Inspector – Children’s Services

Location: Dublin, Cork and Galway

Tenure: Permanent HIQA intends to create a national panel for anticipated vacancies that may arise in the following locations: Cork office, Dublin office or Galway office Successful candidates will be selected in accordance with their panel ranking and geographic location as determined by the operational needs of the organisation.

Blended Working: 0 - 1 days a week in the office and the remainder of the working week spent working from home. Further information can be found below in the Principal Conditions of Service under Blended Working Arrangements.

Role Purpose The purpose of this role within the relevant business unit and for HIQA as a whole: The successful candidate will join the Children’s team within the Regulation Directorate. The children’s team regulates, monitors and inspects the following services:

• special care units,

• statutory and non-statutory foster care services,

• statutory children’s residential centres,

• child protection and welfare services,

• and the children’s detention campus.

The role as advertised will carry out all regulatory activities in accordance with HIQA’s policies, processes and procedures to determine compliance with legislation and national standards, report publicly on findings and respond appropriately when service providers do not meet requirements.

HIQA intends to create a panel for anticipated vacancies that may arise in the Cork, Dublin and Galway Offices.

Behavioural Expectations

The way that HIQA people are expected to work to role model HIQA values: The incumbent of this role is expected to demonstrate HIQA’s values in the delivery of every day work and interactions with clients and colleagues, by putting people first, being fair and objective, being open and accountable, demonstrating excellence and innovation and working together.

Common Tasks

Team Member

• Seek clarity on the tasks associated with own role

• Complete tasks in compliance with policies and procedures

• Adhere to relevant legislation, standards and internal audits

• Fulfil any mandatory or professional competency requirements

• Maintain confidentiality and a professional approach

• Raise any concerns in relation to workplace health and safety

• Actively identify learning needs and development opportunities

• Actively contribute as a team member

• Follow direction and take on new and different tasks

• Set and achieve performance goals that contribute to HIQA strategy

• Regularly seek feedback to meet performance expectations and goals

Role Specific Tasks

The key tasks and activities associated with the role: The nature of the tasks and activities associated with the role will vary accordingly. It will involve:

• Manage and deliver a caseload of regulatory activities across a range of service providers

• Undertake all regulatory activities in accordance with the Authority’s policies, processes and procedures

• Work effectively as part of a team of Inspectors, contributing to and supporting others in achievement of the team’s goals

• Provide support and assistance to colleagues, as appropriate in carrying out regulatory activities

• Participate in the orientation and induction of new members of staff joining the team

• Be responsible for the gathering, analysis and synthesis of the data and information required to make risk-based judgements

• Analyse documentation and other data, conduct interviews, observe practice and be responsible for making outcome-based decisions that are consistent with evidence collected

• Take appropriate action and identify requirements when service providers are non-compliant with regulations and standards

• Be accountable for writing reports that reflect clear and consistent judgements

• Ensure that all monitoring activities are comprehensively documented and meet internal audit requirements and standards

• Take appropriate responsibility, as required, for other elements of the regulatory framework including registration, investigation, enforcement and quality assurance

• Give clear and reliable evidence in court enforcement proceedings taken by HIQA

• Be required to travel for the purpose of assisting and participating in monitoring and inspection activities. This may also include overnight stays having regard to business needs. Due to the nature of this role out of hours work will be required from time to time.

• Additional work that the Regional Manager deems appropriate.

The contents of any role description are not exhaustive and are intended to be indicative of the scope of the role.

Qualifications

The qualifications that are essential to effectively meet the requirements of the role: In determining your eligibility the following are the essential qualifications that will be assessed as part of the shortlisting stage of the selection process.

• Degree qualification (Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications or equivalent) in Social Work, Social Care or relevant healthcare professional, deemed relevant by the Authority for the post of Inspector as advertised or

• Professional qualification in a relevant social care/social work professional discipline and

• Able and authorised to drive and have access to your own transport

The qualifications that are desirable to effectively meet the requirements of the role:

• A relevant qualification at Level 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications, equivalent to a third level Masters degree – for example Health Services Management, Health Sciences, Masters of Social Science (Social Work), Business Management, Quality Management, or equivalent.

