OR118490 – CIN reviewing officer

Work Pattern: 35 per week, working arrangement to be confirmed

PAYE Pay Rate: £30.92 per hour – around £230 PAYE per day

Main Purpose of the Role

To provide independent oversight and review of Child in Need (CIN) plans under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989, ensuring plans are child-focused, effective and focused on improving outcomes. The role involves chairing review meetings, monitoring safeguarding arrangements, challenging drift and delay, and promoting high standards of practice across children’s social care services.

Important requirement: The service is specifically seeking someone with previous experience working as a Service Manager within Family Support and Child Protection Services (FSCP) Safeguarding.

Typical Day Overview

• Chair and facilitate Child in Need review meetings with families and multi-agency professionals.
• Review CIN plans, assessments and interventions to ensure children’s needs are being met.
• Monitor progress against agreed actions, outcomes and safeguarding objectives.
• Identify and challenge delays, gaps in planning and insufficient safeguarding measures.
• Ensure children’s wishes, feelings and lived experiences are reflected in decisions.
• Work closely with social workers, team managers, education, health and police.
• Escalate safeguarding concerns and identify cases requiring Child Protection or legal intervention.
• Produce accurate review records, recommendations and management reports.
• Contribute to audits, quality assurance and service improvement activities.

Key Skills and Responsibilities

• Child in Need Reviews: Chair review meetings and assess the effectiveness of CIN plans.
• Safeguarding and Risk Management: Identify risks to children and ensure appropriate protective measures are in place.
• Quality Assurance: Provide independent scrutiny of assessments, plans and social work practice.
• Professional Challenge: Address drift, delay and inadequate interventions, escalating concerns where necessary.
• Multi-Agency Partnership Working: Coordinate professionals and partner agencies to achieve positive outcomes for children and families.
• Child-Centred Practice: Ensure children’s voices, wishes and feelings remain central to planning and decision-making.
• Legislation and Compliance: Apply relevant legislation, statutory guidance and safeguarding procedures.
• Recording and Reporting: Maintain accurate records, prepare reports and monitor compliance with review timescales.
• Service Improvement: Identify learning from reviews, audits and casework to improve safeguarding practice.
• Leadership and Management: Apply service management experience to promote accountability, high standards and effective safeguarding practice.

Essential Qualifications and Requirements

• Recognised Social Work qualification, such as a Degree in Social Work, DipSW or CQSW, or equivalent.
• Current registration with Social Work England or the relevant professional regulator.
• Significant post-qualification experience within children’s social care and safeguarding.
• Previous experience working as a Service Manager within FSCP Safeguarding is specifically required by the service.
• Strong experience of Child in Need processes and safeguarding casework.
• Experience chairing professional meetings and facilitating multi-agency discussions.
• Experience of quality assurance, auditing and reviewing social work practice.
• Thorough knowledge of the Children Act 1989 and Working Together to Safeguard Children.
• Strong understanding of child development, risk assessment, neglect, abuse and safeguarding thresholds.
• Excellent analytical, report-writing, communication and decision-making skills.
• Ability to challenge professionals constructively, manage complex cases and work independently.
• Commitment to child-centred practice, confidentiality and continuous professional development.

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