Child Protection Chair & Independent Reviewing Officer

We have a clear vision and plans to reduce the need for Children to come into our care with our new adolescent offer and edge of care work and we are continually working as a partnership to ensure or children are safe.

About the role

This is a very exciting time for Swindon and for the team. We are offering you the opportunity to join a strong, stable team. There is good supportive management within the team, and a wider recognition of the importance of the role by the senior management including the Director. You will be working directly and innovatively with children and their families to make changes that will make a real difference to their lives and outcomes.
This role is a dual role of IRO and CP Chair, but the successful applicant will primarily chair looked after children’s reviews.

The IRO and CP Chair Service in Swindon is not afraid of having difficult conversations, which challenge practice of professionals, for families and young people. We are committed to achieving the absolute best for children and implementing out statutory and regulatory obligations including the IRO Handbook, as well as best practice.

In the Ofsted Focused visit in December 2020, it was noted that ‘Independent Reviewing Officers are making a difference. “They carefully consider complex decisions for vulnerable children. Plan progression, and issue resolution, that takes place outside children’s reviews are recorded well and considered in future planning”.

About you

Good communication skills are essential as you use your skills to help children and their family’s to participate in meetings and achieve the best outcomes possible. Experience of chairing complex meetings is highly desirable.

We are inviting applications from enthusiastic, child focused, aspirational and competent professionals who are SWE registered, have a degree in social work (or equivalent), have 5 years post qualifying experience with relevant management experience in social work. We expect you to possess excellent knowledge of relevant childcare legislation and procedures.
Due to the experience required for this role, it is anticipated that the successful applicant will be commence employment on the higher end of the salary rate offered above.

Our offer to you

• £3000 “golden hello” payment after one years service.
• Retention payments of £2000 after completing 2 years’ service and a further £2000 after 3 years’ service.
• Relocation allowance of up to £8,000 (eligibility criteria)
• Career development opportunities through the Swindon Social Work and Leadership Academy
• Free car parking at our central Swindon campus
• A career average revalued earnings (CARE) pension scheme
• 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays) rising to 30 days after 10 years’ service
• Leisure and Legal Services discounts
• Eating Out, Shopping and Entertainment discounts
• Flexible working

Candidates must be fluent in the English language (as a requirement of Part 7 of the Immigration Act – for the effective performance of a customer-facing role).

Read the role profile and select the Apply button where you will be redirected to the Swindon Borough Council website to complete our online application process. Clicking the ‘Apply’ button on this job website is not an application, you must register on the Swindon Borough Council website in order to be considered for the role.

For further information about the role please Sean Capewell, Senior IRO on 07392 103032.

If you are experiencing technical issues submitting your application please email resourcing@swindon.gov.uk