties and Responsibilities
Managing & Delivering Results (Operational Excellence)
• Provide strategic and operational support and advice to the Director.
• Assist the Director in the delivery, implementation and monitoring of the Business Corporate and Quality Assurance Strategic Plans.
• Lead on the development of the Strategic Plans and Operational Plans in collaboration with managers and key stakeholders.
• Lead and manage project assignments as they arise, whilst ensuring value for money in the development of projects.
• Manage Children’s Services Regulation’s projects assigned in accordance with project management methodology.

• Support the strategic development of Children’s Services Regulation.
• Ensure the effective coordination of all teams, groups, and committees ensuring robust secretarial support is provided and alignment with the terms of reference.
• Maintain collaborative working relationships with all stakeholders.
• Develop processes to ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory obligations.
• Maintain knowledge of relevant procedures, practices and legislation to perform effectively in the role and to ensure standards are met.
• Ensure the efficient day-to-day operational management of the office including management and supervision of staff.
• Manage Children’s Services Regulation procurement obligations.
• Ensure that policies and procedures are aligned with best practice, are well documented and communicated to others.
• Ensure that assigned projects are managed in line with stated objectives and within specified budget and timelines.
• Implement agreed changes in a co-operative and supportive manner, finding innovative ways to deliver service improvements within resource limitations.
• Develop appropriate project methodologies and establish working practices that promote cross-functional team working.
• Work within Quality Assurance Directorate but especially with Children’s Services Regulation. Tusla Senior Managers in the implementation and roll-out of new developments, with a particular emphasis on consistency and alignment across the across the system and reference to best practice, outcome measures and value for money.
• Ensure implementation of clear communications pathways, internal to Tusla and with Children’s Services Regulation’s strategic external partners.
• Support the implementation of statutory requirements, national standards and Tusla policies procedures and guidance.
• Assist in the development and delivery of tracking of performance and recommendations and outcomes as outlined in the Tusla Corporate Plan 2018 -2020.
• Support the Children’s Services Regulation information management systems.
Teamwork, Leadership & Building and Maintaining Relations
• Build strong relationships with key staff in Tusla and externally.
• Represent Children’s Services Regulation which may include presenting externally and attending working groups and committees.
• Ensure that Children’s Services Regulation has an effective, efficient and timely communication system across all the functions.
• Be accountable for own work and that of others as appropriate.
• Work on own initiative as well as part of a wider team.
• Co-operate and work in harmony with other teams and disciplines.
• Lead by example, motivate and encourage others, build team commitment.
• Deal with under performance in a timely and constructive manner.
• Co-ordinate the responses required to manage the parliamentary questions, Tell Us complaint management system FOI and data protection requests.

Commitment to providing a quality service

• Be flexible and adaptable in his / her approach to work, embrace change and adapt work practices accordingly.
• Promote and maintain a quality customer-focused environment.
• Monitor efficiency within own area of responsibility and take remedial action or notify supervisor as appropriate.
• Continuously seek to improve systems / processes.
• Accept and act on feedback appropriately.
• Establish and maintain strong and positive communication with other Tusla directorates and stakeholders.
• Ensure that cases are escalated to the national service Director in line with the policy.
• Promote participation in the implementation of any change management projects.
Finance & Human Resources
• Be accountable for the budget and expenditure for the service.
• Support the monitoring and control of resources in accordance with Tusla’s Financial Regulations.
• Identify potential savings through more efficient practices and innovations.
• Develop and support business cases for new resources and lead the estimates process.
• Manage and support HR processes within the directorate.
Communication & Interpersonal Skills
• Demonstrate pro-active commitment to all communications with internal and external stakeholders.
• Treat others with dignity, respect and in a professional and courteous manner at all times.
• Promote equality and diversity across the service
• Act as spokesperson for Children’s Services Regulation as required.
General administrative duties
• Promote good working practices and uniformity of standards.
• Work within the parameters of all relevant legislation and internal Tusla policies, procedures and guidance.
• Undertake projects as delegated by line manager.
• Establish and maintain links between Tusla and other agencies to support service delivery and learning in service user experience matters.
• Represent line manager when requested.
• Promote and participate in the implementation of any change management programme.
• Contribute to the maintenance of a safe working environment in line with health and safety legislation.
Information Services
• Contribute to the development and design of standardised information management, e.g. use of shared drives, share point, centralised data information systems.
• Ensure appropriate records are maintained and logged.

Education and Training
• Complete all mandatory training.
• Where appropriate, arrange for the induction and training for staff, as required (including work experience placements where applicable).
• Where appropriate, assist in the development of knowledge, skills of relevant staff.
• Participate in performance evaluation and review, identifying areas for improvement and appropriate plans and measures to achieve them.
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:
• Third level qualification as relevant to the role.
• At least 3 years working in a relevant organisation, as relevant to this role, to include supervision and project management.
• Experience of managing and working collaboratively with multiple and external stakeholders to achieve results.
• Possess sufficient administrative capacity to discharge the function of the Grade and the requisite knowledge and abilities for the proper discharge of the duties of the 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