Job Description
Location This post will be based out of the Children’s Residential Services, Dublin North East (CRS DNE) Office in Ballymun, attendance at the NIAPP Dublin office will also be required. The successful candidate must be able to travel to multiple locations of residential services in the DNE region. Other Details Salary: See Description for Details Closing Date: 14/10/2024 12:00 PM Recruitment Start: 26/09/2024 Type: Permanent 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 €1.02Bn 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) Counselling and Therapeutic Supports Further information is available on www.tusla.ie Scope and Purpose of the Post Deliver, develop and manage the delivery of a psychology service as part of a multi-disciplinary team in line with Tusla policies and within established professional standards, guidelines and policy. The post is split across two roles and will be held by one person. (0.5 WTE) The Senior Psychologist will hold a key role in the multi-disciplinary development of a new community-based residential service for young people with a history of harmful sexual behaviour. (0.5 WTE) The Senior Psychologist appointed to this post will be assigned to work with the residential services within CRS Dublin North East, reporting to the Regional Manager CRS DNE. Job Objectives Professional / Clinical Support the development of an integrated specialist harmful sexual behaviour residential unit. Deliver training, workshops, and other inputs to staff re working with this population, trauma informed care, and treatment modules which residential staff will provide under NIAPP’s guidance. Work in conjunction with the National Interagency Prevention Program (NIAPP) DNE team. Conduct assessments of Harmful Sexual behaviour in line with TUSLA NIAPP practice guidelines. Deliver group and individual therapeutic interventions for Harmful Sexual Behaviour in line with TUSLA NIAPP Practice Guidelines. Work as part of the CRS psychology service nationally and build on the overview developed over the past two years. Deliver the CRS psychology service in line with best practice as set out in the Welltree model of care, with a focus on trauma informed care, the management of risk and the promotion of wellbeing. Be responsible for the delivery of professional psychology assessment, intervention and consultation appropriate to the post in line with best practice when working with Tusla’s other Residential Services. Liaise with the Social Care Managers and staff of the DNE residential centres around the promotion of effective residential care delivery. Facilitation of trauma-informed and evidence-based social care practice within the residential centres through educational and reflective inputs to the social care teams and engagement through other fora, as required. Carry a clinical caseload appropriate to the post. Provide psychological assessments for the client group based upon the appropriate use, interpretation and integration of data from a variety of sources including psychological tests, self-report measures, direct and indirect observation and interviews with clients, family members and/or carers and the wider professional system. Formulate and implement treatment plans for psychological therapeutic intervention or management in consultation with the MDT team based on an appropriate conceptual framework, working in home and clinical settings as appropriate. Provide clinical supervision to other Psychology/Psychotherapy staff members if necessary. Exercise professional responsibility for the assessment, treatment, monitoring, follow-up and discharge of clients whose problems are managed using psychologically based care plans. Contribute a psychological perspective to case planning and multi-agency case working and review and call multi-professional meetings when appropriate. Provide professional reports as required in accordance with professional standards. Communicate effectively and work in co-operation with team members and others to ensure integrated service provision. Ensure co-ordinated interdisciplinary and inter-agency service delivery, to include developing and maintaining close liaison with TUSLA service users’ Social Work teams and other key stakeholders. Participate in meetings, committees and/or conferences as required. Work within limits of professional competence in line with principles of best practice, professional conduct and clinical governance. Represent and advocate for the psychological needs of service users. Work in and promote an ethical and professional manner at all times. Be aware of and refer the service user to other services as necessary. Initiate and participate in needs assessment and health promotion as appropriate. Promote a culture that values equality, diversity and respect in the workplace. Operate to the highest ethical standards. Research & Evaluation Utilise evidence-based literature and research to support effective practice. Undertake project management including audit and service evaluation with colleagues within the service to help develop service provision. Participate in evaluation of all clinical activity within the post and provide such information as required by the Service Manager for the purpose of service monitoring and evaluation. Conduct, encourage and support service-related research and provide research advice as appropriate. Publish research outcomes in professionally recognised journals and share information on outcomes at professional conferences where appropriate. Represent a professional viewpoint in relation to nationally accepted good practice and to ensure a high level of ethical standards and professional conduct. Lead and contribute to developments and innovative practice. Management Provide line management supervision to assigned staff as required. Manage and co-ordinate service delivery in their area of responsibility. Assign duties and responsibilities as appropriate to ensure effective service delivery. Ensure the maintenance of appropriate service user records and statistics in accordance with Tusla requirements and local guidelines, Freedom of Information Acts, Data Protection Acts and other relevant legislation. Act as a person mandated under Schedule 2 of the Children First Act 2015. Provide service reports / data as required. Contribute to the development and implementation of information sharing protocols, audit systems, referral pathways and integrated care arrangements. Contribute to policy development, performance monitoring, business / service planning and budgetary control in conjunction with the Service Manager and relevant others. Keep abreast of developments in national policies and strategies and international best practice. Maintain an awareness of HR policies and procedures / engage in recruitment processes and other HR functions as required. Assist in ensuring that the psychological service makes the most efficient and effective use of developments in IT. Maintain professional standards with regard to service user and data confidentiality. Keep up to date with organisational developments within Tusla. Have a strong working knowledge of current legislation, policies and procedures pertaining to working with children and their families. Support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient clinical service. Health & Safety Comply with and contribute to the development of policies, procedures and safe professional practice and adhere to relevant legislation, regulations and standards and ensure their staff compliance. Have a working knowledge of HIQA or Mental Health Commission Standards as they apply to the role. The above Job Specification 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 the Principal Psychologist/Service Lead from time to time and to contribute to the development of the post while in office. Please refer to the Candidate Information pack attached to this campaign for full and further detail. Skills Requirement Applicants must by the closing date of application have the following: A recognised University QQI Level 8 degree (or equivalent) obtained with first or second class honours in which psychology was taken as a major subject and honours obtained in that subject. A recognised postgraduate professional psychological qualification in Clinical, Counselling or Educational Psychology, as appropriate to the area of professional psychology in which the position is designated and accredited by the Psychological Society of Ireland. Qualification(s) from another jurisdiction confirmed by the Department of Health to be equivalent to the above. Have at least five years satisfactory post graduate clinical experience, inclusive of anytime spent in pursuing a course leading to the postgraduate qualification and including at least two years full-time satisfactory experience as a staff grade psychologist (or at a more senior grade with a psychologist title) in the area of professional psychology in which the position is designated. Possess 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr