Job Introduction
Bradford Children and Families Trust was established in April 2023 to enhance the quality and delivery of Children’s Services across our district. Our purpose is clear, to ensure that our promise to improve the lives of children and young people in Bradford becomes a reality. It’s a tough ask. It requires dedication, determination, and resilience – but under a new Chief Executive, Senior Leadership team and an unswerving drive to deliver the best outcomes, we are confident that we’ll achieve our ambition – and you, yours.
So, if you’re up for the Challenge we’d love to hear from you!
About The Role
The role purpose is to provide independent monitoring and scrutiny of the care plans for children in care, ensuring appropriate and timely decision-making, the timely progression of plans and the provision of high-quality care.
IROs work with children, families, social workers and other partners to achieve the best outcomes for children in care, bringing challenge and support to the work of social workers, managers and partners as required to raise the standard of care planning for all children in care.
The role requires quality assurance and, when required, appropriate challenge of the work of the Trust and other agencies to drive improvements in practice.
The role also seeks to manage social work resources efficiently and effectively, prioritising need and working cooperatively within the Trust.
Key Responsibilities
1. To ensure each Child in Care review takes place in accordance with statutory timescales, regulations, guidance and departmental procedures; this will include reviewing short break arrangements for children with disabilities and / or complex needs.
2. To support and challenge practitioners and managers within the council and external agencies to ensure the effectiveness of the review and care planning process to ensure that there is no drift or delay in achieving permanence for all children in care in Bradford.
3. To produce timely outcome-focused recommendations and reports after each review which clearly set out how the care plan is being implemented, the actions that are required to meet the child’s needs and achieve the care plan, ensuring that timescales specified are being adhered to.
4. To ensure that all reviews are child-focused and inclusive to promote best outcomes; representing the voice of the child in reviews even if children or young people do not attend. This includes access to representation and advocacy services.
5. To ensure that children and young people are made aware of complaints procedures and how to access support if they are not happy with the service they are receiving.
About You
1. To have experience and a practical understanding of assessment and appropriate planning in relation to children and families.
2. To have the ability to plan, prioritise and manage a workload while maintaining a high standard of quality and working under time constraints.
3. Representing and acting as an advocate for children and young people, demonstrating negotiation skills to ensure required outcomes are met.
4. Providing supervision and or guidance especially around effectively managing risks to children.
5. Extensive experience of working with children in situations where safeguarding is an issue.
6. Recognised Social Work Qualification.
7. Registered with Social Work England.
List of Benefits:
1. Generous Employer Contributions in a Local Government Pension Scheme.
2. Competitive salary and pay progression structure.
3. Real living wage as the minimum rate of pay.
4. Supportive carer and parental policies.
5. Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave.
6. Access to Occupational Health and confidential counselling services.
7. Supportive staff networks.
8. Access to Blue Light Card Discounts.
9. Professional development/support.
10. Career Progression.
11. Enhanced annual leave entitlement.
12. Social Worker Registration Fees paid.
13. Flexible Working/Hybrid options subject to service need.
Next Steps
For an informal Discussion about the role please contact Chris Reeves (Independent Reviewing Manager) on or 07582 101887.
Bradford Children and Families Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment.
If shortlisted, you will be required to disclose relevant information regarding criminal history prior to interview.
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check including a check against the Children’s barred list, will be carried out on preferred candidates.
Salary: PO5 £47,754 - £50,788 per annum + £2,000 Market Supplement
Frequency: Annually
Job Reference: bradfordcft/TP/652/144
Contract Type: Full Time / Fixed Term
Closing Date: 16 February, 2025
Job Category: Safeguarding, Review, QA, & Practice
Business Unit: Safeguarding, Review, QA & Practice
Location: Bradford, United Kingdom
Posted on: 28 January, 2025
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