The Role

What a child said about his Independent Reviewing Officer in Wandsworth?

‘’My IRO is funny, he cares about me, he wants the best for me and he listens”

Does this sound like the kind of practitioner you are too? 

Are you passionate about children who are looked after achieving the best outcomes?

Do you want to ensure that children’s voices are at the heart of plans and arrangements for their care?  

Do you want to help ensure children’s voices shape practice?   

If you are, we have the perfect role for you!

We are seeking 2 Independent Reviewing Officers to join us in Children’s Planning and Review (Quality Assurance) and help us in fostering best practice, driving permanence and stability for children.

Our vision in Wandsworth

Wandsworth is an inspiring well-resourced and diverse local authority. Things are rapidly changing in Wandsworth. We have a newly appointed Director of Children’s Services and Assistant Director for Children and Families with ambitious plans to lead Wandsworth to good and outstanding.

We are working with new projects and ways of working which are very exciting. This includes introducing systemic practice; being part of the innovation programme and introducing the Family Safeguarding Model; and planning to work with Coram on a New Beginnings programme for our care leavers.

What does the team do?

The aim of the service is to provide quality assurance to the plans and arrangements for children who are looked after to ensure outcomes are improved and help achieve the child’s full potential. This quality assurance function includes monitoring the performance by the local authority of their functions in relation to a child’s care.   .

We advocate for our children and where indicated, provide challenge on their behalf. We review plans midway between reviews and keep in contact with children. A key priority for the service is to ensure that all children who are looked after and cannot successfully return to their family, have a secure, permanent home in which to grow up in. 

We contribute to permeance planning, placement stability and other key meetings for children as well as advising colleagues.  

We provide challenge on behalf of children.

We promote and develop positive working relationships with Social Workers, the Virtual School, personal advisors, social workers, team managers, senior managers and other stakeholders including our designated leads for children who are looked after. We also maintain good links with CAFCASS children’s guardians.

What will your role be?

This is a key quality assurance role and you will be responsible for ensuring that planning for children is of a high standard.  You will be able to listen to children and use your significant social work experience to ensure they are engaged and participating in their reviews.

As an IRO you are crucial in empowering our children and young people to make their voices heard. As corporate parents we want all our children to have opportunities so they can thrive. You will be proactive in promoting their physical health, emotional well-being, education, identity and achieve permanence and support them to transition into successful, independent adults. We will also want you to be involved in helping children to co-produce innovation and change, particularly through the Wandsworth children in care council ‘CLICK’.

You will need to be a Qualified Social Worker with at least five years’ post qualifying experience, be registered with Social Work England (formerly know as HCPC) and have the following experience and skills:

• Excellent communication skills with children, young people, parents and carers.  
• A thorough working knowledge of the legal framework relating to children who are looked after including Children Act 1989, the Care Planning Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010 and the duties and responsibilities of the IRO as set out in the IRO Handbook (2010) as well as adoption and fostering regulatory frameworks.
• A clear understanding of the key issues and vulnerabilities for children who are looked after
• A commitment to anti discriminatory practice
• Extensive statutory experience as a children’s Social Worker and preferably with management experience at Assistant Team Manager or above level;
• Have the ability and experience to effectively challenge to ensure best outcomes for children, including effective escalation. 
• Effectively contribute to children’s meetings, training and provide quality assurance leadership.  

How to apply?

To apply complete an application outlining how you meet the specific requirements of the role. Please refer to the attached full Job Description/Person Specification.

For an informal discussion contact Chris Jennion on Chris.Jennion@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk

Benefits

In return, we can offer you working arrangements that will enhance your work-life balance and a generous holiday allowance of 31 days plus bank holidays.  In addition, we offer a range of staff benefits such as membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, childcare vouchers, new technology scheme, interest-free loans on annual travel cards, discounts at many leisure activities, restaurants, shops, and other establishments. A wide range of developmental opportunities is also offered.

Indicative Recruitment Timeline

• Closing Date: 11:59pm on Sunday 19th July 2020
• Shortlisting Date: To be confirmed
• Interview Date(s): To be confirmed

Useful Information:

Please note that these dates are only indicative at this stage and could be subject to change.

The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Equality Statement

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services.

We are pleased to be Disability Confident employer.

Important Information

This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children. It replaces the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils