Independent Reviewing Officer

WMJobs; Stoke-on-Trent; On-site; GBP 53,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Professional development

Management development

Competitive pay and rewards

Job summary

Stoke-on-Trent City Council in the United Kingdom is seeking an Independent Reviewing Officer to provide independent scrutiny of care planning for children in care. You will chair statutory reviews, monitor journeys between reviews and keep children’s rights, wishes and lived experiences at the centre of decisions.

You will build relationships with children and young people, challenge drift, ensure care and pathway plans reflect needs and are delivered on time, and escalate issues through

Qualifications

• A recognised social work qualification, registration with Social Work England and successful completion of post-qualifying training.
• Experience in children and families social care, including within a statutory childcare agency, and supervising social work practice.
• Understanding of the legal framework for children in care and care leavers, including care planning and fostering regulations.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and chair statutory reviews, producing clear decisions and minutes within timescales.
• Monitor children’s cases, scrutinise care and pathway plans and challenge drift or delays.
• Visit children and ensure their views influence care planning and decision-making.
• Use dispute resolution to elevate concerns and refer to Cafcass when needed.
• Ensure advocacy, complaints and legal representation rights are understood and promoted.
• Contribute to monthly file audits and provide timely records and guidance to partners.

Skills

Independent chairing meetings

Excellent communication

Analytical and report-writing

Challenge poor practice

Meet statutory timescales

Building relationships with children

Education

Social work qualification

Registration with Social Work England

Post-qualifying training

Job description

Stoke-on-Trent City Council,

This advert is open to both internal and external applicants.

About Us

We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. Working for Stoke-on-Trent City Council is more than just a job; it is about making, protecting and improving services for local people, reducing inequalities and improving independence for those who live and work in the city. That is where you come in. We are looking for people of the highest calibre, with the skills, knowledge and experience to help us deliver our compelling vision.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s diverse and talented workforce is its greatest asset. The skills, knowledge and experience of our employees are essential to delivering our ambitions for the organisation and the city. We want to be an employer people are proud to work for, where staff are supported, developed and rewarded in an inclusive way that helps them excel and deliver the high-quality services our residents need.

Further information on why work for us

Join Our Children and Families Service

We are growing and developing our Children and Families workforce as part of an ambitious programme of service transformation. We are looking for talented, committed and values-led professionals to join us.

The Role

Be an independent voice for children in care and help ensure their plans lead to lasting, positive outcomes. As an Independent Reviewing Officer, you will provide independent scrutiny of care planning, chair statutory reviews and keep children’s rights, wishes and lived experiences at the centre of decisions.

You will monitor each child’s journey between reviews, build relationships with children and young people, and ensure care and pathway plans reflect their needs and are delivered on time. Through constructive challenge, quality assurance and effective escalation, you will tackle drift and delay and help secure the right permanence plan for every child.

About You

• A recognised social work qualification, registration with Social Work England and successful completion of post-qualifying training.
• Relevant experience in children and families social care, including within a statutory childcare agency, and experience of supervising social work practice.
• A thorough understanding of the legal framework for children in care and care leavers, including care planning and fostering regulations, alongside knowledge of child development, attachment and evidence-based practice.
• Experience of working with Signs of Safety, ideally alongside systemic practice, and the ability to chair complex meetings confidently and effectively.
• Excellent communication skills, with creative approaches to involving children and young people and the confidence to challenge poor practice and elevate concerns at all management levels.
• Strong analytical, planning and report-writing skills, with the ability to make sound decisions under pressure, meet statutory timescales and maintain accurate records.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate and chair statutory reviews, producing clear decisions and minutes within prescribed timescales and ensuring actions are specific, measurable and followed through.
• Monitor children’s cases on an ongoing basis, scrutinise care and pathway plans and challenge drift, delay or decisions that do not meet a child’s needs.
• Visit children separately from their reviews, build trusting relationships and ensure their views, wishes and worries influence care planning and decision-making.
• Use the dispute resolution process to raise and elevate concerns, seek legal advice where necessary and refer to Cafcass when other avenues of resolution have been exhausted.
• Ensure children understand their rights to advocacy, complaints and legal representation, and promote meaningful participation by parents, carers and partner agencies.
• Contribute to monthly collaborative file audits and service improvement, provide advice and consultation to partners, and maintain timely, high-quality records on council systems.

Why Join Us?

• Use your independent professional judgement to uphold children’s rights and improve the quality of their care.
• Build meaningful relationships with children and young people and help them take an active role in their reviews.
• Influence practice through scrutiny, constructive challenge and shared learning across Children’s Social Care.

What We Offer

• A 12-month fixed-term role with a salary of £53,051–£56,293 per annum.
• 28 days’ annual leave rising to 33 days after five years’ continuous service, plus eight public/bank holidays.
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Opportunities for professional development, learning and management development.

Further information on our Rewards and Benefits can be found here

Pre-employment checks

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre-employment checks. These may include:

• Right to Work in the UK.
• Proof of address.
• Satisfactory references.
• Occupational Health clearance.
• Evidence of relevant professional qualifications or registrations.
• A DBS check at the appropriate level.

Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, and we expect all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This position is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the successful applicant will be subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service(DBS).

Additional Information

Your career matters here. At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we are committed to helping our people thrive. From competitive pay and a supportive working environment to opportunities for development and career progression, we invest in our workforce because we know it is our greatest asset. We are building an inclusive organisation that reflects the communities we serve, where everyone is welcomed, valued and encouraged to make a difference.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our community, and we want our workforce to reflect that. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. We understand that some people, especially those from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply if they do not meet every listed requirement. If this role interests you and you think you could be a good fit, we encourage you to apply. We are proud of what makes each of us unique and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, can be themselves and can succeed together.

If an employee who is currently at risk of redundancy within the organisation applies for this vacancy, their application will receive priority. If this happens, you will be advised accordingly.