Description Contract Type: One Permanent - Full time Post Working Hours: 37 hours per week Worker Type: Hybrid Worker Salary: Starting Salary is Grade J. Scale 40 - £49,764 to Scale 43 - £52,805 per annum (pro-rata for part-time) Location: Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham, NG2 3NG We’ve got an exciting opportunity available for talented individuals to join our workforce - perhaps this is the opportunity you’ve been looking for? Read on to find out more… Working for Nottingham City Council has great benefits. As well as competitive pay, great leave entitlement and access to a generous pension scheme, we strive to create an innovative, inclusive and progressive work culture where everyone is supported to do and be their very best. In return, we are looking for people like you - people who are innovative, driven and committed to serving and improving Nottingham. So, if you are passionate about making a difference to the lives of those who live and work in our city, we want to hear from you. You can read more about the different benefits offered to colleagues working for Nottingham City Council here. About the Role A post has arisen in the Nottingham City’s Safeguarding and Quality Assurance Service for a talented and enthusiastic Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO). The role is based from Loxley House, but we now operate a hybrid working environment. In addition, you will have the benefit of a supportive and proactive management team and a genuine commitment to you and your career development, with a clearly defined career path. The overall role of the IRO is to monitor the performance by the Local Authority in relation to a child’s Care Plan. Within this role you will be responsible for driving and scrutinising children’s Care Plans through the chairing of reviews. To be appointed, a prospective IRO should be able to provide evidence that they have sufficient relevant social work experience. In children’s social care to undertake the required functions as highlighted in the main duties below. Main Duties of the Role: To assure the quality of work with Children in Care in Nottingham City Children’s Integrated Services, and to ensure performance is maintained. To chair statutory in person Children in Care Reviews in accordance with legislation, and to ensure plans for children progress appropriately. To contribute to the development of practice in relation to Children in Care in Nottingham City. To provide advice and consultation to Social Workers and Team Managers on specific issues of complexity. To be accountable for decision making in Children in Care Reviews. To convene and record Review outcomes in Liquid Logic (child’s electronic file) within timescales. To ensure that recording of information relating to children and young people are accurately recorded in line with departmental procedures and guidance. Ongoing monitoring of progress of children’s Care Plans/Pathway Plans. Identifying areas of drift and delay in permanence for children and escalating as per the Council's Practice Resolution Policy. Visiting children outside of Reviews. A thorough working understanding of the legal process and the issues involved when a Local Authority makes an application for a Care Order. To work within the Independent Reviewing Officer Handbook 2010 or any subsequent legislation in relation to undertaking the role of Independent Reviewing Officer. To provide a key role in problem resolution. To work with Complaints Officers, and Advocates, where necessary, for the resolution of a problem. To promote and model practice that is respectful of children and of parents, and takes full account of their views, rights, and responsibilities. To identify, record and escalate any concerns in relation to permeance planning and achieving outcomes for Children in Care. To liaise with operational Staff and Managers to ensure proactive implementation of decisions from Children in Care Reviews. To undertake audits and evaluation of Children in Care work, contributing to cross cutting audits as appropriate. To undertake all related administrative tasks involved in providing and monitoring the decisions and practices related to Children In Care planning to ensure that targets are met. To report to the IRO Service Manager any shortfalls in performance or service delivery, and to actively seek to rectify such shortfalls. To actively seek out opportunities for collaborative working with other agencies in the interests of improved planning and service delivery for children. To prepare for and attend supervision sessions and team meetings. To contribute towards and participate in staff training and development programmes. To undertake any other duties, appropriate to the work and grade of the post, as may be directed from time to time to meet the exigencies of the service. About You The ideal candidate will have: The IRO should have at least five years post qualifying experience with 12 months supervisory responsibilities within children’s social work. Must have a Social Work qualification (Diploma in Social Work, Social Work Degree or equivalent). You must be registered with Social Work England. Driving licence is essential you should be able to and be willing to travel both inside and outside of the City Council area as required. An enhanced DBS check will also be required. At Nottingham City Council we believe that work is what you do, not where you do it. We offer different working arrangements, depending on the role, including hybrid working. Further information on Worker Types and what these mean in terms of how and where you work can be found on the additional information for applicants page. For informal enquiries please contact Alison Platkiw IRO Service Manager, by telephone on 07939 354 198 or by email at alison.platkiwnottinghamcity.gov.uk Closing Date: 7th February 2025 Please note there may be occasions where we close the advert before the closing date and we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. The job description for this role can be found (TBC) Interview dates to be confirmed If you have any technical issues when completing your application, please contact our Employee Service Centre: https://emss.freshdesk.com/support/home By applying to this job, you agree to our Terms & Conditions.