Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Officer

Purpose of Role Under Section 14 of the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000, children who are educated outside of recognised schools must be provided with a certain minimum education as outlined in the ‘Guidelines on the Assessment of Education in Places Other Than Recognised Schools’ issued by the Minister for Education and Science (DES) (2003) The Assessment and Registration Officer will have primary responsibility for conducting assessments and making recommendations to Tusla, Child & Family Agency in relation to education provided for children at home or in Independent Schools, including education provision for children with special educational needs

Reporting Relationship The Assessment and Registration Officer will carry out his/her duties in accordance with best practice and under the direction of the relevant Alternative Education Assessment and Registration Manager

Duties and Responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities: • Conduct assessments of education provision under Section 14 of the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 in accordance with Tulsa policies and guidelines and agreed service plans and work programmers • Arrange professionals’ meetings, if required, to inform decision making • Prepare clear and concise draft and final assessmentreports • Discuss assessment findings with parent(s)/ guardian(s) / school • Attend Alternative Education Registration Panel as required • Attend team meetings and training as required • Maintain and review files in line with organisational standard operating procedures. • Assist manager in the programme of service improvement of the Alternative Education and Assessment services. • Assist in the development of service protocols, policies and guidelines • Develop relationships and engage with key stakeholders • Assist the management team to identify trends and issues in the sector • Contribute to the development of research and information strategies • Ensure reports are prepared accurately and on a timely basis. • Ensure compliance with all related HR policies, procedures and guidelines. • Ensure the practice is in line with current legislation, policies and procedures, guidelines, protocols and standardised operation procedures. • Ensure compliance with a high standard of documentation in line with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. • Avail of appropriate supervision/case management support to ensure continued best practice.

Education & Training • Maintain standards of practice and levels of professional knowledge by participating in continuous professional development initiatives and attendance at courses as appropriate. • Engage in career and professional development planning.

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.

Eligibility Criteria

Qualifications and / or Experience Applicants must by the closing date of application have the following: • Quality and Qualifications Ireland Level 8 (or higher) major academic award in teaching and / or Level 9 (or higher) major academic award in educational psychology. • 3 years’ relevant experience working with children in an education setting. • Requisite knowledge and 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. Skills, competencies and/or knowledge Tusla Leadership Competency Framework The Tusla Leadership Competency Framework describes the behaviors that are key to Tusla colleagues being effective in the execution of their role at all levels within the Agency. The competencies and associated behavioral descriptors, capture the transversal knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics that will enable colleagues, regardless of role or rank, to be effective in their work. The Tusla Leader Framework relevant for this role is Leading Others Please access this Leading Others link to fully familiarise yourself with the impact of this Leading Others proficiency for Tusla. The Competency of Professional Knowledge is specifically linked to the duties, responsibilities and criteria for this role.

Other requirements of the role • The post holder will require a current driving licence and access to appropriate transport as the post will involve travel. • Have awareness of children and young people’s participatory practice Application Process Campaign Specific Selection Process Shortlisting / Interview The online application system has a time out facility, this is in order to protect the privacy of the user. This time out facility activates if the application has been ‘dormant’ for over 60 minutes. Any work not saved will be lost if the system times out due to lack of activity. As such please ensure to save your application as you work on it, any lost data cannot be recovered. It might be an idea for candidates to work on their applications outside of the system and copy and paste their answers into the online application forms once they are fully complete and submit then. Once your application is fully submitted you will receive a confirmation email to your profile. If you do not receive this email, your application HAS NOT been submitted and received and you should log back on to submit fully. Short listing may be carried out on the basis of information supplied in your application. The criteria for short listing are based on the requirements of the post as outlined in the eligibility criteria and skills, competencies and/or knowledge section of this job specification. Therefore, it is very important that you think about your experience in light of those requirements. Failure to include information regarding these requirements may result in you not being called forward to the next stage of the selection process. Those successful at the shortlisting stage of this process (where applied) will be called forward to interview. Code of Practice The Recruitment Service Child and Family Agency will run this campaign in compliance with the Code of Practice prepared by the Commission for Public Service Appointments (CPSA). The Code of Practice sets out how the core principles of probity, merit, equity and fairness might 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 Tenure The current vacancies available are permanent and whole time.

The posts are pensionable. A panel may be created from which permanent and specified purpose vacancies of full or part time duration will be filled. The tenure of these posts will be indicated at “expression of interest” stage for each individual post. The purpose of this campaign is to fill immediate urgent vacancies and it is expected that panel placements will cease if expressions are not received within the appropriate processes. Appointment as an employee of the Child & Family Agency is governed by the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013 and the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004.

Remuneration

The Salary scale for the whole time equivalent of this post is: 01/06/2024: €44,863- €47,01 - €49,240- €51,470- €53,755- €56,112- €58,460- €60,268- €62,080- €62,615- €63,148- €65,682- €68,215- €69,540 LSI LSIs (Long Service Increments) are represented by emboldened figures. 1st LSI is paid after 3 years on the max, the 2nd LSI after 3 years on LSI1, and the 3rd LSI after 3 years on the 2nd LSI (where applicable). The appointee shall commence on the first point of the salary scale. Incremental credit may be given on appointment for certain types of relevant experience- more information available in Appendix 5. Candidates should note that entry will be at the minimum point of the scale and will not be subject to negotiation, and the rate of remuneration may be adjusted from time to time in line with Government pay policy. Different terms and conditions may apply if the appointee is a currently serving civil or public servant. Working Week

The standard working week applying to the whole time equivalent of this post is: 35 hours. Annual Leave

The annual leave associated with the whole time equivalent of this post is 27 days per annum. Superannuation 1.

This is a pensionable position with Tusla. The successful candidate will upon appointment become a member of the appropriate pension scheme. Pension scheme membership will be notified within the contract of employment. Probation 2. A probation period of 39 weeks, or proportion of same for fixed term /specified purpose contracts, where applicable shall apply from the commencement of employment, during which the contract may be terminated by either party in accordance with this contract. The probationary period may be extended at the discretion of management by a further 9 weeks or proportion of same for fixed term/specified purpose contracts, where applicable. Confirmation of appointment as a permanent member of staff is subject to the successful completion of the probationary period, for permanent contracts. Where you have already completed a probationary period with the Child and Family Agency, Health Service Executive, Local Authority, and there is no break in service, no period of probation applies. Responsibilities under Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017) The safety and welfare of children and young people is a key priority for Tusla – Child and Family Agency. All employees of Tusla are required to be vigilant to any concerns regarding the protection and welfare of children and to bring them to the attention of the Tusla Designated Person in a timely manner, in keeping with the Tusla – Child and Family Agency Child Protection policies. National Standards for Children and Family Services Employees must have a working knowledge of HIQA Standards (https://www.hiqa.ie/areas-we-work/childrens-services) and / or the Adoption Authority of Ireland Standards as they apply to the role.