Independent Reviewing Officer

GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL; Gloucester; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 55,000; Part time

Job summary

A local authority in the UK is looking for an Independent Reviewing Officer to join the Reviewing Service Team on a part-time basis. The ideal candidate will ensure the needs of children in care are met through robust statutory reviews and collaboration with professionals. Candidates must have a recognized Social Work qualification and at least 5 years of experience in children's social work, along with excellent communication and critical thinking skills. This role provides a supportive working environment and various perks, including a competitive salary and flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Welcome payment of £5,000

Retention payment of £2,000

Flexible working options

Up to £8,000 relocation package

Qualifications

• Registration with Social Work England is mandatory.
• Minimum of 5 years post-qualifying experience in child protection.
• Experience in management and supervision within children's teams.

Responsibilities

• Chair statutory reviews for children in care following IRO Regulations.
• Ensure timely, child-centred reviews delivered to high standards.
• Provide robust challenges and escalate concerns as needed.

Skills

Social Work England registration

5+ years experience in children's social work

Excellent communication skills

Critical thinking

Record-keeping skills

Education

Recognised Social Work qualification (e.g. DipSW, CQSW)

Job description

We are currently recruiting for an Independent Reviewing Officer to join the Reviewing Service Team on a part-time basis.

Reward and support

For all your hard work, you will receive the following:

• Between £52,413 - £54,495 per annum subject to experience
• £5,000 welcome payment* (pro rata for part-time staff)
• £2,000 retention payment* (pro rata for part-time staff)
• Up to £8,000 relocation package**
• Flexible and agile working opportunities
• 25.5 days annual leave rising to 30.5 days after 5 years continuous service (pro rata for part-time staff)
• Option to purchase 10 days of additional leave per year (pro rata for part-time staff)
• Family friendly policies and benefits to help support you and your family
• Supportive and positive working environment with regular, robust supervision
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) that provides free, confidential, counselling and advice for employees, available 24 hours a day, online and by telephone
• An in-house Occupational Health service
• Employee discount scheme
• Links to employee networks such as Prism (LGBT+) and the Young Employees Network
• Career development and qualification opportunities
• Access to our Social Work Academy
• Cycle to Work scheme (eligibility criteria and t&cs apply)
• Green Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme (eligibility criteria and t&cs apply)

*Please note that all our welcome and retention payments are subject to terms and conditions as well as tax and national insurance deductions

*Please note that our relocation policy is subject to terms and conditions

Right child, right support, right time, every time

In our recent inspection in June 2025, our Children’s Services have been officially judged as ‘Good’ with ‘Outstanding’ elements. Ofsted also said ‘Leaders have set out a clear vision for delivering success for children, by modelling values and creating a culture where the workforce, children and families feel valued and heard; risk is managed confidently with bottom lines clearly set out.’

This marks an important step in our journey to improve outcomes for our children and young people, and we remain focused on our mission: to continue building on this success and ensure that every child and young person in our county has the opportunity to thrive.

Gloucestershire offers a range of opportunities to develop your career, supported by a phenomenal Social Work Academy offer, a developing systemic practice methodology, an ambitious leadership team and an award-winning workforce.

We are a local authority adopting, and training all colleagues in, systemic social work practice. If you would like to be part of an authority that takes a relational approach to working with families and focuses on what needs to change in the system around a child and family to enable children to thrive, then consider a role with GCC.

About the team

You will be joining a stable team of lively, hardworking IRO. We know that to be effective we must hold the child at the centre of all we do and not shy away from the difficult conversations that may be necessary to bring about best outcomes for children. We seek as a service to fulfil our statutory responsibilities with a relational and systemic approach to practice recognising that respect, collaboration and authentic relationships facilitate opportunities for better outcomes for children. We have a culture of shared responsibility and shared learning. We value the expertise of each member of the service which collectively provides a rich environment for further strengthening and development of the service. We encourage reflective supervision at all levels and we will be able to offer you protected time to ensure it takes place on a regular basis.

About the role

We are seeking a dedicated and experienced Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) to join our Reviewing Service and champion the needs of children in the care of Gloucestershire.

You will

• chair statutory reviews for children in care in line with IRO Regulations and national guidance
• ensure that reviews are timely, child-centred, and delivered to a high professional standard; monitor the progress and quality of Care Plans, actively addressing any drift or delay
• provide robust challenge and escalate concerns to senior management and CAFCASS as needed; ensure the meaningful involvement of children, young people, families, and carers
• collaborate with professionals across agencies and support improvements to practice; promote equality and consider the individual needs of each child, including factors such as race, disability, religion, and identity

About you

You will have:

• Social Work England registration and a recognised Social Work qualification (e.g. DipSW, CQSW)
• at least 5 years post-qualifying experience in children’s social work, including child protection and care proceedings
• experience in management and/or supervision within a children's social work team; experience chairing complex meetings and managing conflict; strong understanding of legislation, permanence planning, safeguarding, and quality assurance; excellent communication, critical thinking, and record-keeping skills; experience with quality assurance systems
• a full UK driving licence and willingness to travel

How to apply

To apply, please visit our website via the button below.

Interviews will be in person 27 February 2026. Please note that this will be the only day for interviews.