Practice Development and Enforcement Officer, Alternative Care Inspection and Monitoring Service

Job Summary

The Child and Family Agency was established on 1 st 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

Job Objectives

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Liaise with other internal and external agencies during the development of
• Research and Development projects, including scheduling of meetings, recording of outcomes and ensuring effective oversight of research and development projects/data.
• Monitor the research and development environment relevant to the Alternative Care Inspection and Monitoring Service through the review of key external information bodies and publications on an ongoing basis
• Provide information and analysis on current trends, and new information, in relevant areas to support the Alternative Care Inspection and Monitoring Service as appropriate.
• Assist in the identification, interpretation, organisation, execution and co-ordination of best practice and development projects within the Alternative Care Inspection and Monitoring Service.
• Assist the Dep Head of Enforcement in the development of Sop's, practice guidance, as required.
• Take National Lead for the operation and case management of CSR's National Registration & Enforcement Panel.
• Assist the Dep Head of Enforcement in the development and implementation of ACIMS Risk Informed Inspection Model.
• Management and actioning of enforcement activity in line with established process.
• Assist the Dep Head of Enforcement to carry out reviews on service delivery across the inspectorate if required
• Quality and Safety Management System
• Support the implementation of the Tusla Quality and Safety Management system within the Alternative Care Inspection and Monitoring Service.
• Assist in the development & implementation of Inspectorate business processes,
• policies and procedures.
• Complete specific audit activities as identified in accordance with the applicable procedure.
• Formulate Key Performance Indicator reports.
• Conduct analysis to identify trends in complaints, incidents, staff turnover and other areas of operations.
• Support the Document Control management system.
• Professional Knowledge
• Knowledge of the Legislation and policies that pertain to the Alternative care Regulation and enforcement.
• Knowledge of research carried out in the sector and its relevance to the sector.
• Education & Training
• Contribution to the creation of best practices through the identification of service improvement opportunities.
• Proactively engage in performance development reviews.
• Demonstrate a positive approach to change and keep up to date with developments in the sector.
• Ability to contribute to the development of internal processes and procedures.
• Provide training and education to staff within the Inspectorate.
• Communication and Interpersonal Skills
• Excellent verbal communication skills.
• An effective communication style appropriate to the audience and situation
• Self-motivated with the ability to cope well under pressure and prioritize several initiatives with tight deadlines.
• Demonstrate strong computer skills in Word, Outlook, SPSS and other relevant packages for data analysis.
• Ability to present information to a high standard in an easily understandable and accessible format.
• Ability to produce reports in accordance with prescribed templates and within set timescales.
• Analytical Skills
• Ability to evaluate information for relevance and applicability.
• Ability to compile and analyse data and present it in a clear and legible format to inform the service.
• Demonstrable high degree of analytical skills is essential.
• Excellent research skills & attention to detail
• Calculation of results and reporting of data, including trend analysis as required.
• 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:

• Third Level Qualification in a relevant field or in Social Work, Social Care, Psychology, Nursing or Teaching
• Experience in regulation and or quality assurance systems.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting quantitative and/or qualitative research.
• Demonstrated experience in report writing
• 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.

be applied on a principle basis. The Code also specifies the responsibilities placed on candidates, facilities for feedback to applicants on matters relating to their application when requested, and outlines procedures in relation to requests for a review of the recruitment and selection process and review in relation to allegations of a breach of the Code of Practice.

Codes of practice are published by the CPSA and are available on www.cpsa.ie .

Tusla Child and Family Agency is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

Tusla Child and Family Agency recognises its responsibilities under the Data Protection Acts 2003 - 2018 and the Freedom of Information Act 2014