Experience The experience that is essential to effectively meet the requirements of the role: In determining your eligibility the following are the essential knowledge and experience that will be assessed as part of the shortlisting stage of the selection process.

• 5 years post qualification experience in a service deemed relevant by the Authority to the role of Inspector of Children’s Services as advertised

Other knowledge and experience that are deemed necessary for the role:

• A strong knowledge of best practice, current developments, emerging issues and legislation in relation to the provision of social work and social care services relevant to the post of Inspector as advertised

• An understanding of appropriate and effective governance arrangements required to ensure a safe, consistent service that promotes and protects the rights of people who use services

• Experience of working within and implementing risk management frameworks

• A knowledge and understanding of monitoring, inspection and regulatory processes

• Experience in report writing and presentation of information in a confident, logical and convincing manner. Excellent report writing, editing, proofreading and formatting skills

• Excellent IT skills including use of MS Office and email

The experience that is desirable to effectively meet the requirements of the role:

• At least three years’ experience working in a supervisory or management position in a social care and or social work service, regulatory, or other setting deemed relevant by the Authority for the post of Inspector of Children’s Services as advertised

• Relevant experience of quality assessment, regulatory compliance, monitoring and inspection, ideally in a regulatory, audit or quality assurance environment

• Experience of carrying out a review(s) and/or an investigation, with associated preparation for and presentation of evidence

• Experience in communicating with and presenting to external stakeholders and relevant agencies

Principal Conditions of Service

Probation A probationary period of six months applies to this position.

Pay Candidates will be appointed on the minimum point of the salary scale (€74,701) and in accordance with the Department of Finance guidelines. The rate of remuneration will not be subject to negotiation.

The incremental progression for this scale is in line with Government pay policy. The salary scale for this position is as follows: Engineer II (PPC) €74,701 €76,408 €78,110 €79,821 €81,527 €81,981 €83,662 €85,408 €88,250¹ €91,100

Entry will be at the first point of the scale. An exception may occur where an appointee has been serving elsewhere in the public service in an analogous grade and pay-scale. In this case the appointment may be assimilated to the nearest point of the advertised salary scale with their incremental date adjusted accordingly. Please note the rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy.

Superannuation Pensionable public servants (new joiners) recruited on or after 1 January 2013 will be members of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme. Please note that the Single Public Service Pension Scheme applies to all pensionable first-time entrants to the public service, as well as to former public servants returning to the public service after a break of more than 26 weeks. In certain circumstances, for example, where the public servant was on secondment or approved leave or remains on the same contract of employment, the 26-week rule does not apply. The legislation giving effect to the Scheme is the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and Other Provisions) Act 2012.

For those who are not subject to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme (e.g. those transferring from other public service employment where the break in service, if any, is less than 26 weeks), the terms of the Health Information and Quality Authority Superannuation Scheme will apply.

Annual Leave Annual leave is 27 days per annum rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service.

Hours of Attendance Hours of attendance will be fixed from time to time but will amount to not less than 35 per week. The appointee may be required to work additional hours from time to time as may be reasonable and necessary for the proper performance of his or her duties subject to the limits set down under working time regulations.

Blended Working Arrangements HIQA has introduced blended working to offer more flexible working arrangements to all employees. We aim to strike a balance between being flexible, efficient, and resilient by facilitating blended working where practical, while enabling onsite interaction, collaboration, and support as required.

All roles in HIQA have been assessed under the criteria of business needs and role suitability for blended working. This determined the proportion of time that employees will spend working in HIQA offices and working from home, depending on their role.

Depending on the role, there may be a requirement to attend the office for more than the allocated number of days for training and on-boarding purposes at the start of your employment and during the probation period.

A review of our blended working model confirmed that this model is working well in HIQA therefore we are now moving from Interim Blended Working to a long term Blended Working Model. Our existing policy and documentation will be revised and updated once the framework for the Work-Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act is published. Our model is in line with the Civil Service Framework for Blended Working in Ireland.

Further guidance on HIQA’s Blended Working Policy, which includes eligibility criteria will be issued to successful candidates. This is an opt-in policy and details on how you can apply will be issued to you before you start.

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