The Safeguarding and QA Service are looking to appoint an Independent Reviewing Officer on a permanent basis to undertake the chairing of Child Protection Conferences and statutory reviews of Children who are Looked After in Calderdale.
Ofsted Inspectors in November 2018 said of our service.
‘Children are protected by timely and effective child protection conferences’
‘All children have a clear plan for permanence by their second review; their progress is monitored effectively by visible IROs who escalate concerns if required’
This post will provide an opportunity to participate in the quality assurance work which has been an invaluable contribution to the improvements to practice in the Borough.
You will need demonstrable post-qualifying experience in statutory social work with children and families and experience of chairing meetings involving children and families. You will have a thorough working knowledge of the legal framework relating to child protection and looked after children, including Care Planning Regulations and the duties and responsibilities of the IRO as set out in the IRO Handbook (DfE 2010). You are required to hold a relevant Social Work qualification and SW England registration.
The post holder will carry a combined caseload (CP/CLA) and be a member of a busy but supportive and committed team. You will play a full part in the team’s work to ensure the effective safeguarding and promotion of the welfare of vulnerable children and young people in Calderdale.
You will have an office base in the centre of Halifax however there is an opportunity for you to work flexibly from home and other offices within the local authority. The team are experienced and proficient in chairing hybrid and remote meetings leading the way with the technology that has been developed through the challenges faced following the impact of covid.
For an informal discussion about this post please contact Simon Buttler 07734459562 or Kathryn Dempsey 07738785315
Closing date: 9th July 2023
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expect all staff to share this commitment. Applicants to posts that are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act will require a DBS from the Disclosure and Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed.
We may utilise digital interview methods.
As part of our Vision (https://www.calderdale.gov.uk/vision/) we aim to be a talented, resilient and inclusive community. We welcome applications from all and offer a variety of flexible working / job share opportunities for both full and part time staff.
All applications are anonymised before being seen by the selection panel.
We reserve the right to close vacancies prior to the advertised closing date, an early submission is advised.