Independent Reviewing Officer

Essex County Council; Chelmsford; Remote; GBP 46,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

Ein innovatives Unternehmen sucht einen engagierten Independent Reviewing Officer, um die Qualität der Pflegeplanung und Überprüfung für Kinder in Pflege zu gewährleisten. In dieser spannenden Rolle können Sie aktiv zur Verbesserung der Ergebnisse für Kinder in der Region beitragen und die Verantwortung als 'Corporate Parent' übernehmen. Sie werden die Möglichkeit haben, die Bedürfnisse und Wünsche der Kinder zu vertreten und sicherzustellen, dass ihre Stimmen gehört werden. Wenn Sie eine Leidenschaft für die Arbeit mit Kindern und Familien haben und nach einer sinnvollen Herausforderung suchen, ist dies die perfekte Gelegenheit für Sie.

Benefits

Flexibles Arbeiten

Unterstützung für unbezahlte Pflegekräfte

Karriereentwicklungsmöglichkeiten

Qualifications

• Erforderlich: Diplom in Sozialarbeit oder gleichwertig.
• Aktuelle Registrierung bei Social Work England.

Responsibilities

• Überwachung der Leistung der Behörde in Bezug auf die Fälle von Kindern.
• Durchführung von Überprüfungen der Fälle von Kindern in Pflege.

Skills

Beziehungen zu Kindern und Jugendlichen aufbauen

Wissen über gesetzliche Rahmenbedingungen

Erfahrung in der Sozialarbeit

Fähigkeit zur Kommunikation mit Führungskräften

Erfahrung in der Durchführung von Besprechungen

Education

Diplom in Sozialarbeit oder gleichwertig

PQ Childcare Award oder gleichwertige Erfahrung

Job description

Independent Reviewing Officer

Permanent, Full Time

£46,574 to £56,027 Per Annum

Location: Chelmsford

Working Style: Anywhere worker

Closing Date: 11th May 2025

Interview Date: 19th May 2025

Here in Essex, we continue to raise the bar about practice and our investment in our workforce is second to none. It's an exciting time to join us, having received our 2nd Outstanding Ofsted rating in a row.

The Role

Independent Reviewing Officer for mid and north Essex. This is a home-based role with travel required to chair looked after child reviews and visit children.

The purpose of the role is to provide an effective Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) service for children in care, in accordance with statutory regulation, guidance, and Essex County Council procedures. The main responsibilities include reviewing cases of children who are looked after as laid down in Volume 2 Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations (2021), and the IRO Handbook (2010).

Statutory Duties of the IRO

• Monitor the performance by the local authority of their functions in relation to the child's case.
• Participate in reviews of the child's case.
• Ensure the wishes and feelings of the child are given due consideration by the authority.
• Perform any other functions prescribed in regulations.

The primary focus of the IRO is to quality assure the care planning and review process for each looked after child, ensuring their needs, wishes, and feelings are fully considered. The review process should consider the child's assessed needs and progress, and it will involve agreeing on long-term plans and immediate steps to meet these needs and promote the child's welfare. The overall aim is to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in care.

The IRO role is one of practice expertise in children in care and care planning, pivotal in driving Essex County Council's commitment to better outcomes for children in care. The IRO should actively contribute to fulfilling the council's responsibilities as a 'corporate parent', providing scrutiny and challenge at all levels within the organization.

Accountabilities

• Ensure statutory review meetings are held within required timescales, with all relevant family members, parents, carers, and professionals invited and/or consulted, considering the child's wishes and feelings.
• Independently monitor the child's progress between reviews and take action to convene formal reviews if necessary.
• Communicate with senior management within Family Operations if the local authority fails to meet statutory obligations, especially where poor practice increases risk to a child.
• Contribute to strategic and corporate plans, representing issues relevant to children in care to secure better outcomes and service improvements.
• Ensure children have access to advocacy services when appropriate.
• Support children and young people in accessing and using complaints and compliments procedures.
• Ensure appropriate support for parents and carers to participate fully in review processes, including interpreters and advocates when needed.
• Make review processes child-centered, involving children, young people, parents, and carers, and mediate to resolve disagreements swiftly. Use Dispute Resolution Procedures to address issues when informal efforts fail.
• Act as an expert advisor and mentor for Family Operations staff on practice issues related to Children in Care.
• Produce review decisions and reports in line with statutory requirements.
• Follow administrative procedures for report preparation, distribution, and record updates within prescribed timescales.
• Monitor the organization and efficiency of the Reviewing Service, making recommendations for improvements.
• Stay informed of research impacting Children in Care and make recommendations to children's forums.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of the Reviewing Service across Essex.
• Work towards objectives set out in the Multi Agency Children in Care Strategy 2012-2017.
• Undertake other duties reasonably required, commensurate with the grade.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Educated to Dip SW or degree level in Social Work practice.
• PQ Childcare Award or equivalent by experience.
• Current Social Work England Registration.
• Proven ability to build and sustain relationships with children and young people, advocating for their interests, wishes, and feelings.
• Commitment to promoting family time and relationships with a child's family of origin.
• Extensive knowledge and experience working with children and families, including statutory obligations, codes of practice, and recent research findings.
• Operational planning and service delivery experience within children's services, with a proven record of achievement.
• Experience chairing meetings involving children, parents, carers, and professionals.
• Confidence and skills to work constructively with senior managers, offering critical perspectives and challenge.
• Understanding of leading and managing change within a large, complex organization.
• Experience providing social work supervision and support.
• Experience developing and implementing planning and performance frameworks in multi-disciplinary settings.
• Thorough knowledge of legal frameworks relating to looked after children and care leavers, including Minimum Standards and Regulations.
• Understanding of legal processes involved in local authority court applications.
• Knowledge of quality practice standards in safeguarding children and promoting their welfare.

Additional Information

For more about our services, visit: Children & Families. Watch our 'No Magic' Children & Families video.

Why Essex?

Essex is one of the UK’s largest and most dynamic local authorities, serving 1.8 million residents across over 1,420 square miles. We are committed to transformational change, delivering quality at lower cost, and fostering innovation. Recognized for productivity, we offer flexible working options and opportunities for career development and community contribution.

In February 2025, Greater Essex joined the Government's devolution priority programme, working towards establishing a Mayoral Combined County Authority by May 2026. More information on devolution and LGR is available on our careers site.

Essex County Council is a Disability Confident Leader, committed to interviewing all disabled applicants who meet minimum requirements, and providing reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process. We also prioritize veterans and care leavers.

Once employed, you'll enjoy benefits like support for unpaid carers and flexible working arrangements. We uphold integrity and ethical standards, emphasizing our code of conduct and Nolan principles throughout recruitment.

The role requires mobility across Essex and beyond; a driving license and access to a vehicle are essential.

Employment may require a DBS check, with registration on the DBS update service. For details, visit: https://www.gov.uk/dbs-update-service.

We are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

To stay informed about opportunities and news, join The Essex Talent Community. For queries, contact: [e-mail].

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