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

- To provide expert professional advice to the CEO, Senior Management Team, the Board, Service Directors, Area Managers and Tusla staff

- To promote a high standard of legal excellence in the Child and Family Agency

- To provide legal advice on any aspects of the functions of the Agency

- Manage and run High Court applications in relation to constitutional and administration challenges with supervision by the Senior Solicitors within the Legal office

- Manage and run Courts applications in relation to data protection matters with supervision by the Senior Solicitors within the Legal office

- Provide advice in the area of Child Care Law and Constitutional and Administrative Law to Tusla staff

- Contribute to the Office Knowledge Management system within the in-house legal office

- Provide Legal Training to staff within Tusla

Leadership and development

- Manage, coordinate and lead junior members of staff within the wider legal team

- Promote a positive work ethic within the team

- To lead, manage, organise and motivate staff to function effectively in a changing environment

Communications and Stakeholder Management

- Demonstrate pro-active commitment to all communications with internal and external stakeholders

- Develop strong working relationship with key stakeholders

Education & Training

- Provide Legal Training to staff within Tusla

- 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 team.

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.

Please refer to the Candidate Information pack attached to this campaign for full and further detail.

Skills requirement:

Applicants must by the closing date of application have the following:

- Have been enrolled as a solicitor or barrister in the state for at least 5 years of the last 7 years.

- Experience in Child Care, Constitutional and Administrative law matters before the High Court and above or equivalent type work before the Higher Courts.

- Experience in Child Care Law and District/Circuit Court Advocacy.

- Have a track record in a legal advisory role with experience of conducting a wide range of substantial cases involving complex issues.

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.

For more details please go to: General Manager - Legal Advisor

Closing date for applications is 16 February 2026 at 12:00 PM.