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 www.tusla.ie

Main Duties and Responsibilities
•Establish with the Service Manager agreed objectives for the delivery and performance of the inspectorate.
•Conduct statutory inspections of non- statutory children’s residential centres.
•Prepare written reports of the inspection and monitoring of relevant children’s services, and other regulatory compliance matters as required.
•Collate and prepare data and records on all inspection and regulatory activity.
•Maintain effective reporting, recording and administrative systems to support the inspection process.
•Ensure that prescribed actions identified as necessary by inspection reports are followed through and achieved by the target dates.
•Ensure that all residential Child Care services in the non-statutory sector are registered with Tusla and are fulfilling their obligations under the relevant legislation and national standards frameworks.
•Ensure that Foster Care services in the Non-Statutory Sector are fulfilling their obligations under the relevant national standards.
•Assist the National Manager in the quality assurance and audit of regulatory functions, and in the execution of their service supervision duties.
•Ensure compliance with service key performance indicators, policy and procedures.
•Ensure that effective professional rapport and partnerships with colleagues and other key stake holders are maintained.

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:
•Level 8 Qualifications in Social Work, Social Care, Psychology, Nursing or Teaching
•A minimum of five years relevant experience in childcare services.
•Experience of working with children in a residential, foster care or other relevant alternative care Children’s or social care services.
•Experience of management of staff in a relevant Child Care Context.
•Experience in regulation and or quality assurance systems.
•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.

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.