Independent Reviewing Officer

Overview

In this role you champion the voices of looked-after children and guide care planning to secure their best interests. You will lead statutory reviews, challenge drift, and work with a wide network of professionals to improve outcomes. Based in Leeds’ Integrated Safeguarding Unit, you will apply social work expertise with restorative practices to shape child-centred plans. The role offers scope to influence corporate parenting and contribute to system-wide learning and development. This is a high-impact position at a major city employer with a clear mission to protect and empower children.

Pay / Benefits

• competitive salary
• annual leave and statutory holidays
• West Yorkshire Pension Fund
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• clear career pathway and professional development
• wellbeing benefits

Responsibilities

• Chair statutory Looked After Child Reviews and Adoption Reviews and other reviews where appropriate
• Monitor local authority performance on care plans and ensure child wishes and feelings are considered
• Identify drift or delay in care planning and challenge as needed
• Promote the voice of the child and build relationships with children, families and professionals
• Lead reviews to agree clear, timely actions and maintain momentum toward permanence
• Provide an independent view on corporate parenting and raise improvement where needed
• Contribute to policy, practice, and inter-agency training and development
• Collaborate with multi-agency partners to deliver high-quality reviews and safeguarding outcomes
• Prepare and contribute to monitoring reports for senior management
• Represent the IRO service in service development projects and training

Key requirements

• Qualified social worker registered with Social Work England
• Five years’ post-qualifying experience including work with looked after children and care leavers
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, guidance, and regulations (Children Act 1989, Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010)
• Ability to chair complex, multi-disciplinary meetings and produce clear recommendations
• Excellent organisational, diary management and report-writing skills
• Strong communication and relationship-building with children, families, carers and professionals
• Analytical skills and ability to reflect on practice with supervision to inform decisions
• Good IT skills including updating and interrogating children’s care records
• Commitment to anti-oppressive practice and equality standards
• Flexible to work within service requirements and adapt to change

• strong communication
• professional curiosity
• restorative practice
• IT skills for care records and case management
• ability to chair multi-disciplinary meetings
• analysis and reporting of reviews

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