At a Glance
- Tasks: Make a real difference for children in care by chairing reviews and ensuring effective care planning.
- Company: Join a Good rated Children's Social Care service with a strong team ethos.
- Benefits: Generous annual leave, employee wellbeing support, and staff discounts.
- Other info: Flexible working arrangements encouraged; travel required within the authority.
- Why this job: Play a vital role in promoting children's rights and improving their outcomes.
- Qualifications: Professional social work qualification and registration with Social Work England required.
The predicted salary is between 31500 - 38500 £ per year.
How you'll make a difference
Joining a Good rated Childrens Social Care service, you will have the opportunity to contribute to practice that is child-centred, relationship-based and focused on continuous improvement.
As an Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO), you will play a vital role in ensuring children in care have strong, timely and effective care planning, with their voices heard and their rights promoted throughout the statutory review process.
Providing independent oversight, support and challenge, you will ensure care plans progress without drift, permanence planning is achieved within agreed timescales and children and young people are fully supported to participate in decisions that affect their lives.
What you will be doing
You will have the opportunity to make a significant difference for children in care by chairing statutory reviews, scrutinising care planning and ensuring that plans are progressed effectively, lawfully and in the best interests of each child.
This is a specialist quality assurance role where you will critically evaluate multi-agency planning, challenge practice where needed and help improve outcomes for children in care, care leavers and young people transitioning into adulthood.
- Chair statutory children in care reviews and support strong permanence planning.
- Provide independent scrutiny, challenge and quality assurance across care planning.
- Help children and young people participate meaningfully in reviews and decisions about their lives.
- Work collaboratively with social care teams, managers, families, advocates and partner agencies.
- Contribute to audit, learning and service improvement across children in care and safeguarding practice.
- What we need from you
You will need to bring professional authority, independence, emotional intelligence and a strong child-centred focus, using sound judgement to manage complex meetings, challenge practice sensitively and maintain attention to detail in planning for childrens safety, permanence and long-term outcomes.
- Hold a recognised professional social work qualification, such as Dip SW, CQSW, CSS or equivalent, and to be registered with Social Work England.
- Be confident chairing complex formal meetings, balancing different views and keeping a clear focus on the childs needs, wishes and long-term outcomes.
- Strong knowledge of legislation, regulations and statutory guidance relating to children in care and care leavers, applying this with sound professional judgement.
- Ability to communicate clearly and sensitively with children, young people, families and professionals, using strong written and interpersonal skills to influence practice.
- Work independently and with professional authority, constructively challenging practice or planning where needed to support safe, timely and child-centred decisions.
- What you need to know
- Although this post is advertised as a full-time position, we encourage and welcome applications from experienced practitioners who may be seeking flexible working arrangements.
- Please note that due to the nature of this role, it is a requirement of employment that an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is obtained.
- You will be expected to travel throughout the authority and surrounding area, so you must have a full, valid driving licence with regular access to a vehicle insured for business use or have an alternative suitable means of travel.
Interviews are currently anticipated to be held week commencing 24th August.
- How a career at South Gloucestershire Council is different
- As part of our benefits package, you will receive generous annual leave
(pro rata), employee wellbeing support and you will have access to a range of staff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities.
- We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work.
We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities.
- Whats special here is the strength of the team ethos
. We are a relatively small local authority, so managers know staff well. They can plan their services to ensure teams have manageable caseloads and have effective supervision so feel supported to make decisions which are right for the children and young people they work with.
Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here.
- We're building and shaping communities which people are proud of.
- Were providing essential services across our communities to ensure they are safe and well maintained.
We've achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference.
Were making a difference, be part of it!
To view the full job description, please click this link
Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO)
Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) - Yate employer: South Gloucestershire Council
South Gloucestershire Council is an excellent employer for those passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and families. With a strong commitment to employee development, you will benefit from flexible working opportunities, generous annual leave, and a supportive work culture that values collaboration and positive change. Join us in a role where your contributions directly impact the community and foster meaningful growth.
Contact Details:
South Gloucestershire Council Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) - Yate
✨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 South Gloucestershire 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 South Gloucestershire 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 South Gloucestershire 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 South Gloucestershire 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 (IRO) - Yate
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 South Gloucestershire Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to South Gloucestershire 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 South Gloucestershire 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.
