Independent Safeguarding & Reviewing Officer

LinsCare; Wrexham; On-site; GBP 66,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

LinsCare is recruiting an Independent Safeguarding & Reviewing Officer (IRO) in Wales to provide independent oversight of safeguarding practice for children in need of protection and looked-after children. The role involves chairing reviews and challenging practice while keeping the child’s voice central to decisions.

Experience in children’s social care, safeguarding legislation, and multi‑agency partnership work is essential. An Enhanced DBS and UK right to work are mandatory.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in children’s social care and safeguarding.
• Strong knowledge of legislation, guidance and safeguarding procedures.
• Proven experience chairing Child Protection Conferences and Looked After Children Reviews.
• Excellent multi‑agency communication and partnership working.
• Enhanced DBS and Social Care Wales registration are required.

Responsibilities

• Chair statutory Looked After Children Reviews, Child Protection Conferences and review meetings.
• Monitor and scrutinise care and safeguarding plans, ensuring statutory requirements and timescales are met.
• Provide professional challenge to social workers, managers and partner agencies where required.
• Ensure the voice, rights and wellbeing of the child remain central to decision‑making.
• Lead and coordinate multi‑agency safeguarding responses.
• Identify risks, poor practice and areas for improvement, escalating concerns appropriately.
• Provide expert safeguarding advice, guidance, coaching and training.
• Prepare reports and management information for senior management and safeguarding boards.

Skills

Chairing meetings

Risk assessment

Multi-agency collaboration

Professional challenge

Oversight and scrutiny

Education

Social work qualification

Job description

Independent Safeguarding & Reviewing Officer

Location: Wrexham

Department: Social Care - Safeguarding People Team

Rate: £51.02 per hour (Umbrella)

DBS: Enhanced DBS required

We are seeking an experienced Independent Safeguarding & Reviewing Officer (IRO) to provide independent oversight, challenge and scrutiny of safeguarding practice for children in need of protection and looked-after children.

Key Responsibilities

• Chair statutory Looked After Children Reviews, Child Protection Conferences and review meetings.
• Monitor and scrutinise care and safeguarding plans, ensuring statutory requirements and timescales are met.
• Provide professional challenge to social workers, managers and partner agencies where required.
• Ensure the voice, rights and wellbeing of the child remain central to decision‑making.
• Lead and coordinate multi‑agency safeguarding responses.
• Identify risks, poor practice and areas for improvement, escalating concerns appropriately.
• Provide expert safeguarding advice, guidance, coaching and training.
• Contribute to audits, inspections, service development and quality assurance.
• Prepare reports and management information for senior management and safeguarding boards.

Requirements

• Significant experience in children's social care and safeguarding.
• Strong knowledge of relevant legislation, statutory guidance and safeguarding procedures.
• Proven experience chairing Child Protection Conferences and Looked After Children Reviews.
• Strong professional challenge, risk assessment and decision‑making skills.
• Excellent multi‑agency communication and partnership‑working experience.
• Experience in quality assurance, auditing and service improvement.
• Enhanced DBS required.
• Social Care Wales Registered
• Mandatory: Must have a UK Passport or a Full Right to Work in the UK

Rate: £51.02 per hour Umbrella | Wrexham