Independent Reviewing Officer - CMB2789i in Workington

Independent Reviewing Officer*Internal Applicants Only*Salary: £53,051 to £54,143 per annumHours: 37 hours per weekLocation: West Cumbria House, WorkingtonContract: Permanent#INDCSCAbout this opportunityAs an Independent Reviewing Officer, you'll be a strong advocate for children and young people, ensuring their voices are heard and their needs remain at the centre of planning and decision-making. Working across Children's Services and partner agencies, you'll provide independent oversight, chair statutory Cared For Reviews and Child Protection Conferences, in addition to offering constructive challenge in order to help achieve the best possible outcomes for vulnerable children.

This is a rewarding opportunity for an experienced social work professional who is passionate about safeguarding, high-quality practice and making a lasting difference to children's lives.

In line with the Independent Reviewing Officer Handbook, applicants must be a qualified social worker with a minimum of five years' post-qualifying experience in children's social work.

This role is available on a permanent basis.

Who we're looking forWe're looking for individuals who embody our organisation's core values: ambitious, collaborative, compassionate, empowering, and innovative. We believe in the power of these values to drive positive change, deliver excellent public services and shape a better future for our communities.

We're also about potential over perfection and we can help you grow in the role and thrive in your career.

Be sure to take a look at the post specification (below) for the essential criteria for this role.

ContactFor more information about the role or to arrange an informal chat prior to your application, please contact Mark Casey by email at mark.casey@cumberland.gov.uk. DBS Checks This role requires a DBS check. The level of check for this role is: Enhanced DBS check with a Children's Barred List check. Please note this role involves working in regulated activity with Children. It is an offence for people who are barred from working in regulated activity to apply for roles that require them to work unsupervised with Children.

Guaranteed InterviewsWe offer a guaranteed interview to the following applicants as long as your application can demonstrate you meet the essential criteria for the role.

Those who consider themselves disabled as defined by the Equality Act 2010Those in care or who have left care and are aged 24 and underThose who identify as a member of the British Armed Forces community (service leavers, veterans, their partners or spouses, reservists, cadets).If you meet one or more of the criteria above, and wish to be considered for this scheme, select 'yes' to the appropriate question during your application. Find out more.

Diversity, Inclusion & AdjustmentsWe're dedicated to enhancing the diversity of our workforce and we encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. That's why we're a proud Disability Confident Leader and also an Age Friendly Employer – to provide opportunities for everyone to thrive.

If you need any reasonable adjustments to participate in the recruitment process, please let either the hiring manager or our Resourcing Team know by emailing Resourcing@Cumberland.gov.uk. While adjustments aren't always guaranteed, we'll always listen and we'll try our best to accommodate your needs.

Application and Interview informationClosing date: 24th November 2026Interview date: 3rd December 2026If you experience any difficulties logging in to apply for this role, please contact the HR Systems team at HR.Systems@cumbria.gov.uk. Please note this role may close early subject to demand. If you're interested in applying, you should apply well before the advised closing date. We cannot accept applications once the role has closed.

Please read the supporting information: Post SpecificationPlease also refer to our Careers site to find out more: Our Staff BenefitsCandidate SupportAbout Cumberland CouncilBasis: Full time