Independent Reviewing Officer

We are currently recruiting for an Independent Reviewing Officer to join our Independent Reviewing Team on a permanent basis.

Reward and support

For all your hard work. You will receive the following:

• £49,498 - £51,515 per annum
• Welcome payment of £5,000*
• Up to £8,000 relocation package
• Flexible and agile working opportunities
• 25.5 days annual leave rising to 30.5 days after 5 years continuous service
• An option to purchase 10 days of additional leave per year (pro rata for part-time staff)
• Family friendly policies and benefits to help support you and your family
• Supportive and positive working environment with regular, robust supervision
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) that provides free, confidential, counselling and advice for employees, available 24 hours a day, online and by telephone.
• An in-house Occupational Health service
• Employee discount scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary sacrifice green car scheme (T&Cs apply)
• Links to employee networks such as Prism (LGBT+) and the Young Employees Network
• Career development and qualification opportunities
• Access to our Social Work Academy
• Paid SWE registration renewal

Right child, right support, right time, every time

Gloucestershire’s vision is “to work together to give every child the best possible chance of a remarkable life, especially those children who need more help.”

We have ambitious improvement and transformation plans to create the optimum conditions within which our staff can make a real difference and improve outcomes for children.

We are a local authority adopting, and training all colleagues in, systemic social work practice. If you would like to join an authority that takes a relational approach to working with families and focuses on what needs to change in the system around a child and family to enable children to thrive, then consider a role with GCC.

About the team

You will be joining a stable team of lively, hard working IRO's.  We know that to be effective we must hold the child at the centre of all we do and not shy away from the difficult conversations that may be necessary to bring about best outcomes for children. We seek as a service to fulfill our statutory responsibilities with a relational and systemic approach to practice recognising that respect, collaboration and authentic relationships facilitate opportunities for better outcomes for children.  We have a culture of shared responsibility and shared learning.  We value the expertise of each member of the service which collectively provides a rich environment for further strengthening and development of the service.   

About the role

You will be Chairing Child in Care Reviews and ensuring that reviews are completed within statutory timescales and to a high standard.  You will be visiting with children in a variety of settings, and will have the necessary skills to engage children in direct work ensuring that their wishes and feelings are faithfully sought.  You will be able to communicate effectively with children, their parents, foster carers, professionals and all levels of management within the local authority, and external partners. This will contribute to the reviews of children and enhance the quality assurance activity you will undertake in regular progress checks for children in care.  It is an essential part of the role that you have a proven ability to robustly and holistically scrutinise plans for children and respectfully challenge any area of their care that does not meet their welfare needs.   

It is expected that you will contribute to the development and quality assurance of service standards, and as such, take a lead in a particular area within the service.

You can anticipate a warm welcome into a lively role and will receive regular reflective supervision, as well as the support of a Buddy and your peers.  

About you 

As well as your experience as a frontline social worker, there are some things we require of you to be successfully appointed to this post:

• Social Work England registration
• a recognised qualification in Social Work
• to have passed your Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE)
• a full driving licence and willingness to drive
• DBS clearance

How to apply

For an informal chat about this role, please contact Dave Stewart on David.Stewart@gloucestershire.gov.uk or Miranda Rigley on Miranda.Rigley@gloucestershire.gov.uk