Salary 37,858 to 40,619

Temporary, Full time

Based in Bognor Regis

37 hours per week

Interview date: 13th January 2017 

This position is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (formerly Criminal Records Bureau check)

Independent Reviewing Officer

Independent Reviewing Service, Children’s Safeguarding Unit

Durban House, Bognor Regis

An exciting opportunity has arisen in West Sussex County Council for an Independent Reviewing Officer. The Independent Reviewing Service is situated in West Sussex County Council Children’s Safeguarding Unit. This appointment will be on a temporary contract basis, to cover maternity leave, from 1st March 2017.

The IRO role has statutory responsibility, oversight and endorsement of care plans, through chairing of statutory reviews for children looked after, and the completion of the review reports. This role is key in promoting good outcomes and life opportunities for children, by ensuring that high quality child care plans are achieved and the reviews of those plans are conducted within statutory timescales. Excellent child focused chairing skills are required, to ensure, children, their families and others, are enabled to contribute effectively to Review meetings. Additionally you will be required on occasions to undertake separate visits to children, for example when a child may choose not to attend their Review meeting.  

 Another essential component of this role is having the skills to undertake robust scrutiny, challenge, monitoring of children’s files and ensure the necessary tasks and actions identified by the IRO, are completed. It is also essential to be able to effectively manage the workload and complete reports within the required statutory timeframes.

You will need to hold a Social Work Qualification, and possess a good range of post qualifying skills, together with comprehensive knowledge of the statutory regulations and policies for children looked after, and have extensive experience in working with children and families. Previous managerial experience would also be advantageous.

The Independent Reviewing Service is located at Durban House, Bognor Regis. However the successful applicant will be expected to travel both within and outside of the County in this role. There is also the opportunity to work as needed, at other office bases in the County and remotely from home

Please contact Suzanne Stokes, Team Manager, Independent Reviewing Service for more information / informal discussion.