National Research 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 www.tusla.ie

Tusla’s Quality and Regulation Directorate

Tusla’s Quality and Regulation Directorate is concerned with promoting continuous improvement and effective risk management in services for children and families. The National Research Office is a sub-directorate of the Quality and Regulation Directorate. The National Research Manager reports to the National Director of Quality and Regulation.

Tusla National Research Office

Under the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, Tusla is required to commission or undertake research into matters related to its functions. Tusla’s National Research Office has been established to meet the requirement and seeks to generate new knowledge for the purposes of informing practice development, service improvement and decision making. In addition, the purpose of the National Research Office is to achieve the most effective and efficient arrangements for the development of a research function and the promotion of a research culture across the organisation in support of corporate strategy. The National Research Office has responsibility for managing and coordinating all research activity across Tusla, contributing to the development of Tusla services (including commissioned services) so that they are informed by robust evidence, information, data and policy.

Tusla approved an organisational-wide research strategy in 2023. The Tusla National Research Office leads the implementation of this strategy. Tusla_Research_Strategy_2024-2029.pdf

Tusla Research Strategy 2024-2029

The Driving Innovation and Continued Service Improvement: Tusla Research Strategy 2024-2029 sets out the vision, mission, guiding principles and strategic objectives for research in Tusla.

Vision

Research in Tusla is experienced as a forward looking, exciting, empowering, and collaborative activity, embedded within all practice and business activity, and is seen as essential to improving Tusla services to deliver better outcomes for service users.

Mission

This research strategy seeks to develop and extend the research and information landscape further with an increased focus on Research and Information Coordination, development of a Shared Knowledge culture within Tusla, embedding the principles of Open Research within all research undertaken within the organisation as well as the Commissioning of Research to meet research priorities identified by Tusla.

Strategic Objectives

•Development of a Knowledge Framework: Developing and embedding a Tusla knowledge cycle process.

•Capacity building: Strengthening the research framework around enabling and facilitating and ensuring it is appropriate for the new organisation structure.

•Coordination and Oversight: Developing coordination for all Tusla research through the NRO for oversight, funding, dissemination of results, etc.

•Open Research: Provide a framework for Tusla to respond and actively co-operate with plans described within Impact 2030 to ensure that all Research, Information and Data is openly and immediately disseminated and shared.

•Inclusive Research: Become an essential champion and partner for inclusive research both internally and nationally to ensure that research which embeds the voice of children, young people and their families is integrated into health and social care systems.

The National Research Office provides the following functions:

•Co-ordinating all research activity of Tusla – Child and Family Agency;

•Establishing and maintaining relationships with all those engaged in research activities within Tusla and those within the wider research community including relevant government departments, academic institutions, public and private research departments, and independent researchers.

•Reviewing ethical standards of research proposals that affect Agency personnel, service users and their families through Tusla’s Independent Research Ethics Committee.

•Contributing to Tusla’s learning organisation objectives by strengthening the research capacity and skills of the workforce, through initiatives such as the Research and Information Mentors Strategy.

•Promoting a greater understanding of the relationship between research, information, knowledge, and evidence. Providing guidance and support to all disciplines which use and integrate research in their practice and those undertaking practitioner research and/or academic research.

•Ensuring that Tusla’s research needs are addressed through the commissioning of specific research studies.

•Promoting a strong focus on Public, Patient Involvement (PPI) in research;

•Providing a range of electronic-based information and knowledge resources to Tusla staff and the wider public to strengthen and build research capacity and skills.

•Promoting the use of and access to open access resources and open data, in line with Tusla’s Data Management strategy.

Job Objectives

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Research and Analysis

•Support the research and information structures of the National Research Office such as the Independent Research Ethics Committee, the Research Advisory Group, Research, and Information Mentor network, DCEDIY Research and Evaluation Unit and other government departments, as required.

•Support the implementation of research and information plans of the National Research Office

•Support, develop and lead on research commissioning strategies.

•Identity and develop research policies.

•Contribute to the development, implementation, and review of Tusla’s research and evaluation work programme by promoting the use of best evidence in Tusla services.

•Consult and work in partnership with Tusla staff and stakeholders to develop, design and deliver research projects and activities through to final output to ensure delivery on time, cost and quality.

•Engage with and contribute knowledge and expertise on behalf of the National Research Office at working groups both internally and externally.

•Develop and maintain links with academic institutions and research bodies involved in childcare, educational and related research.

•Provide ongoing communication to academic institutions and research bodies involved in child protection, social care, childcare, educational and related research on developments within Tusla National Research Office and ensure that developments in academia inform learning within the Agency.

•Develop procedures in support of Tusla Research structures such as the Tusla’s Independent Research Ethics Committee (REC) and other relevant structures, as identified.

•Develop procedures for Tusla local research and information structures and support the work plan in allocated areas in collaboration with Tusla’s Research and Information Mentor network.

•Support the public and patient involvement in research through participation in PPI Ignite Network activities and related work packages

•Support the effective operation and development of Tusla’s research advisory structures.

•Be responsible for authoring written reports, ensuring that they accurately reflect the research findings, and using background secondary research to set results in a wider Tusla context.

•Provide specialist research knowledge and information on international best practice in designated national services.

•Support and provide training in person or online on research and related activities with staff.

•Contribute to the dissemination of research findings through the production of evidence summaries, case studies, reports, and briefings.

•Contribute ideas for future activities and suggestions for improvement within the Research Office and across Tusla.

•Maintain effective working relationships and clear communication with project stakeholders (internal and external).

•Represent and promote the National Research Office and Tusla at relevant meetings, networks and conferences.

Administration

•Ensure the efficient administration of area of responsibility.

•Execute assignments in accordance with agreed plans, time budgets and deadlines.

•Effectively discharge the day-to-day operations, including compliance with Tusla Financial regulations and all Tusla policies and procedures.

•Prepare regular reports on the progress of work against the National Research Office operational plan and other reporting structures within the Agency, as required.

•Promote and participate in the implementation of organisational change.

•Participate in and lead project working groups.

•Represent Tusla on committees and working groups as required.

•Contribute to service plans for own area and implement service plan objectives within own area.

•Prepare clear, concise, accurate reports backed up by sufficient reliable documentary evidence.

•Undertake special assignments as directed.

•Maintain own knowledge of relevant procedures, practices and legislation to perform the role effectively and to ensure standards are met.

•Maintain relationships with key stakeholders to gather support for new initiatives.

Human Resources

•Ensure policies and procedures are well documented and understood by staff within your section who are assigned to you.

•Support the preparation and issuing of office documentation (correspondence, reports etc) to the highest possible standard.

•Promote a culture that values diversity and respect in the workplace.

•Assist with leadership and motivation conducive to good staff relations and work performance.

•Where appropriate establish and maintain records of attendance, statistical information, annual returns, and any other information as may be requested.

•Work as part of a team and to ensure that all members are treated with dignity and respect.

•Participate in the recruitment, retention and development of staff including training and continual assessment.

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:

•Possess a relevant third level qualification in relevant field (e.g., psychology, sociology, social work, social care, education, business, economics, law, public health and allied health, librarian, statistician, implementation science) that has included a research component (e.g., research thesis, dissertation, project, research ethics and/or research skills modules).

•Have significant experience of qualitative research methodologies and evaluation methods including social research which have involved large data sets and data analysis.

•Have significant experience of collating evidence and data for best practice via systematic search strategies.

•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.

CLICK THE APPLY BUTTON TO GO TO THEIR CAREERS PAGE WHERE YOU CAN CHECK THIS JOB AND ALL OTHER OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE.