KCYS Family Support Project provides a countywide intensive family support service prioritising high-risk, high-end welfare cases. These include children listed on the Child Protection Notification System (CPNS), open child protection cases allocated to a Social Worker and children in care requiring intensive support for placement stability. This project is funded by Tusla and works with Tusla referrals only.

The post holder is an exceptional individual who strives to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young people and their families. They promote a culture of integrity and compliance within KCYS and work in alignment with our mission, vision and values: Young Person Centred, Rights-Based, Empowering, Inclusive, Respectful, and Non-Judgemental.

Job Summary

To provide strategic leadership and operational management of  KCYS Family Support Project, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, child-centred, trauma-informed and evidence-based services to families experiencing complex challenges.  The Co-ordinator will ensure all work is compliant with statutory, policy and practice guidelines and is aligned with KCYS’ mission, values, and standards of excellence.

Key Duties & Areas of Responsibility include:

Operational Responsibilities:

• Oversee day-to-day operations of the service, while leading and managing the transition of the project from its previous focus to the new intensive family support delivery model.
• Balancing business continuity with change management through clear communication with stakeholders.
• Support and guide workforce alignment with updated function and funding requirements.
• Ensure effective delegation of cases based on staff skillset and project caseload.
• Oversee system to prioritise referred children and families informed by level of need. 
• Monitor service delivery timelines, ensuring timely intake, assessment, intervention planning and delivery of intensive support programmes to families in line with agreed protocols.
• Manage and coordinate work programmes across multiple settings, including the KCYS centre and family homes, to meet the varied needs of children and families 
• Oversee the systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of project data to inform regular reporting, monitor outcomes and guide future service developments and continuous improvement.
• Ensure high-quality recording and reporting practices, in line with GDPR and organisational data protection policies.
• Promote and support staff wellbeing and resilience within the team, recognising the challenges of working with high-risk cases.
• Promote and embed youth participation within service planning and delivery, ensuring young people and children are supported to express their views and influence decisions that affect them.

Strategic Planning & Leadership

• Participate in and contribute to the Senior Management Team and relevant working groups established to deliver strategic goals.
• Collaborate with the CEO and senior management team to develop and implement strategic initiatives aligned with the organisation’s goals and objectives.
• Identify opportunities for growth, innovation, and operational improvement across the organisation.

People Management

• Lead, support and supervise a multidisciplinary team, fostering a high-performing, trauma-informed and values-led culture. 
• Performance management, identifying training and capacity building requirements, etc. day to day line management responsibilities will be a feature of the work. 
• Ensure that professional standards are set, maintained and monitored in all areas of practice and service delivery.
• Establish performance metrics and objectives for team members, conducting regular performance reviews and providing constructive feedback.
• Partner with HR to assess staffing needs and develop workforce plans.

Budget & Resource Management

• Manage the financial resources guided by KCYS Finance Department and ensuring effective use of resources.
• Identify and pursue funding opportunities to enhance and expand service development.

Stakeholder Engagement & Interagency Work

• Build and maintain strong collaborative relationships with TUSLA and other statutory agencies, schools, community groups and families, as relevant.
• Represent KCYS at relevant interagency forums, reviews, and strategic planning processes.
• Attend relevant network meetings, child protection conferences (CPCs) and court as required, ensuring staff support and professional contribution.

Compliance & Quality Assurance

• Ensure ongoing compliance with organisational policies and practices, Financial, Safeguarding, GDPR, Health and Safety and ethical practice in all aspects of the role. 
• Support internal planning and reporting processes.
• Ensure that all departmental activities comply with relevant funding agreements and are aligned to KCYS purpose, values and strategy.

Reporting and Communication

• Prepare and present comprehensive and timely reports, updates and recommendations to the CEO, Board of Management and other stakeholders.
• Facilitate effective communication within the department and across the organisation.
• Lead role in fulfilling the requirements of a Service Level Agreement. 
• Oversee preparation of professional reports for Tusla processes such as CPCs and support team to contribute to  court  proceedings as required.
• Maintain effective internal communication and documentation practices.

Professional Development

• Undertake CPD and capacity building as appropriate.
• Identify training needs through supervision and participate in training opportunities appropriate to the role.
• Encourage a culture of continuous learning and reflective practice among team members.

Other 

• Prepare for and attend individual supervision on a regular basis.
• Support organisational events, fundraising, research, and other cross-organisational initiatives as required.
• Perform other duties that may be reasonably assigned from time to time.

Requirements:

Qualifications and Experience

• A relevant degree in youth work, community work, family support, social care, social work, education, or other relevant discipline. 
• Minimum 5 years relevant work experience, preferably in a leadership role.
• Experience in managing a commissioned service.
• Knowledge and experience of  family support programme management and evaluation. 
• Experience working with child protection systems and legislation in Ireland.
• Working knowledge of child development, family systems, relevant legislation and policy, assessment procedures and interventions available to children and families.
• Experience in liaising with multidisciplinary teams to ensure effective service to all service users.
• Familiarity with Outcomes Stars or other applicable outcomes measurement is highly desirable. 
• Experience in people management.
• Fluency in English, both written and verbal.
• Full, clean drivers licence with access to a car is essential.
• Eligible to work in Ireland.

Contract

• Specified Purpose Contract linked to career break, minimum 18 months, subject to funding.
• Hours of work are 35 hours per week.
• Salary range €46,496 - €58,922, commensurate with experience, payable monthly.
• 26 days Annual Leave per annum.
• 28 days paid sick leave in a 12 month period pro rata, upon successful completion of probation.
• This post will involve travel, KCYS Travel Expenses will apply.
• The nature of this post requires the holder is flexible in working hours to cover the operational times of the service and the centre. This will involve frequent evening and weekend work, at times when young people, children and families are available.
• Employment with KCYS is subject to a satisfactory response from the Garda Vetting Unit being received in relation to any candidate under consideration and satisfactory reference checks being received.
• This post is subject to a probationary period.

Skills, competencies & attributes

• Excellent organisational, communication, interpersonal and teamwork skills.
• Ability to engage with a diverse range of stakeholders and maintain effective working relationships.
• Demonstrates knowledge of issues and trends affecting children and families in contemporary Ireland, particularly those most at risk. 
• Analytical, decision making and problem solving skills required with the capacity to absorb/organise new information to ensure continuing best practice.
• Proficient at project management including planning, delivering, and evaluating programmes.
• Proficient report writing and technical skills, and experienced computer applications and the use of online communication platforms
• Ability to plan and prioritise work in terms of importance, timescales and other resource constraints, re-prioritising in light of challenging circumstances.
• Ability to think logically, use initiative and work with minimum supervision.
• Ability to work collaboratively with families while maintaining professional boundaries
• Flexible, willing to adapt to new challenges and change, and prepared to work outside normal hours as required.
• Uses resources effectively, challenging processes to improve efficiencies.
• Is self-motivated and shows a desire to continuously perform at a high level.
• Commitment to confidentiality, data protection, and ethical practice.
• Commitment and adherence to KCYS’ mission and values.