SW Locums need a vastly experienced and capable Qualified Social Worker with Social Work England registration to work as an independent Review Officer (IRO) in Portsmouth.

It is a dual role so IRO work but also chairing some conferences if needed. Likely more IRO as a proportion.

This is initially for a 3 month period but may be extended.

It's a 0.8 fte cover but the days for this are negotiable.

There is some working from home but also an obvious need to go and see children at whatever location they are in but also to come in to the office as needed including to chair CP conferences if needed.

Duties:

• The Independent Reviewing Officer is a key role in quality assuring the care planning process and interventions for children. The role offers independent oversight and monitoring of children and young people's plans and interventions, to ensure there is high quality, timely and effective multi agency work being undertaken that will address need and achieve positive outcomes. The Independent Reviewing Officer should be confident to provide constructive professional feedback to promote good practice and to ensure that children's care plans are progressed with pace.
• The Independent Reviewing Officer adheres to the guidance outlined in the IRO Handbook. There is a requirement that children are consulted prior to their review. Children are encouraged to participate fully and even chair their review where possible. The IRO has an essential role in advocating for children and young people, escalating concerns and challenging on their behalf.
• The Independent Reviewing Officers use restorative practice to work in a positive way with children, families and carers to ensure that they are able to fully contribute to the development of the Care Planning.
• You would hold a dual role with mix of children subject to child protection planning and children that we care for. This will include chairing Child Protection conferences and Children We Care For review meetings.
• You will chair child protection conferences ensuring they are restorative in approach, with robust analysis and challenge. You will have a key role in ensuring that child protection plans are coproduced with families, SMART and clearly set out what will be offered to reduce harm and the outcomes to be achieved.
• You will be responsible for scrutinising and monitoring the progression of plans, addressing drift where necessary and to ensure they are delivered with pace. Where necessary, you will escalate concerns to ensure child safety.
• As an IRO for children that we care for, you will fulfil all the functions of the role as set out in the IRO Handbook. This includes chairing review meetings, developing relationships and consulting with children, young people, parents and significant others, having oversight of the care planning process including promotion of good quality care plans for all children. You will provide oversight between reviews to ensure that plans are progressed and permanence is achieved.
• The IROs work as a team to manage the workload and provide professional support and advice to operational teams and multi-agency partners.
• As part of the Children & Families Social Care and Safeguarding management team you will be involved in business planning and working with other agencies in the city.
• The IROs make a significant contribution to the Quality Assurance Framework within Children's Social Care, and IRO's are involved in undertaking a variety of audit activity, sometimes on a multi- agency basis.
• Working in partnership with service users, carers and a wide range of staff from our own and other organisations is key to all of our work and an essential role in this post.

SW Locums offer you:

• Fastest pay available, from completion of timesheet to reaching your bank.
• Constant, polite support with your own, vastly experienced and knowledgeable consultant.
• Great rates of pay.
• No “waffle”, informative and conscientious advice.
• Contact available 24/7.
• Access to exclusive vacancies nationwide.
• Free DBS and compliance service.
• Access to on-going training opportunities.
• Industry leading “Refer a Friend” recommendation scheme offering up to £300 for successfully placed referrals.*
• Excellent “Find your own job” bonus – get £350 for bringing your own position to us *

* Terms and conditions apply to our bonus scheme