Independent Reviewing Officer in Scarborough

A welcome from the Corporate Director of Children and Young People. Thank you for your interest in joining our Children and Young People’s service. As the new Director for Children and Young People, here in North Yorkshire, I am excited to announce significant investment in our children and families service. Be part of a service investing in family help and sustainable practice.

Across local government, children’s services are facing unprecedented demand and funding constraint. Many organisations are responding by reducing capacity and narrowing ambition. We have chosen a different path. In response to the Families First Partnership Programme reforms, we in NYC are seeking to expand our teams in order to drive the changes of supporting children and their families at the earliest opportunity, right time, right person.

We are making a significant and sustained investment in our workforce—creating new and additional capacity across children’s social care, which will become Family help and our Multi agency child protections teams. At a time when others are making savings, we are growing our teams because we believe that safe, effective and relationship based practice relies on practitioners having the time, support and professional space to do their best work, with children.

Here is an outline of our investment plans, about our children services and new career opportunities. North Yorkshire Council have a national reputation for excellence, and we are looking for Independent Reviewing Officers with a variety of experience and skills.

Requirements

This is a great opportunity to become part of a well-established, experienced team, who are determined to achieve the highest standards of care and safety for children and young people. The successful candidates will be required to work from other parts of North Yorkshire as required. As a council, we are lucky to benefit from access to modern technology enabling staff to work from multiple locations, including working from home. We very much promote flexible working, providing it meets our service needs.

In North Yorkshire, IROs are expected to deliver on all aspects of the Independent Reviewing Officer guidance, chairing reviews and overseeing the plans for Children in Care, chairing Child Protection Conferences, undertaking Regulation 44 visits to our children’s homes and also Annual Reviews for Foster Carers. You will have a crucial quality assurance role and will have the opportunity to significantly contribute to improving outcomes for children and young people and promoting high standards of care to those who are looked after by the Local Authority.

The service is county wide and therefore candidates will be expected to work across other locality areas as needed to meet service demand. The post holders will be required to chair complex meetings across North Yorkshire as required. It is expected that meetings with children and their families take place in person.

Enhanced Level DBS Disclosure is required for appointment to this post. It is a criminal offence for people who are barred from working in Regulated Activity (under the Safeguarding and Vulnerable Groups Act 2006) to apply for roles that require them to work unsupervised with adults or children at risk. We are committed to the inclusion, safeguarding, and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk.

North Yorkshire Councils’ purpose is to deliver services and facilities to the diverse residents and visitors of North Yorkshire. To ensure we deliver inclusive services we strive to have a diverse workforce where everybody can be themselves by respecting differences and embedding equality of opportunity. We celebrate diversity and recognise each other’s contributions; we therefore welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds.