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
1
Huddersfield and surrounding areas
Temporary
The fixed-term role is up to 12 months for maternity cover
13
£41,591 - £43,570
Market rate supplement of £4,500 per annum (reviewed annually)

We are looking to recruit to 1 position within the Resources, Improvements and Partnerships Directorate:

  • Full time, fixed term for 12 months role as an IRO for Children Looked After.

Independent Reviewing Officer for Children Looked After

The job of Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) will operate according to Kirklees Children's Services Practice Standards and national Guidance and Legislation. Located within the Child Protection Review Unit in the Resources Improvements and Partnerships Directorate, you will be the allocated Independent Reviewing Officer for a caseload of children Looked After, overseeing plans and chairing relevant meetings and reviews, as per statutory requirements, as well as contributing to the quality assurance framework.

The Child Protection and Review Unit currently operates a system whereby IROs hold caseload of children either who are subjects of Child Protection Plans, or are Children Looked After.

We are a well-established and well-respected Service within Kirklees, who enjoy good working relationships with Children's Social Care and a variety of partner agencies, working together to safeguard children and to provide better outcomes for children. We are committed to working according to restorative practice model which combines support and challenge to ensure those better outcomes.

You will be monitoring practice to ensure that Children’s Services Practice Standards and Kirklees Safeguarding 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.

The working arrangements for the role of an IRO are according to the needs of the child and the Service, which currently equates to hybrid working with combination of some working from home and some office based working patterns. This will also include visits to children in their homes which may include foster homes or residential units, and potentially chairing Reviews in a variety of different settings which may be outside Kirklees on occasion.

Following the impact of Covid 19, where all Meetings were taking place virtually for a significant period of time, we are now returning to a hybrid model of Review Meetings taking place either in person or virtually, dependent upon the identified needs of the child and family.

Our Commitment and Support to those appointed into this role

We want to make sure that as a skilled practitioner in Kirklees you have everything you need to deliver good outcomes. Our commitment to you is to provide you with a comprehensive induction programme, dedicated supervision and continuous professional development opportunities, including peer group supervision, to enable you to become the best you can be.

You must hold a recognised Social Work Qualification and be registered with Social Work England to apply for this role.

Closing Date: Sunday 2nd October at 11.55pm

Interview Date: week commencing 10th October

Young Persons Panel: TBC

If you require any further information please contact Tom Clift (Service Manager) at Tom.Clift@kirklees.gov.uk

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’.

If you are internal and want to apply for this job as a secondment you must be a substantive employee of the Council with over 6 months continuous service and have successfully completed your probation period.

Applications for secondments will only be accepted if approved by your manager, you will be asked to confirm on your application form that you have the relevant permission. If you are refused permission to apply for a secondment, please contact HR Recruitment to register the refusal.

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.

02 October 2022, 11:55 PM

Important Information

Job Profile.pdf – 192KB

This vacancy is closed to applications.