Newcastle City Council - IRO Team
Are you a passionate and experienced social work professional committed to ensuring the best possible outcomes for children and young people in care? Do you possess the confidence and expertise to provide robust challenge and critical oversight to care planning?
Newcastle City Council is looking for a dedicated Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) to join our established and supportive Children's IRO Team. This is a vital role focused on safeguarding the rights and promoting the well-being of our looked after children.
About the Role
As an IRO, you will be primarily responsible for:
Chairing Statutory Reviews for Looked After Children (LAC) and ensuring the Care Plan meets the child's needs and promotes their welfare, development, and safety.
Monitoring the performance of the Council and its partners in meeting their statutory obligations to the child, challenging poor practice, and escalating concerns promptly when necessary.
Directly engaging with children and young people to ensure their voices, wishes, and feelings are at the centre of the review process and their Care Plan.
Providing quality assurance on the standard of social work practice and care planning within the Local Authority.
Initiating the dispute resolution process when disagreements arise that compromise the child's welfare or rights.
What We're Looking For
Essential Requirements:
Substantial post-qualifying experience in Children's Social Work, including significant experience in Looked After Children (LAC) services, permanence, and/or safeguarding.
A recognised Social Work qualification (e.g., DipSW, CQSW, BA/MA in Social Work).
Current registration with Social Work England (SWE).
In-depth knowledge of relevant children's legislation, particularly the Children Act 1989 and 2004, the IRO Handbook, and national standards.
Excellent communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
Newcastle is a vibrant and forward-thinking city and their Children's Services are dedicated to achieving excellence.
If you are a highly skilled and committed social work professional ready to embrace this influential role and champion the rights of children in care, we want to hear from you!
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.
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.
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