Independent Reviewing Officer
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Job Summary
- Chair statutory reviews for looked-after children and young people.
- Ensure the childs voice is central to all decision-making and care planning.
- Monitor and review care plans to ensure they are based on thorough assessments and meet each childs unique needs.
- Identify assess and manage risks to safeguard children and young people.
- Promote high-quality outcome-focused cost-effective and safe care planning.
- Effectively manage review meetings ensuring full participation from children families carers and professionals.
- Provide constructive challenges to social work teams to prevent delays in care planning.
- Develop recommendations and action plans that enhance family engagement and leverage wider support networks.
- Produce high-quality written review reports and outcome plans including child-friendly review letters.
- Track the progress and implementation of agreed plans between review meetings.
- Review assessments and care planning documents related to children involved in court proceedings.
- Maintain effective communication with Childrens Guardians and other professionals during care proceedings.
- Address professional disagreements early to avoid delays and promote positive outcomes.
- Participate in quality assurance and audit activities as needed.
- Collaborate with social workers carers legal representatives education providers health professionals and partner agencies.
- Recent and significant experience as an Independent Reviewing Officer.
- Previous management experience within Childrens Services.
- Extensive experience chairing statutory reviews for looked-after children.
- Strong knowledge of legislation statutory guidance and best practices related to looked-after children and care planning.
- Experience in quality assuring care plans and appropriately challenging practices.
- Strong understanding of safeguarding risk assessment and permanence planning.
- Experience working within court and care proceedings frameworks.
- Ability to effectively challenge drift and delay while maintaining positive professional relationships.
- Excellent report writing communication and record-keeping skills.
- Ability to engage effectively with children young people families carers and partner agencies.
- Understanding of child-centered and restorative practice principles.
- Social Work qualification and Social Work England registration.
- Previous Local Authority IRO experience.
- Experience in quality assurance and audit activities.
- Knowledge of Southwarks childrens services frameworks and practice models.
- Experience working within complex urban local authority environments.
- Caseload of approximately 55-65 children and young people.
- Monthly reflective group supervision.
- Monthly one-to-one supervision.
- Travel across and outside the borough may be required.
- Many children are based within Southwark although some visits outside the borough will be necessary.
- Mix of office working home working and visits.
- 315.16 per day (Umbrella)
- 2 Month Contract
- Bi-Weekly Pay
- Flexible mix of office home working and visits.
- Supportive team of experienced IRO professionals.
- Regular reflective group and one-to-one supervision.
- Opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of looked-after children and young people.
- Potential contract extension.
Required Skills:
Essential Requirements Requirements: Recent and significant experience working as an Independent Reviewing Officer. Previous management experience within Childrens Services. Extensive experience of chairing statutory reviews for looked-after children. Strong knowledge of legislation statutory guidance and best practice relating to looked-after children and care planning. Experience of quality assuring care plans and challenging practice appropriately. Strong understanding of safeguarding risk assessment and permanence planning. Experience working within court and care proceedings frameworks. Ability to effectively challenge drift and delay while maintaining positive professional relationships. Excellent report writing communication and record-keeping skills. Ability to engage effectively with children young people families carers and partner agencies. Understanding of child-centred and restorative practice principles. Social Work qualification and Social Work England registration. Desirable Previous Local Authority IRO experience. Experience carrying out quality assurance and audit activity. Knowledge of Southwarks childrens services frameworks and practice models. Experience working within complex urban local authority environments. Additional Caseload of approximately 55-65 children and young people. Monthly reflective group supervision. Monthly one-to-one supervision. Travel across and outside the borough may be required. Many children are based within Southwark although some visits outside the borough will be necessary. Mix of office working home working and visits. Whats on Offer 315.16 per day (Umbrella) 2 Month Contract Bi-Weekly Pay Flexible mix of office home working and visits. Supportive team of experienced IRO professionals. Regular reflective group and one-to-one supervision. Opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives of looked-after children and young people. Potential contract extension. Ideal for candidates with experience as an Independent Reviewing Officer Senior IRO Child Protection Chair Reviewing Officer Team Manager Practice Manager Quality Assurance Officer Senior Social Worker or Children in Care Reviewing Officer.
