At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and oversee care planning for children, ensuring their voices are heard.
- Company: Join Herefordshire Council, dedicated to making a difference for children.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, relocation support, generous leave, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible working options and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in children's lives while working in a supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Qualified Social Worker with experience in Children's Services and strong leadership skills.
Contract: Permanent
Location: Hereford and nationwide. With flexible and hybrid working opportunities
Hours: 37
Salary: HC11 £51,356 - £55,915 (plus market supplement of £5,000 per year)
Welcome payment: £10,000 (see attached guidance)
Relocation package of up to £10,000 available
Closing date: 29/07/2026
Interview date: 03/08/2026
“Delivering Good quality services through Outstanding Leadership” – Ofsted
Introduction
Make a Difference for Children in Herefordshire
Are you an experienced social work professional with a passion for championing children's rights, driving high-quality practice, and achieving the very best outcomes for children in care? Herefordshire Council is seeking an exceptional Safeguarding & Review Manager (Independent Reviewing Officer) to join our Safeguarding and Reviewing Service. This is a unique opportunity to play a pivotal leadership role in ensuring children’s voices remain at the heart of decision-making while providing robust oversight, challenge and quality assurance across the care planning system. Working within a supportive and ambitious service, you will provide independent scrutiny of care plans, chair statutory reviews, and work collaboratively with children, families, carers, social workers and multi-agency partners to secure permanence, stability and positive outcomes for children and young people.
The Role
As a Safeguarding & Review Manager (IRO), you will be responsible for overseeing the care planning and review process for children looked after by Herefordshire Council. You will chair statutory Child Looked After Reviews and Adoption Reviews to provide independent oversight to ensure plans are child-focused, outcome-driven and delivered to a high standard. You will be a visible leader within Children's Services, promoting excellence in practice, challenging delay and drift, and ensuring that children receive the support, protection and opportunities they deserve. The role requires a confident practitioner who can balance support and challenge, maintain independence of judgement, and build effective relationships across a wide range of professional networks.
Key Responsibilities
- Chair statutory Child Looked After Reviews and Adoption Reviews to ensure compliance with legislation, regulations and statutory guidance.
- Ensure children have clear, ambitious and achievable plans that promote safety, stability and permanence.
- Provide independent oversight and scrutiny of care planning and service delivery.
- Monitor progress against agreed actions and challenge where plans are not progressing effectively.
- Ensure children's wishes, feelings and lived experiences inform all decision-making.
- Work in partnership with children, families, carers and professionals to improve outcomes.
- Identify practice strengths and areas for development through quality assurance activity.
- Escalate concerns where children's needs are not being met or where service delivery falls below expected standards.
- Contribute to service improvement, practice development and organisational learning.
About You
What We Are Looking For
We are seeking an experienced, child-focused social work professional who can demonstrate strong leadership, professional curiosity and excellent analytical skills.
Essential Requirements
- Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
- Significant experience within Children's Social Care.
- Experience as an Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO); or Team Manager within Children's Services.
- Extensive knowledge of the IRO Handbook, Working Together to Safeguard Children, Child Protection Procedures, and relevant childcare legislation and statutory guidance.
- Strong understanding of child development, attachment, separation and loss.
- Knowledge of Human Rights and Equality legislation.
- Experience of working effectively within multi-agency safeguarding environments.
- Proven ability to challenge practice constructively and influence positive change.
- Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel both in and outside of County.
Key Skills and Attributes
- Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
- Confidence in managing complex and sensitive discussions.
- The ability to influence professionals at all levels.
- Strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills.
- Excellent chairing and facilitation abilities.
- Outstanding report writing and analytical skills.
- The ability to capture and represent children's views effectively.
- Excellent organisation and time management skills.
- A commitment to achieving the best possible outcomes for children and young people.
We Offer
- A competitive salary, holiday entitlement, and access to our contributory pension and staff benefits scheme.
- Starting salary of HC11 £51,356- £55,915 (plus market supplement of £5,000 per year).
- Relocation packages: support of up to £10,000.
- Welcome payment £10,000 for experienced social workers joining our children’s teams.
- £2,000 retention payment (after 12 months, with annual review).
- Pension Scheme Enrolment in the Local Government (LGPS).
- Professional development: protected time and budget to support social workers develop themselves and their careers.
- Career progression: clear pathways to progress.
- Generous Annual Leave: 31 days’ annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays.
- Flexible working: flexi-time, job-share, part-time hours and, in some instances, home working.
- Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 access to support and counselling.
- Payment of professional membership fees.
- Pick your perks – our benefits include access to a range of retail, leisure, holiday and health benefits.
Why Choose Us?
We're proud and excited to unveil our new recruitment video, a celebration of Herefordshire's people, places, and purpose. At Herefordshire Council, every role matters and every person makes a real difference for our communities. We’re a team where people feel valued, supported and empowered to grow together. Herefordshire is a beautiful, historic county on the Welsh border, one of England’s most rural and unspoilt areas, with vibrant market towns and a strong sense of community. Our priority is clear: to keep children safe and give them the best start in life. We do this through passionate, dedicated professionals who build strong relationships with children, families, and partners to make a lasting difference.
How to apply
To apply for a position, please upload an up-to-date CV and complete the application form demonstrating your experience, skills and abilities for the role. Be sure to include reference to the job description and person specification or role profile! If you are successfully shortlisted, the C&YP Recruitment Team will contact you via email to arrange your interview and/or assessment.
Safeguarding & Review Manager (Independent Reviewing Officer) in Hereford employer: Hoople
Hoople is an excellent employer, offering a supportive and flexible working environment for Family Help Lead Practitioners dedicated to making a real difference in the lives of vulnerable families in Herefordshire. With a strong emphasis on professional development and collaboration with multi-agency teams, employees are empowered to grow their skills while contributing to impactful family support initiatives.
