Independent Review & Conference Officer

Schools’ Choice; Northampton; Hybrid; GBP 99,187,000 - 112,963,000; Full time

Job summary

Northamptonshire Children's Trust seeks an experienced Independent Review & Conference Officer to chair Child Protection Conferences and provide independent oversight of safeguarding planning. You will ensure children's voices and welfare stay central in decision-making and drive improvements by challenging practice when needed.

Working with social workers, managers and partner agencies, you will monitor performance, report concerns, and escalate issues to senior leaders to secure positive

Qualifications

• Qualified and registered Social Worker with Social Work England registration.
• Significant post-qualification experience in Children's Social Care, ideally at Team Manager/Practice Manager level.
• Strong knowledge of child protection legislation, policy and safeguarding frameworks.

Responsibilities

• Chair Initial and Review Child Protection Conferences.
• Provide independent oversight and quality assurance of child protection planning.
• Ensure children's views and welfare remain central to planning and decision-making.

Skills

Chair meetings

Analytical reporting

Independent oversight

Stakeholder engagement

Safeguarding knowledge

Education

Social Worker - SWE registration

Job description

About the Role

Opus People Solutions on behalf of Northampton Childrens Trust are seeking an experienced Independent Review & Conference Officer to join their team.

The role focuses on providing independent oversight and quality assurance of child protection planning, ensuring that the voice, safety and best interests of children remain at the heart of decision-making.

As an Independent Review & Conference Officer, you will chair Child Protection Conferences, provide constructive challenge to practice where required, and monitor the effectiveness of plans to safeguard children. You will be responsible for identifying areas of poor practice, reporting concerns to senior managers, and working collaboratively to drive improvements and achieve positive outcomes for children and families.

Location and Compensation

• Location: Northampton, Kettering & Daventry (for face-to-face meetings)
• Working Pattern: Hybrid - 2 days per week attending meetings in person across Northampton, Kettering and Daventry
• Rate: £40 per hour (Umbrella)
• Hours: 37 hours per week

Key Responsibilities

• Chair Initial and Review Child Protection Conferences.
• Provide independent oversight and quality assurance of child protection planning.
• Ensure that children's views, wishes and welfare remain central to planning and decision-making.
• Monitor the Trust's performance in relation to child protection practice and identify areas for improvement.
• Escalate concerns, challenge practice where necessary, and work with senior leaders to implement remedial actions.
• Develop positive working relationships with social workers, managers and partner agencies to ensure effective multi-agency safeguarding arrangements.
• Analyse performance information and case evidence to ensure robust and effective child protection plans are in place.

About You

• A qualified and registered Social Worker with Social Work England registration.
• An experienced practitioner with significant post-qualification experience within Children's Social Care, ideally at Team Manager, Practice Manager or equivalent level.
• Highly knowledgeable in child protection legislation, policy and statutory guidance, including Working Together to Safeguard Children, the Children Act 1989, and related safeguarding frameworks.
• Skilled in chairing complex meetings, managing professional challenge, and influencing positive outcomes for children.
• An excellent communicator with strong analytical and report-writing abilities.
• Confident in working independently whilst maintaining strong partnerships across agencies.

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. As this role is eligible for an Enhanced DBS check, applicants are required to declare any cautions and convictions that are not protected under current filtering rules.

About Northamptonshire Children's Trust

Northamptonshire Children's Trust was established in November 2020 to deliver Children's Services on behalf of the newly established North and West Northamptonshire Councils. The Trust is wholly owned and funded by the Councils but operates independently, creating unique opportunities to innovate, develop new approaches and deliver excellent outcomes for children and families.

The Trust is committed to creating a culture where high-quality professional practice can flourish, empowering practitioners to work at the forefront of safeguarding and service improvement while making a genuine difference to the lives of vulnerable children and young people.

If you are an experienced safeguarding professional looking for a rewarding opportunity to influence practice, provide independent challenge, and improve outcomes for children across Northamptonshire, we'd love to hear from you.