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 of circa €1.2billion and delivers its services through over 5,500 people in 325 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

Professional / Clinical
Work as part of the Digital Transformation team with the following responsibilities:
•Take a lead role as part of the ICT team in delivering projects under the Data Management and Digital Transformation strategy.
•Support the delivery of projects under the ICT, digital, and data related workstreams of the Tusla Reform Program.
•Support the engagement with national practice leads, social work, social care, after care, family support, and therapeutic teams in the design and planning of systems
•Support the engagement with national practice leads, user liaison, information officers, data managers and other local teams in the roll out of system changes to users
•Provide practice expertise during all stages of the software development life cycle for new application developments. This will involve working with design teams, analysts and test teams to ensure the requirements of the services are understood and delivered.
•Participate in governance groups established to provide oversight and planning for each system
•Deliver information briefing sessions to teams/users across the various services
•Co-ordinate the implementation of new systems and ongoing enhancements
•Co-ordinate user and other stakeholder groups as required
•Support the continuous support and enhancement of the systems
•Contribute to research and planning of digital initiatives to maximise the benefits of innovation for practitioners in their work
•Participate in working groups / committees as requested by the General Manager.
Management
•Provide leadership and motivation in order to optimise service delivery by developing teams and promoting change management.
•Ensure compliance with and implement HR policies and procedures and guidelines.
•Contribute to a range of reports including annual reports, performance indicators etc.as required.
•Contribute to the development and implementation of policy, information sharing protocols and audit systems
•Ensure a high standard of documentation, including service user files in accordance with local guidelines and the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.
•Ensure the maintenance of service user and data confidentiality.
•Assist in ensuring that the social work, social care and other services across Tulsa make the most efficient and effective use of developments in IT.

Education & Training
•Maintain standards of practice and levels of professional knowledge by monitoring and reviewing the standards within their area of responsibility, participating in and organising continuous professional development initiatives and professional development planning.
•Keep updated on current and impending legislation/regulations and the perceived impact on practice.
•Keep abreast of developments in national policies and strategies and international best practice.
•Keep up to date with organisational developments within the Irish Health and Social Services.
•Actively engage in staff development and training by making recommendations with regard to the ongoing education, mentoring, training and in-service needs of social workers.
•Keep up to date with digital, innovation and emerging technologies as well as project management and change management skills

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 Workers Register maintained by the Social Workers Registration Board at CORU.

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

                          And
•Have three years relevant post qualification experience
                            And
•Must have the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability, professional and managerial ability) for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.

                             And
•Have one years’ experience of implementing or supporting ICT systems. To include working with technical teams and supporting change management.

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.