Independent Reviewing Officer

We adopt a ‘name blind’ approach to shortlisting. Recruiting managers will not have access to personal information, including your name and contact details, until a shortlisting decision has been made - please note that this also includes any CV uploaded. Equality monitoring information is not accessible by recruiting managers at any stage.
Kirklees
Children & Families
Child Protection & Family Support
37
2
Across Kirklees
Permanent
Grade 13

£45,441 - £47,420

Market rate supplement of £4,500 per annum (reviewed annually)

The job will operate according to Kirklees Children’s Services Practice Standards and national Guidance and Legislation. You will be the allocated Independent Reviewing Officer for a caseload of children, in need of protection or Looked After, overseeing plans and chairing relevant meetings and reviews, as per statutory requirements. The service currently operates a system whereby IROs hold either Child Protection cases or those of Children Looked After.

We are looking to recruit to 2 full time permanent positions held within the service, one in each area. The overarching job profile of this role is that of IRO.  You will be asked to indicate a preference of service area at interview.

You will be monitoring practice to ensure that Children’s Services Practice Standards and Kirklees Safeguarding Children Partnership Child Protection Procedures are adhered to. You will be independent of the management of the child’s case and the resources allocated to that case. You will ensure that care plans are determined that meet the child’s assessed needs, consider the child’s wishes and feelings and best interests, and that these plans are actioned.

Requirements for this role include:

  • Significant post qualifying experience in statutory childcare work and experience in child protection.
  • Experience of managing staff including experience of providing social work supervision and/or support.
  • The confidence and ability to work constructively with senior managers, offering a critical perspective and appropriate challenge.
  • A thorough understanding of the legal framework relating to children looked after and care leavers together with safeguarding children.
  • Knowledge of the evidence about what makes for good quality practice in working with children and families to safeguard children and promote their welfare.
  • An ability to analyse complex childcare cases and to use issues from practice to inform policy development.
  • Demonstrable experience in chairing meetings effectively.

You must hold a recognised Social Work Qualification and be registered with the Social Work England regulator.

Travel is an essential part of this job and therefore it would be extremely difficult for you to do your job effectively if you did not use a car for all or most of the time. It is essential that you hold a full and valid driving licence, and it is expected that you will either use a council vehicle or your own car.

Office Base: Child Protection & Review Unit, Unit 5/6 Silver Court Industrial Estate, Silver Street, Huddersfield HD5 9AG

If you require any further information, please contact Tom Clift - Service Manager on 01484 221000 or email tom.clift@kirklees.gov.uk or Rachel Fairhurst – Service Manager at Rachel.Fairhurst@kirklees.gov.uk

Closing Date - Midnight Sun 28th November   

Interview Dates - Thursday 9th or Friday 10th December

Tom Clift is the manager for this role, please contact them on 01484 221000 for an informal discussion, or if you need any more information. 
This job is subject to a DBS check at the appropriate level, please refer to the Job Description/Profile.  A conviction may not exclude candidates from appointment but will be considered as part of the recruitment process.
We know there’s a wealth of talent among people who have a disability and we encourage applications from people with all differing abilities. So, if you need any support completing an application form, or any other format for the application or Job Description please contact the Recruitment Team for help by email: jobs@kirklees.gov.uk or phone: 01484 221000 and ask for ‘Recruitment’.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable adults and children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

28 November 2021, 11:55 PM

Important Information

Independent Reviewing Officer Job Profile.pdf – 197KB

This vacancy is closed to applications.