Job Introduction
Job Title: Independent Reviewing Officer
Starting Salary: £53,806 plus £8,560 market enhancement progressing to £59,497 plus £8,607 market enhancement per annum
Hours: 37 hours per week
Location: Hertfordshire - based from either Hemel Hempstead or Stevenage with travel countywide
Contract Type: 12 Months secondment / Fixed Term
Directorate: Childrens Services
About the role
The role of the IRO is to Chair children’s statutory reviews and monitor the local authorities care planning for children to ensure positive outcomes are achieved without drift. In essence the IRO performs statutory functions prescribed in the Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010 and related regulations and guidance in relation to all looked after children including those receiving:
- Short breaks
- Within the youth justice system
- Detained in secure accommodation
- Admitted or detained compulsorily in hospital
- On an adoption pathway and separated migrant children.
We ensure a care plan is in place for each looked after child, and that the plan fully reflects the child’s current needs, and actions in the plan are consistent with the Council’s legal responsibilities towards that child.
About the role
You will be involved with children from birth to eighteen who have experienced trauma and challenge in their lives. English may not be their first language; they may have a whole range of lived experience that impacts on the ease with which they may wish to engage with you and the role requires thinking outside the box and tenacity to develop a trusting relationship. The IRO may be the most consistent professional in the young person’s engagement with the local authority.
It is crucial that you have the ability to engage with children and young people in creative and consistent ways to develop relationships and support them in understanding and contributing to their care plans through the review mechanism.
Achieving permanence and stability for young people looked after outside of their family is a primary goal, you will need to be able to offer clear recommendations to support this goal.
You will be expected to highlight areas of good practice as well as issues relating to drift and delay or poor practice and escalate these through the relevant processes to achieve a resolution.
Chairing complex meetings, you must ensure that all participants are heard whilst keeping the views, wishes and feelings of the young person at the centre of the care planning process.
It is an expectation of the role that you complete administrative work to a high standard and in a timely way using the required IT systems. The role also involves complex diary management so there is a need to be organised, self-motivated and able to communicate and negotiate.
You will be expected to be able to travel both in and out of county. Some of your work will be home based but you will be expected to visit with and consult with children face to face and attend meetings face to face in a variety of settings.
About you
Essential:
- Qualified and Registered Social Worker with at least 5 years post qualifying practice experience
- Excellent written and verbal communication
- IT skills
- Ability to prioritise your own work and respond to tight deadlines.
- Confident in challenging any areas of drift and delay or poor practice
- Able to chair complex meetings
- Full UK driving licence and regular access to a vehicle
Desirable:
- Supervisory or management experience
To hear more about this opportunity please contact Emma.Rogers@hertfordshire.gov.uk or Rachel.Daughtry@hertfordshire.gov.uk for an informal discussion about the role.
Interview Date: 24th and 25th March
This job role is within the Health & Social Care level 13 job profile. Please locate this via:
Job profiles - Health and social care
How to apply
We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.
As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.
Secondment
This position is open to secondments. If you work for HCC or any other Local Authority and would like to be considered as a Secondment contract, please ensure you complete the Secondment Form as part of your application. If you do not, your application will be considered as a Fixed Term Contract only.
Additional information
Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
Safeguarding
This role has been identified as requiring a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.
Driving required
You’ll need to have the ability to drive and/or travel around Hertfordshire, either using your own mode of transport or a company car to travel to other locations.
English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.