Independent Reviewing Officer

Overview

In this role you support looked-after children by quality‑checking care planning and leading statutory reviews. You work across Essex to monitor progress, involve the child’s wishes, and drive improvements in outcomes as part of the council’s corporate parenting duties. You will chair reviews, coordinate multi‑agency input, and ensure timely, child‑centred decisions. This position offers cross‑county travel and significant impact on safeguarding and service development.

Pay / Benefits

• flexible working arrangements
• support for unpaid carers
• disability Confident Leader status
• opportunities for career development
• public service emphasis
• commitment to safeguarding

Responsibilities

• Monitor and report on each child’s case against statutory requirements
• Participate in and chair statutory reviews of the child’s case
• Ensure child’s wishes and feelings are considered in care planning
• Lead quality assurance of care planning and review processes
• Identify and invite relevant family members, carers and professionals to reviews
• Convene formal reviews when needed to update care plans and actions
• Intervene with senior management when local authority obligations are not met
• Support development of strategic and corporate plans for looked-after children
• Facilitate access to advocacy and the complaints process for children and families
• Provide expert advice, mentoring and training on Children in Care practice
• Ensure administrative processes and documentation are completed within timescales
• Monitor efficiency of the Independent Reviewing Service and recommend improvements
• Keep abreast of research affecting Children Looked After and advise stakeholders
• Support the delivery of county-wide Reviewing Service objectives and Children in Care strategies

Key requirements

• Dip SW or degree in Social Work practice
• PQ Childcare Award or equivalent by experience
• Current Social Work England Registration
• At least five years post-qualifying experience
• Proven ability to build relationships with children and young people and to advocate for their wishes and feelings
• Commitment to promoting family time and connections with birth families
• Strong knowledge of statutory obligations, codes of practice and research in Children in Care
• Experience of operational planning and service delivery in children’s services
• Experience chairing meetings with children, parents, carers and professionals
• Ability to work with senior managers and provide constructive challenge
• Understanding of leading change in a large, complex organisation
• Experience providing social work supervision and in multi‑disciplinary planning and performance frameworks
• Knowledge of legal processes in court applications and National Minimum Standards for fostering services and Adoption Regulations

• relationship-building with children and families
• clear and constructive challenge
• mediation and conflict resolution
• Knowledge of Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2021
• Familiarity with statutory safeguarding requirements andLooked After Children care standards
• Experience with court processes for care orders and related legal frameworks

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