Independent Reviewing Officer

CIH International Housing Group; Nottingham; Hybrid; GBP 53,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

26 days annual leave

Pension 17.9%

Smart Working

Employee Assistance Programme

Discounted membership at local centres

Job summary

Nottingham City Council is seeking an Independent Reviewing Officer based at Loxley House, Nottingham. You will chair statutory reviews for looked-after children, ensuring plans are child-centred and compliant with legislation.

You will lead on independent scrutiny of care plans, monitor practice, and work with families and partner agencies to improve outcomes. The role offers hybrid working and opportunities to influence practice at a strategic level through quality assurance and learning

Qualifications

• Professional qualification in Social Work.
• Current Social Work England registration.
• Minimum three years' experience as a social care practitioner with children and families.
• Knowledge of Children Act 2004 and related guidance.
• Experience in safeguarding and care planning.
• Strong analytical and risk assessment skills.
• Experience chairing multi-agency meetings.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Commitment to equality and delivering child-centred services.
• Fluent English is essential (Immigration Act Part 7).
• DBS enhanced check required.

Responsibilities

• Chair statutory reviews and key meetings for children in care.
• Provide independent scrutiny of care plans and monitor professional practice.
• Work collaboratively with families, colleagues and partner agencies to improve outcomes.
• Contribute to quality assurance activity, auditing and workforce development.

Skills

Independent Reviewing Officer

Chairing meetings

Analytical skills

Risk assessment

Communication skills

Collaboration with partners

Equality and inclusion

Child-centred practice

Strategic quality assurance

Fluency in English

Education

Social Work qualification

Job description

Job Description

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Hours: 18.5 hours per week

Worker Type: Hybrid Worker

Salary: Starting Salary is £53,051 (Level one) rising to £56,293 'pro rata for part-time'

Location: Loxley House. Station Road. Nottingham. NG2 3NG

We’ve got an exciting opportunity available for talented individuals to join our workforce - perhaps this is the opportunity you’ve been looking for? Read on to find out more...

Working for Nottingham City Council has great benefits. As well as competitive pay, great leave entitlement and access to a generous pension scheme, we strive to create an innovative, inclusive and progressive work culture where everyone is supported to do and be their very best.

In return, we are looking for people like you - people who are innovative, driven and committed to serving and improving Nottingham. So, if you are passionate about making a difference to the lives of those who live and work in our city, we want to hear from you.

* You can read more about the different benefits offered to colleagues working for Nottingham City Council here.

About the Role

As an Independent Reviewing Officer, you will chair statutory reviews and other key meetings for children in care, ensuring plans remain child‑centred, outcome‑focused and compliant with legislation and statutory guidance. You will provide independent scrutiny of care plans, monitor professional practice and work collaboratively with colleagues, partner agencies and families to improve outcomes for children and young people.

This role offers the opportunity to influence practice at a strategic level through quality assurance activity, auditing, workforce development and the promotion of learning across Children’s Services.

About You

You will be a confident practitioner who can appropriately challenge practice when required, manage complex information, make sound decisions and work collaboratively to achieve the best possible outcomes for children and young people. You will be passionate about promoting excellent social work practice and creating a culture of learning and continuous improvement.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Professional qualification in Social Work
• Current Social Work England registration
• Substantial experience (minimum three years) as a social care practitioner with children and families in a multi‑cultural environment.
• Detailed knowledge of children’s legislation, including the Children Act 2004 and associated guidance.
• Significant experience of safeguarding practice and care planning.
• Strong analytical, assessment and risk management skills.
• Experience of chairing multi‑agency meetings and influencing professional practice.
• Excellent communication and relationship‑building skills.
• A commitment to equality, diversity and delivering high‑quality child‑centred services.
• This post is covered by the statutory duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016) (English Language Requirement for public sector workers) and therefore the ability to speak fluent English, is an essential requirement for the role.
• A DBS enhanced check for a regulated activity is required for this post.

You can find the job description for this post here [link will be added]

At Nottingham City Council we believe that work is what you do, not where you do it. We offer different working arrangements, depending on the role, including hybrid working. Further information on Worker Types and what these mean in terms of how and where you work can be found on the additional information for applicants page.

Closing Date

06/10/2026

Interviews will be held

13/10/2026

About Us

Thank you for your interest in working for Nottingham City Council. As one of the largest employers in Nottingham we offer a wide range of roles across a range of services. In return for your skill, drive and commitment to serving the people of Nottingham, we can help you to develop an exciting and rewarding career, with access to the following benefits.

• 26 days annual leave (rising to 33 days after 5 years' service) + bank holidays with the ability to buy additional leave annually
• Access to a generous, defined benefit pension scheme offering 17.9%
• Smart Working - to support your work life balance
• Health and wellbeing benefits including access to our Employee Assistance Programme
• Discounted membership at selected local sports and fitness centres, cinema, shopping and much more!

Nottingham City Council is committed to recruiting a talented workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We are a fair, inclusive and Disability Confident Employer, welcoming applications from people of all backgrounds, identities and abilities. We recruit for diversity and value difference.

If you are a disabled candidate and wish to be considered under our Guaranteed Interview Scheme, please indicate this within your application. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process and employment journey.

We are proud signatories of the Armed Forces Covenant and welcome applications from serving personnel, veterans, reservists and military families.

We particularly want to hear from you if you are from Minority Ethnic communities, identify within the LGBTQ+ community, or are disabled. These groups are currently underrepresented in our workforce, and we are committed to better reflecting the communities we serve.

We are supportive of flexible working arrangements wherever possible and encourage candidates to discuss this with us during the recruitment process.