Senior Manager For Prevention Partnership Job In Dublin

Job Description

Location

Dublin South West / Kildare / West Wicklow

Salary

See Description for Details

Closing Date

14/10/2024 12:00 PM

Recruitment Start

26/09/2024

Job Summary

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 €1.02 billion 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)
• Children's Service Regulation
• Counselling and Therapeutic Supports

Further information is available on

Purpose of the role:

As part of the senior management team, to establish and oversee the development of prevention and early intervention type family support services across the continuum of need as part of the National Service Delivery Framework. Ensure that a range of services are available to meet the range of need. To promote the development, welfare and protection of children in need in communities through effective intra- Agency and inter-Agency working.

• The post holder will assist the Area manager with the governance of the Meitheal Model and the development of Child and Family Support Networks.
• Oversee the establishment and implementation of prevention and early intervention type family support services in their catchment area.
• Facilitate Agency services and other relevant children and family services to form locally into unified, cohesive and integrated networks of support entitled Child and Family Support Networks.
• Ensure that there is a continuum of support available to families which will include organisations providing a range of services from universal services to more targeted and intensive services.
• Implement the Development and Mainstreaming Programme for Prevention, Partnership and Family Support, including the Area Based Approach to Meitheal and Networks; Children and Young People's Participation; Parenting Support and Parental Participation; Commissioning; Hidden Harm and Public Awareness. Work with the Children & Young People's Services Committee in this regard and establish the Steering Committee for PP&FS.
• Oversee the establishment and implementation of Meitheal – Tusla's Early Intervention National Practice Model to ensure there is a common approach across all agencies working with children and families to the identification of strengths and needs and to delivering and reviewing supportive interventions towards desired outcomes.
• To generally promote service user involvement and participatory practice with children, young people, parents and carers.

Job Objectives

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Professional / Clinical

• Conduct a local assessment of Child & Family needs and strengths in their area.
• Identify the optimum catchment areas for the development of Child and Family Support Networks (CFSNs) and the number of Co-ordinators required and keep this allocation under continuous review.
• To operate as part of the senior management team to ensure that prevention and early intervention initiatives are integrated with Tusla Social Work Business Processes.
• Develop strong partnership arrangements with agencies funded by the Agency and agencies that also provide services locally to children & families.
• Co-ordinate and in some instances line manage the identified and re-configured CFSN Co-ordinators and support them in their role.
• Contribute as part of the management team to service development and improvement across the continuum of services provided through the National Service Delivery Framework.
• Assist the Area Manager to adopt a new approach to commissioning in line with Tusla National Policies.

Management

• Report and advise on progress with implementation of the area based approach to prevention, partnership and family support.
• Oversee the implementation of appropriate induction and probationary systems with key staff.
• Oversee the implementation of an appropriate performance management system for the delivery of high quality prevention and early intervention type family support services.
• Keep updated on current and impending legislation and the perceived impact on practice.
• Keep abreast of developments in national policies and strategies and international best practice.
• Ensure service delivery corresponds to best national and international practice.
• Ensure services comply with relevant HR and other policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Contribute to the development of policies, procedures and guidelines in relation to the national service delivery framework engaging staff as appropriate.
• Participate in and contribute to service planning and development.
• Formulate and review the Agency service plan and contribute to the overall Agency plan in consultation with other Heads of Service.
• Provide service delivery reports as required e.g. service plan, annual report.
• Ensure that there are appropriate systems in place to gather relevant information.
• Ensure compliance with a high standard of documentation, including service user files in accordance with local guidelines and the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.
• Oversee service user and data confidentiality.
• Collaborate with the Area Manager, Children, Youth and Families or equivalent in developing the role of the Senior Manager for Prevention, Partnership & Family Support and the team e.g. through planning, audit, production of standards, continuing education, quality improvement initiatives and research.
• Collaborate with the Children & Young People's Services Committee and Co-ordinator to advance Tusla's Early intervention and Prevention work.
• Ensure that the Meitheal Early Intervention National Practice Model makes the most efficient and effective use of developments in IT.

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.
• Oversee the provision of a framework for the promotion of staff and Agency development and training by making recommendations with regard to the ongoing education, mentoring and training needs of Agency staff and partners.
• Act as a resource by participating in the education and training of colleagues and other health professionals as required.
• Build and communicate an understanding of the role of the prevention and early intervention services and their integration with Social Work and other 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.

Skills Requirement

Applicants must by the closing date of application have the following:

• 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 at a senior level to include a proven track record of working with children and families who present with complex needs.
• A proven track record of achieving results through community networking and cross sectoral working as relevant to the role.
• Significant experience of leading, motivating and managing multi-disciplinary teams, including the establishment of a positive performance culture that has delivered effective performance and continuous service improvement.
• Ability to analyse complex problems, and able to develop business models to investigate a number of options/solutions and their viability, evaluating risk within a changing environment.
• Have five years relevant post qualification experience.
• The requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability and management 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.