Independent Reviewing Officer in Harlow

Independent Reviewing Officer for West and South Essex. Home-based role with the need to travel to chair looked after child reviews and visit children.

To provide an effective Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) service for children in care, in accordance with statutory regulation, guidance, and Essex County Council procedures. To review the cases of children who are looked after as laid down in Volume 2 Care Planning, Placement and Case Review (England) Regulations (2021), and the IRO Handbook (2010).

The statutory duties of the IRO are to:

• Monitor the performance by the local authority of their functions in relation to the child's case.
• Participate in any review of the child's case.
• Ensure the wishes and feelings of the child are given due consideration by the authority.
• Perform any other function which is prescribed in regulations.

The Independent Reviewing Officer's primary focus is to quality assure the care planning and review process for each looked after child, and to ensure that the child's needs, wishes and feelings are given full consideration. The review process should consider the child's assessed needs, and their progress, and will agree both long term plans and more immediate steps that will meet these needs and promote the child's welfare. The purpose of the review process is to ensure that the child's welfare is safeguarded and promoted in the most effective way while looked after by the Local Authority.

The Experience You Will Bring

• Educated to Dip SW or degree level in Social Work practice.
• PQ Childcare Award or equivalent by experience.
• Current Social Work England Registration.
• At least five years post qualifying experience [regulation 46].
• A proven ability to form and sustain relationships with children and young people and the ability to promote the interest, wishes and feelings of children in care.
• A commitment to promoting family time and relationships with a child's family of origin.
• A comprehensive working knowledge and experience of working with children and families, and Children in Care and be fully conversant with all related statutory obligations, codes of practice and significant research findings.
• A sound working knowledge and experience of operational planning and service delivery within children's services in local government, with demonstrable and proven record of achievement in same.
• Experience of chairing meetings involving children, parents and/or carers and other professionals.
• The confidence and ability to work constructively with senior managers, offering a critical perspective and appropriate challenge.
• A detailed understanding and awareness of the requirements of leading and managing change within a large, complex organisation.
• Experience of providing social work supervision and support.
• Experience of developing and implementing planning and performance frameworks in a multi-disciplinary and partnership environment.
• A thorough understanding of the legal framework relating to looked after children and care leavers, including knowledge of the National Minimum Standards for fostering services and the Adoption Agencies Regulations 2005.
• A thorough working understanding of the legal process and the issues involved when a local authority makes an application to the court for an order.
• Knowledge of the evidence about what makes for good quality practice in working with children and families to safeguard children and promote their welfare.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.