Children's Independent Reviewing Officer in Bournemouth, Christchurch

We’re looking forward to welcoming new colleagues under this refreshed framework of pay, terms, and conditions. To promote fairness and consistency, all new starters will begin at the bottom of the pay band. This reflects our commitment to equity across the organisation and aligns with the approach taken with existing staff during the transition. While the starting salary is fixed, the role offers excellent scope for growth, meaningful contribution, and being part of a forward-thinking team.

Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole (BCP) Children’s Services are looking to recruit Independent Reviewing Officers/Child Protection Chairs who will help make a difference in the lives of the children and young people we work with. We are proud to have achieved a GOOD Ofsted rating in December 2024 and have continued on a positive improvement journey throughout 2025/26. Children are at the heart of everything we do, and our relationship-based practice helps us to make positive and lasting changes in their lives and the lives of their families.

If you would like to become part of a team who work collaboratively with children and young people to help shape our service and influence practice, this team is for you. We are looking for experienced IROs/Child Protection Chairs who strive to make sure that the voice of the child is central in all work undertaken, as well as ensuring safe, timely and individual needs led plans are in place for children.

The role involves providing scrutiny, support, and challenge to the work of social work teams and making sure that care and protection plans are progressed in a timescale that meets the child’s needs. You will need to have good communication skills and be able to engage productively with families and other professionals, as well as being able to robustly manage and chair case conferences and child in care meetings.

This IRO post will hold a mixed workload of child protection and child in care work. You will be part of a team that is dedicated and committed to achieving good outcomes for children and providing an inclusive service. Our management team provide a robust induction that enables new staff to become familiar with BCP systems, policies, and procedures before work is allocated. Allocations are done on a gradual basis. A meeting with one of our Service Managers will take place on a weekly basis during the induction period to review progress and learning.

Staff development, wellbeing, and work-life balance is also a key focus for the management team who provide a supportive, nurturing and learning environment. We are looking for experienced Child Protection Chairs/IROs who have substantial experience in working within the child protection and child in care arena. You will need to be confident in chairing meetings and working with partner agencies. Most of all, you will need to be aspirational for all the children and young people you work with.

All applicants need to be social work qualified and registered with Social Work England. Successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced check by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Shortlisting 4 June 2026. The interview date will be 19 June 2026. Please note, this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship and we can only consider applicants with existing right to work in the UK.

BCP Council provides services to a diverse community of 400,000 residents and employs more than 5,000 people. Our area includes over 15 miles of beautiful world-renowned coastline. We can offer career defining roles to transform and improve services. By working with us, you can help deliver a vision of a thriving, world-class, prosperous and inclusive place for generations to come.

BCP Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the community and expects all staff and volunteers to share the same commitment. Applicants to this post will be required to complete the appropriate level of Disclosure & Barring Service Check.