Mid, Retention Officer

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 http://www.tusla.ie 

Purpose of Role

Tusla’s strategic aim for retaining our workforce is to develop innovative and collaborative ways of working that allow us to make the best use of our talented people and encourage them to stay and build their career in the Agency. We work collectively towards a common purpose, inspiring innovation, creativity, and excellence throughout the Agency.

The Retention Officer will work as part of a support network to monitor employee engagement and retention and implement strategies to support employee engagement and retention. Improve the company’s employer brand within the Agency and work with all leaders to make the Agency a better place to work.

Job Objectives

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Administration

• Point of contact for new entrants, employees transferring and leavers.
• Deliver key information to new applicants and current students to assist them to identify sources of support and guidance.
• Enhance the experience of new entrants over the Welcome/Induction period and offer support.
• Serve as an employee ambassador for staff to ask questions and provide feedback.
• Gather qualitative and quantitative retention data by conducting and analysing employee interviews with new entrants, transferees, and leavers. Report on main emerging themes.
• Contribute to actions, policies, and strategies to enhance employee engagement, retention, and progression.
• Report nationally on all local/regional initiatives and their outcome/impact.
• Support with delivery of student and employee retention and engagement initiatives.
• Coordinate and deliver the Transition Programme.
• Coordinate Regional campaigns around retention and engagement strategies.
• Work collaboratively across the Region/Agency on all relative Retention Initiatives.
• Build employee networks, tasks forces and committees at local levels.
• Assist implementing recognition and appreciation programs across the Region.
• Undertake all duties assigned in line with relative policy, procedure and legislation.

Education and Training

• To maintain continuous personal development and participate in team-based development, education, training and learning.
• To complete all mandatory training.
• To participate in performance evaluation / review, identifying areas for improvement and appropriate plans / measures to achieve them.

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:

• Candidates must be in employment within Tusla – Child and Family Agency, the HSE or within other statutory health agencies, or a body which provides services on behalf of the HSE under Section 38/39 of the Health Act 2004 or within a body that provides services on behalf of Tusla under Section 56 or Section 59 of the Child and Family Act 2013.

And

• Have at least two years’ administrative related to the role.

And

• Possess sufficient administrative capacity to discharge the functions of the grade/post.

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):

Grade VI Retention Officer Candidate Information Pack June 2025.pdf