Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO)

Job Description

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Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) | Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council

Location: Stockton-on-Tees

Pay Rate: £34.45 per hour

Contract: Locum / Full-Time

Are you an experienced Social Work professional with a passion for quality assurance and child-centered practice? Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council is looking for a dedicated Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) to join their team and ensure the very best outcomes for children in care.

The Role

As an IRO, you will play a critical role in the oversight of care planning. You will be responsible for chairing Looked After Children (LAC) reviews, monitoring the performance of the local authority, and ensuring that every child's voice is at the heart of the decision-making process.

Key Responsibilities

• Chairing Reviews: Lead LAC reviews effectively, ensuring they are outcome-focused and timely.
• Quality Assurance: Monitor cases between reviews and challenge practice where necessary to ensure care plans meet the child's needs.
• Advocacy: Ensure that children and young people are actively involved in their own care planning and that their wishes and feelings are heard.
• Collaboration: Work closely with Social Workers, Team Managers, and partner agencies to drive improvements in service delivery.

Requirements

• Qualified Social Worker: Degree in Social Work and current Social Work England registration.
• Substantial Experience: Proven experience at a senior level, ideally within IRO, Child Protection, or Court-related roles.
• Communication Skills: Ability to engage with children and families, as well as the confidence to provide professional challenge to management.
• Efficiency: Strong organizational skills to manage a demanding caseload and meet statutory deadlines.

Randstad Care acts as an employment business when supplying temporary staff and as an employment agency when introducing candidates for permanent employment with a client. Randstad Care is an equal opportunities employer and decisions are made on merits alone. xwzovoh

Did you know that Randstad Care have been awarded a place on the National Clinical Staffing Framework for the NHS? This means we will be able to bring you more opportunities within nursing & midwifery and clinical staffing.