At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead impactful reviews for children in care and ensure their voices are heard.
- Company: Join Lewisham Council, a forward-thinking organisation dedicated to community welfare.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous holidays, flexible working, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with excellent transport links and career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while shaping social work practices.
- Qualifications: Qualified social worker with experience in children's services and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 43600 - 58551 £ per year.
Discover yourself in Lewisham where what you do makes a difference to our vibrant and culturally diverse communities!
It's an exciting time to join us as we lead the way on national reforms to social work practice through the Families First for Children programme. Lewisham was selected as a wave 2 Pathfinder authority and is leading the way on national reforms to social work practice through the Families First for Children programme. Lewisham is a young borough. One quarter of our residents are aged 0–19 years old. Our young people have huge talent and potential, and we want them to make the best start in life and grow up well-equipped to take advantage of the opportunities available to them in the diverse and vibrant city they live in. This post is available for social work qualified professionals who share our high aspirations and ambition to give all children a great start in life, making sure our children's future is everyone's business.
As an independent reviewing officer, you will be skilled at chairing complex meetings and building relationships with families, children, other professionals and colleagues. You will enable families to fully participate and make sure the child or young person's voice is represented and listened to and that they have a good and achieved Care Plan. As a professional who knows what good practice looks like, you will also support practice development and improvement working as part of the Quality Improvement Service. You will be involved in practice learning discussions and consultation with colleagues across the services.
- To assure the quality of work with Children in our Care in Lewisham, and to ensure performance is maintained.
- To chair statutory reviews of Children in our Care in accordance with Care Planning legislation, and to ensure plans for children progress appropriately.
- To contribute to the development of practice in relation to children in our care in Lewisham.
- To provide advice and consultation to social workers and team managers on specific issues of complexity.
- To be accountable for decision making in looked after reviews.
- To convene and record review outcomes and reports in LCS within statutory timescales.
- To provide a key role in problem resolution.
- To promote practice that acknowledges that becoming looked after is a final option for children and that the majority of children do best supported within their family of origin.
- To promote and model practice that is respectful of children and of parents, and takes full account of their views, rights and responsibilities.
- To undertake and record mid point monitoring to ensure progress is underway in meeting the child's agreed plan and any significant changes or concerns are addressed.
- To identify, record and elevate any concerns in relation to planning and achieving outcomes for children in our care.
- To make recommendations regarding the safety of children in our care.
- To represent the department at local practice based fora.
- To contribute, at the request of the IRO team manager or the Safeguarding and Quality Assurance service manager to internal and inter agency planning groups and meetings with regard to planning and development of services for children.
- To be responsible for monitoring, developing, maintaining and improving local quality assurance systems.
- To liaise with operational staff and managers to ensure proactive implementation of decisions from looked after children's reviews.
- To undertake audits and evaluation of work with children in our care, contributing to cross cutting audits as appropriate.
- To closely monitor the integrity of LCS and Performance related data within the responsibility of the postholder.
- To undertake all related administrative tasks involved in providing and monitoring the decisions and practices related to planning for children in our care to ensure that targets are met.
- To report to the IRO Manager any shortfalls in performance or service delivery, and to actively seek to rectify such shortfalls.
- To actively seek out opportunities for collaborative working with other agencies in the interests of improved planning and service delivery for children.
What's in it for you:
- Generous holiday allowance.
- Local Government Pension scheme.
- Flexible working and family friendly policies.
- Season ticket and bicycle loans.
- A range of staff discounts including local subsidised gym memberships.
- Supportive staff networks.
What We're Looking For:
- Significant post‐qualifying experience in children's social work, particularly with children who are looked after.
- Strong knowledge of legislation, statutory guidance and best practice relating to Care, safeguarding, and permanence.
- Experience of overseeing, supervising or quality assuring social work practice, with the ability to identify strengths and areas for improvement.
- Confidence working in complex, multi‐agency settings, building constructive relationships while maintaining professional independence.
- Excellent communication skills, with the ability to write clear, high‐quality reports and confidently chair review meetings.
- Sound professional judgement, with a proven ability to assess and manage risk and make defensible decisions.
- Confidence to provide professional challenge, including escalating concerns when children's plans or outcomes are not progressing effectively.
The job is primarily based in Laurence House, Catford, London, SE6 4RU. There are 2 local train stations 3‐5 minutes' walk from the office, and the train journey from London Bridge is approximately 15 minutes. There are also numerous bus routes that stop right by the office. We operate a hybrid approach where you will be required to work both in the office and from home on a regular basis.
A recognised Social Work qualification (DipSW, Social Work Degree or equivalent) is required.
Salary: £56,436.00 – £58,551.00 (SCP41‐SCP43). All appointments will be offered at the minimum spinal column point (SCP) for the grade of the role. The only exception to this will be when matching current salary (up to the maximum of the scale), which is subject to evidential proof.
Lewisham Council is a Disability Confident employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout our recruitment process. We support the access to work scheme; further details are available at www.gov.uk/access-to-work/apply.
Independent Reviewing Officer - Quality Assurance in London employer: Lewisham Council
Join Lewisham Council as an Independent Reviewing Officer and be part of a dynamic team dedicated to making a meaningful impact in our vibrant, culturally diverse community. With generous holiday allowances, a supportive work culture, and opportunities for professional growth, you will thrive in an environment that values your expertise and commitment to improving the lives of children in care. Our hybrid working model and convenient location near public transport make it easy to balance your professional and personal life while contributing to transformative social work practices.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Independent Reviewing Officer - Quality Assurance in London
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Lewisham Council.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Lewisham Council!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Lewisham Council, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Lewisham Council or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Independent Reviewing Officer - Quality Assurance in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Lewisham Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Lewisham Council! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Lewisham Council
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
