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- Tasks: Lead reviews for Looked After Children and ensure their voices are heard in care planning.
- Company: Join Hertfordshire County Council, a trusted partner in children's services.
- Benefits: Hybrid working, supportive environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with essential travel across Hertfordshire and a focus on safeguarding.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable children and shape their futures.
- Qualifications: Qualified Social Worker with 5+ years of experience and strong multi-agency collaboration skills.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Hertfordshire County Council is seeking an experienced Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) to be based at County Hall, Hertford. This is a vital role within Children's Services, supporting Looked After Children (CLA) and ensuring the highest standards of care planning and review.
Working Arrangements: Hybrid role with face-to-face meetings across Hertfordshire and beyond. WFH is available for review write-ups, with office bases and touchdown points accessible. Attendance at the office is required when meetings are scheduled. Travel across the county is essential.
Key Responsibilities:
- Chair statutory reviews for Looked After Children, primarily face to face, including all associated administrative tasks.
- Independently scrutinise and monitor the progression of care plans in line with the Review of Children's Cases Regulations.
- Ensure the adolescent's voice is central to the review process and reflected within care planning.
- Identify and challenge any drift or delay in care planning, escalating concerns where appropriate.
- Ensure adolescents are offered an independent IRO visit at least annually.
- Participate in team meetings, duty systems and first review systems.
- Attend monthly supervision.
- Undertake audit work as required.
- Work collaboratively with multi-agency partners, independent advocates, interpreters and the Children’s Participation Team.
The IRO plays a critical role in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Looked After Children. In line with DfES IRO Guidance, the postholder must inform senior managers of any issues impacting an adolescent's welfare, elevate concerns where care planning may breach an adolescent's human rights, and refer matters to CAFCASS where appropriate.
Qualifications:
- Qualified Social Worker (QSW).
- Minimum 5 years post-qualifying experience (PQE).
- Evidence of ongoing managerial and/or professional development.
- Strong experience of chairing complex meetings, managing and assessing complex cases, providing social work supervision, and working within multi-agency settings.
- In-depth knowledge of CLA legislation, regulations and best practice.
Established and trusted partnership with Hertfordshire County Council, dedicated consultant support, and access to high-quality, long-term local authority opportunities.
IRO Independent Reviewing Officer in London employer: Hertfordshire County Council
Contact Detail:
Hertfordshire County Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land IRO Independent Reviewing Officer in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the social work field, especially those who have experience with Looked After Children. They might have insider info on the role or even know someone at Hertfordshire County Council.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of CLA legislation and best practices. We recommend practising common interview questions related to safeguarding and care planning to show you’re ready to hit the ground running.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t underestimate the power of follow-ups! After an interview, drop a quick thank-you email to express your appreciation for the opportunity. It keeps you fresh in their minds and shows your enthusiasm for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website for a smoother process! We’ve got all the resources you need to make your application stand out, plus we’re here to support you every step of the way.
We think you need these skills to ace IRO Independent Reviewing Officer in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the IRO role. Highlight your experience with Looked After Children and any relevant qualifications. We want to see how your skills match what we're looking for!
Showcase Your Experience: Don’t just list your previous jobs; tell us about specific cases or situations where you made a difference. We love seeing real examples of your work, especially in complex meetings and multi-agency settings.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your strengths.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website. It’s the best way to ensure we receive all your details correctly and can get back to you quickly. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Hertfordshire County Council
✨Know Your Legislation
Make sure you brush up on the latest CLA legislation and regulations before your interview. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you’re not just familiar with the role but also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of Looked After Children.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past work where you've chaired complex meetings or managed challenging cases. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses, making it easier for the interviewers to see your impact.
✨Emphasise Collaboration
Since this role involves working with multi-agency partners, be ready to discuss how you’ve successfully collaborated in the past. Highlight any experiences where you’ve worked with independent advocates or participated in team meetings to demonstrate your teamwork skills.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Challenges
Think about potential challenges you might face in the role, such as delays in care planning. Prepare to discuss how you would identify and address these issues, showing that you can think critically and act decisively when it comes to the welfare of adolescents.