INDEPENDENT REVIEWING OFFICER

Location: Market Place, SK10 1EA
Start Date: ASAP
Contract Duration: 3+ Months
Working Hours: Mon – Fri, 09:00 – 17:00, 37 Hours per week
Pay Rate: £ 33.22 per hour
Job Ref: 5274327

Job Responsibilities

• Organize, advise, and chair statutory reviews of children in care and children subject to child protection plans.
• Monitor Local Authority’s implementation of plans for looked after children and children subject to child protection plans, ensuring effective implementation of systems.
• Chair reviews or CP conference meetings, attend and chair other meetings related to a child’s case, and coordinate with the Safeguarding Unit.
• Monitor Local Authority’s performance as corporate parent, ensuring the appropriateness and implementation of plans and holding the authority accountable if actions are not implemented.
• Decide necessary actions to meet the child’s needs, endorse care plans, and ensure the child’s views are considered.
• Report failures to review cases, meet timescales, or instances of poor practice to senior management, using formal or informal channels for resolution.
• Contribute to improving services for cared for children by recognizing and reporting good practice.
• Collaborate with partners, other agencies, service users, and carers to ensure services comply with legislation and promote user-centered services.
• Lead and participate in service developments, including audits, planning, monitoring, and evaluation activities for continuous service improvement.
• Ensure correct use of information systems to meet statutory requirements and develop recording systems for monitoring and evaluation.
• Acknowledge and monitor formal and informal complaints, ensuring speedy resolution and application of appropriate learning to professional practice.

Person Specification

• Degree or equivalent qualification in social work.
• Registered with HCPC.
• Minimum 5 years post-qualifying experience in child protection case work, children in care, and care proceedings.
• Experience managing or supervising other social worker practitioners.
• Experience managing multi-agency meetings and formulating SMART plans and decisions.
• Ability to provide professional advice to colleagues and partner agencies.
• Experience in managing change and contributing to service development.
• Involvement in service development with children, families, carers, and staff.
• Knowledge of legislation related to children and families, particularly children in public care and child protection.
• Commitment to ensuring children and young people access services that meet their needs.
• Understanding of Local Government frameworks and processes.
• Sound understanding of social policy issues and best practices.
• Specific knowledge about safeguarding and child protection in Children’s Social Care.
• High-level knowledge about child development, family dynamics, and policies regarding children at regional and national levels.
• Well-organized, self-motivated, with strong IT skills.
• Highly effective influencing and communication skills.
• Strong focus on delivery, high performance, and teamwork.
• Ability to form partnerships with children, families, and agencies while maintaining focus on child welfare and safety.
• Awareness and management of conflicting agendas without detriment to the child.
• Ability to appraise opportunities for improvement and make sound judgments in high-risk environments.
• Commitment to Cheshire East values, with willingness and ability to travel throughout Cheshire East.

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Job Types: Full-time, Fixed term contract
Contract length: 3 months
Pay: £33.22 per hour
Expected hours: 37 per week

Experience:

• Independent Reviewing Officer: 1 year (required)

Work Location: In person
Reference ID: 527432

• Organize, advise, and chair statutory reviews of children in care and children subject to child protection plans.
• Monitor Local Authority’s implementation of plans for looked after children and children subject to child protection plans, ensuring effective implementation of systems.
• Chair reviews or CP conference meetings, attend and chair other meetings related to a child’s case, and coordinate with the Safeguarding Unit.
• Monitor Local Authority’s performance as corporate parent, ensuring the appropriateness and implementation of plans and holding the authority accountable if actions are not implemented.
• Decide necessary actions to meet the child’s needs, endorse care plans, and ensure the child’s views are considered.
• Report failures to review cases, meet timescales, or instances of poor practice to senior management, using formal or informal channels for resolution.
• Contribute to improving services for cared for children by recognizing and reporting good practice.
• Collaborate with partners, other agencies, service users, and carers to ensure services comply with legislation and promote user-centered services.
• Lead and participate in service developments, including audits, planning, monitoring, and evaluation activities for continuous service improvement.
• Ensure correct use of information systems to meet statutory requirements and develop recording systems for monitoring and evaluation.
• Acknowledge and monitor formal and informal complaints, ensuring speedy resolution and application of appropriate learning to professional practice