Grade VIII

Location: The initial vacancy is Nationwide. Tusla has large number of offices nationwide and this role can operate from the nearest Tusla office with available space For Tusla Region/ Areas please look at list of Local Area Services
Other
Salary: See Description for Details
Closing Date: 10/06/2024 12:00 PM Recruitment Start: 16/05/2024
Permanent



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 in excess of €800m and delivers its services through circa 5,000 people in 350 locations across the Country.

The Child and Family Agency has responsibility for the following range of services:

• Child Protection and Welfare
• Family Support
• Alternative Care
• Adoption
• Tusla Education Support Services (TESS)
• Children’s Service Regulation
• Counselling and Therapeutic Supports

Further information is available on www.tusla.ie

About Tusla ICT
Tusla has one of the largest ICT networks in the Public Service with almost 4,500 users in over 300 locations. Tusla ICT have established a team of highly skilled technical and support professionals that are tasked with providing the innovation, systems and support required to assist Tusla in delivering its services and achieving its business and strategic objectives.

The ICT Directorate consists of 6 units:
1.Applications team are responsible for developing innovative applications that support the work of Tusla and assist staff in maximising the use of technology to work efficiently and effectively.
2.Infrastructure team manages the Tusla network, telephone systems, servers, storage and cloud services.
3.Data team are responsible for improving the management of data held by Tusla in a secure, holistic and consistent manner that serves the data and information needs of all Tusla stakeholders.
4.Service Delivery team provides users with the ICT devices, systems and support they require to efficiently perform their role. The Service Delivery unit is responsible for the ICT service desk, change management, incident manager and problem management.
5.Practice and Regional teamwork with social work, social care, family support and educational welfare teams to ensure ICT services and systems are aligned to practice requirements. The regional team are responsible for oversight and supporting the delivery of ICT service across Tusla’s 300 office locations,
6.Business Support are responsible for Strategy Management, Business Relationship Management, Service Portfolio Management, Financial Management, Service Catalogue Management, Risk Management, Information Security Management, Service Continuity Management and Compliance Management.

Job Objectives Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead on all areas of activity in relation to the architecture, design, development, implementation, and support of the Tusla data infrastructure both on premise and in the cloud.
• Support the design of data migration processes from legacy applications to maximise the quality, integrity and availability of relevant data.
• Review the data infrastructure of key applications in Tusla to ensure alignment with appropriate data and security standards; and work with the data and applications teams to mitigate any inconsistencies or gaps.
• Design, architect and implement scalable integration solutions to support systems integration and BI and analytics requirements.
• Hands on management of the Tusla data infrastructure to ensure overall health and performance of the data environment, including monitoring the performance, reliability, availability, and recoverability of the environment.
• Assist in the evaluation, selection, testing, and optimization of data related hardware and software products.
• Production of documentation and architectural diagrams supporting design of infrastructure.
• Lead on the implementation of security standards for the management of databases and connectivity between data assets.
• Development of processes, procedures and guidance documentation to ensure the security, availability and quality of data held by Tusla
• Keeping abreast of latest developments in Azure cloud services to ensure the team are maximising the latest innovation and best practice.
• Strong problem-solving abilities – the ability to analyse a technical problem and select the most appropriate solutions.
• Support the ICT Data Manager in embedding a culture of continuous improvement in the Data Team by driving improvements to work processes, procedures, tools and techniques.

Managing & Delivering Results (Operational Excellence)

• Ensure that policies and procedures are aligned with best practice, are well documented and communicated to others.
• Ensure that assigned projects are managed in line with stated objectives and within specified budget and timelines.
• Implement agreed changes in a co-operative and supportive manner, finding innovative ways to deliver service improvements within resource limitations.
• Develop appropriate project methodologies and establish working practices that promote cross-functional team working.
• Work with other Directorates and Tusla Senior Managers in the implementation and roll-out of new developments, with a particular emphasis on consistency and alignment across the system and reference to best practice, outcome measures and value for money.

Teamwork, Leadership & Building and Maintaining Relations

• Share information with the wider team as appropriate.
• Be accountable for own work and that of others as appropriate.
• Work on own initiative as well as part of a wider team.
• Co-operate and work in harmony with other teams and disciplines.
• Lead by example, motivate and encourage others, build team commitment.
• Deal with under performance in a timely and constructive manner.

Finance & Human Resources

• Monitor budgets and expenditure.
• Develop and support business cases for new resources etc.
• Support HR processes within the directorate.

Commitment to providing a quality service

• Be flexible and adaptable in his / her approach to work, embrace change and adapt work practices accordingly.
• Promote and maintain a quality customer-focused environment.
• Monitor efficiency within own area of responsibility and take remedial action or notify supervisor as appropriate.
• Continuously seek to improve systems / processes.

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.
• Oversee the provision of a framework for the promotion of staff development and training by making recommendations with regard to the ongoing education, mentoring, training and in-service needs of the inspection and monitoring team.
• Pursue continuous professional development in order to develop professional knowledge and keep updated with current and relevant HR legislation.
• Provide training with the team and region to share knowledge of relevant HR Procedures/ Processes.

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:

• Have a third level qualification in Computer Science or a related discipline.
• Have a Microsoft Azure cloud architecture certification.
• Have a minimum of 5 years’ experience working in a Database management, administration or architecture role.
• Have a minimum of 2 years’ experience working on data solutions in MS Azure.
• Have the requisite knowledge and ability (including a high standard of suitability and management 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.