PLO Reviewing Officer - Children's Services
Location: Swindon
Working pattern: Hybrid, with two days per week in the office
Caritas Recruitment is looking for an experienced PLO Reviewing Officer to support children's social work teams through Legal Planning Meetings, pre-proceedings and court processes.
This role requires a restorative approach, combining high challenge with high support, to strengthen assessment, care planning and timely case progression.
Key responsibilities
- Provide social workers with a reflective space to prepare for Legal Planning Meetings, ensuring assessments clearly identify harm.
- Ensure genograms and chronologies are accurate and fit for purpose.
- Support the timely progression of cases through pre-proceedings and court.
- Promote family-led practice, including Family Group Conferences and the involvement of fathers.
- Lead reflective case discussions, strengthening analysis and exploring the "so what?" within assessments.
- Progress care-planning meetings and support robust permanence planning, including triple tracking.
- Quality-assure court statements from an IRO/Children's Guardian perspective.
- Facilitate pre-CMH meetings with Children's Guardians and social workers.
- Liaise with the Children We Care For Team regarding post-adoption and foster-care family contact.
- Ensure effective final care-planning and legal-planning meetings are held, with coherent permanence plans in place.
Essential experience and skills
- Qualified and experienced Social Worker with at least five years' experience.
- Previous experience as an Independent Reviewing Officer, Child Protection Chair and/or Children's Guardian.
- Extensive experience of pre-proceedings and court work.
- Strong knowledge of Legal Planning Meetings, PLO processes and care proceedings.
- Excellent organisation, communication and analytical skills.
- Confident using Excel.
Previous experience of Liquidlogic would be advantageous.
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PLO Reviewing Officer - Children's Services - Swindon employer: Caritas Recruitment
Caritas Recruitment is an excellent employer for those passionate about making a difference in the lives of individuals facing mental health challenges. Located in Southampton, we foster a supportive work culture that prioritises collaboration and professional growth, offering ongoing training and development opportunities. Our commitment to client-centred care ensures that our employees are empowered to make meaningful contributions while enjoying a fulfilling career in a vibrant community.
