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
Purpose of role:
The policy of Tusla Child and Family Agency is to enable children / young people to live with their own families wherever possible and to support parents where necessary in fulfilling that role. The Social Care Worker will provide care, protection, and support to vulnerable or dependent clients, individually or in groups, in conjunction with the wider multidisciplinary team and other relevant agencies. The primary aim is to provide intervention necessary to address the child / young person's issues or the issues that are preventing them from living at home or in relative / foster care. S/he will ensure the welfare of those under his/her care and will act as an advocate as appropriate.
Social Care Workers in a Residential setting work as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide care to service users. Children / young people may be referred to a residential setting for a number of reasons by the Social Work department e.g. family breakdown / separation, history of neglect, sexual / physical abuse, addiction or mental health issues. Residential care aims to provide a therapeutic care placement to service users who most often present with emotional or behavioural difficulties and cannot live with their own families.