General Manager - Separated Children Seeking International Protection

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 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

The team for Separated Children Seeking International Protection has the responsibility for providing a service to children and young people who are newly arrived in Ireland seeking international protection and who are separated from their parents or their guardian. The team provides valuable support to these most vulnerable children/young people from various countries who come to Ireland for safety, refuge, and better quality of life and as applicants for International Protection. The aim is to assist the young people in achieving their full potential through education and integration, to participate fully in Irish life and make a meaningful contribution to Irish Society through self-sufficiency and independence. To be supported with reunification where immediate family members join them in Ireland, escaping persecution, war and marginalisation in their country of origin. The service is multifaceted with operational responsibility for Intake, Duty and Initial Assessment of children and young people notified to Tusla by the IPO under the International Protection Act (IPA) 2015; for the intake eligibility assessment of such referred young people to determine their eligibility for service under the Child Care Act, for the placement of the young person. The service also manages teams for Children in Care and beneficiaries of temporary protection fleeing war in Ukraine and Subject to Placements under Section 5 of the 1991 Child Care Act; the provision of alternative care placements to Unaccompanied minors in Foster Care, Residential Care, Supported Lodgings and After Care Services. The team is expanding and involved in extensive service review and development. It is a multicultural team with a strong team ethos committed to meeting the needs of all service users.

The General Manager for Regional Services has responsibility within the region for:

• Oversight of Third-Party Providers
• Commissioning
• Procurement
• Data Management, Data Protection and FOI
• Facilities Management
• Implementation of findings from Internal Audit.

Job Objectives

Main Duties and Responsibilities

The specific duties of the role include, but are not limited to:

• Regional responsibility for Commissioning, Procurement, Data Management, Data Protection and FOI and Facilities while maintaining relevant relationships nationally to ensure consistency of processes and performance.
• Lead on the implementation of a the Tusla Regional Operating Model for governance and oversight of third-party providers (private, commissioned, procured) in the Region. This will involve aligning third-party services with Tusla's strategic goals and commissioning services through relationship management to meet the evolving needs of children and families, ensuring effective partnership and service delivery.
• As part of the Regional Management Team, ensure appropriate governance structures and systems are in place across the Region to ensure all staff work in accordance with and are supported to fulfil their roles and responsibilities in relation to governance and oversight.
• Ensure high standards in all aspects of practice and services delivered to children and families in commissioned, procured and contracted services.
• Ensure compliance with GDPR/FOI/Health and Safety legislation in the Region.
• Ensure compliance with Internal Audit and lead on implementation of all findings and recommendations resulting from Internal Audit and monitoring of same.
• Develop and implement effective action plans to address areas for improvement.
• Develop and maintain an understanding of key legislation related to Tusla and its implications for the governance, compliance and operational activities of the organisation.
• Identify new and emerging strategies to increase efficiency, improve access and promote better outcomes for children, families and communities.
• Manage a risk register, with horizon scanning of the risk environment, and the development of appropriate mitigation measures and communication/escalation as appropriate.
• Promote adherence to national standards, financial regulations, legal and statutory obligations.
• Support compliance with Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the service, and staff fulfil their roles and responsibilities in implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role and are supported to do so.
• Ensure that the local regional and national data and trend analysis is used to help inform decision making and the effective use of resources
• In line with Tusla’s values of Kindness, Respect, Empowerment and Trust, support the staff to promote a culture of openness, integrity, and accountability across all regional services.
• Other duties as delegated by the Regional Chief Officer 

Managing & Delivering Results (Operational Excellence)

• Support the Regional Chief Officer in ensuring robust systems of governance and oversight are in place in relation to commissioned, procured or contracted services.
• GM will have oversight of Facilities and will ensure agreed national systems are put in place within the regions to ensure Facilities management activity is streamlined and cost effective.
• Support the Regional Chief Officer in achieving compliance with GDPR, FOI and Health and Safety legislation
• Manage the operational functions of the team and resources (human and financial) assigned, to ensure strong performance, and service delivery in line with national 
• policies and procedures.
• Ensure quality assurance processes are in place that support the delivery and implementation of effective regional services.
• Ensure integrated approach to data management to inform decision making and manage performance. 
• Provide service delivery and planning reports on the region as required, contribute to the business plans and annual reports.
• Ensure the implementation of current and evolving legislation, policies and procedures, guidelines, protocols, and standard operating procedures.

Teamwork, Leadership & Building and Maintaining Relations

• Lead, motivate and support staff by creating a positive work environment focusing on high quality results, continuous improvement, participation and creative thinking.
• Responsible for the overall management and operational performance of staff on team, in line with standard operating procedures, HR policies, good professional practice and subject to agreed directives and priorities.
• Effectively manage resource requirements and ensure requisite resources are in place to meet operational needs, balancing change with continuity.
• Effective in managing projects or change programmes, with an in-depth understanding of all stages of the project lifecycle.
• Contribute to the development of policies, procedures, and guidelines in relation to the function, consulting with staff as appropriate.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and staff across Tusla directorates and externally with our stakeholders.
• Deal with under performance in a timely and constructive manner.
• Lead by example to build a positive culture where staff are motivated and respected.
• Any other duties that may be assigned to by the Regional Chief Officer.

Critical Analysis & Decision Making

• Make timely evidence-based decisions and anticipates problems and considers the impact of decisions before taking action.
• Support the gathering, analysis, quality assurance and reporting of data and information to support risk- based decision making and judgements through dashboards and bespoke reports.
• Rapidly prepare, assimilate, and analyse complex information and be able to present it in a way that is understandable.
• Responsive to urgent issues in a timely manner.
• Provide effective direction on issues escalated from staff.
• Recognise when to involve other parties (at the appropriate time and level).

Communication and Interpersonal Skills

• Actively liaises with individuals and groups internally and externally.
• Is committed to building a professional network.
• Is committed to working co-operatively with and influencing others.
• Effective communication skills – written and verbal.
• Engaging effectively with a range of audiences, to manage a broad cross section of internal stakeholders and competing demands.
• Report writing and production of information for public dissemination.

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 3rd level qualification relevant to the delivery of this role.

And

• Have at least 3 years’ senior management and leadership experience.

• Have experience in the area of Child and Family Services as relevant to the requirements of the role

• Have experience of delivering change in a complex environment which has involved working collaboratively with multiple internal and external stakeholders.

• 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.

Attachment(s) :

General Manager Separated Children Seeking International Protection Candidate Information Pack incl T&Cs 2025.pdf