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 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 http://www.tusla.ie 

Purpose of the Role:

• To assist the Senior CFSN Co-ordinator 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 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 develop strong partnerships between Tusla and other agencies involved in supporting children, young people and their families and facilitate and promote enhanced inter-agency cooperation to ensure that services for children are co-ordinated and provide an integrated response to the needs of children and their families.   
• 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 Persons 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.

Main Duties and Responsibilities 

Professional 

• To work closely and liaise with the Senior CFSN Co-ordinator to ensure integrated working towards positive outcomes for all children and young people.    
• To assist the Senior CFSN Co-ordinator to 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 implement tailored strategies developed by the Senior CFSN Co-ordinator 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 CFSN Co-ordinator and the Principal for Prevention, Partnership and Family Support to set up and oversee the implementation of the Meitheal Model in their area.  
• To train (with assistance of workforce development and others trained in Meitheal), coach and mentor Tusla staff and partners in order to have a wide range of Lead Practitioners participating in the Meitheal practice model.
• To assist the Senior CFSN Co-ordinator 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 CFSN Co-ordinator and the Principal for Prevention, Partnership and Family Support to operate an information and quality assurance system in relation to the Meitheal Practice Model.  
• To support the Principal 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 Principal 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 Persons Services Committee.     
• To support the Principal 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.  
• Under the supervision of Senior CFSN Co-ordinator, to work closely and liaise with the Duty Social Workers to ensure that the Prevention, Partnership and Family support Programme of work is integrated with Social Work Services and the overall Service Delivery Framework.
• To participate in front line service delivery including delivering family support services and taking on the role of Lead Practitioner in the Meitheal Model.

Team Working

• Work as part of a team with a mixed programme of work and moving with ease between concurrent projects.

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. 
• 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:

• Be currently employed by Tusla – Child and Family Agency, the HSE or within other statutory health agencies, or a body which provides services on behalf of the HSE under Section 38/39 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 and have the following:

• A relevant degree in community work, family support, social care, social work, education or other relevant discipline. 

•  2 years experience of working in the area of direct child and family support service provision including a proven track record of working with 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 in the delivery of training and the facilitation of groups.

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.