Your new role
Southend City Council are looking to appoint a full time, permanent Independent Reviewing Officer to join the Safeguarding and Reviews Service. The successful candidates will be joining a service committed to ensuring plans for children in our care are progressed without delay and lead to improved outcomes for children. As the newly appointed IRO, you will chair and record outcomes of reviews for children who are looked after, in foster placements, adoptive placements, residential establishments or placed at home with parents while subject to a care order and, as a result, confirming the care plan, in accordance with requirements of legislation and IRO guidance and SCC policy and procedures.You will monitor progress of plans for children between CLA Reviews and Child Protection Conferences to ensure their needs are being met.
You will be joining a service that Ofsted reported in 2023 as 'Social workers who were spoken to during this visit were positive about working for Southend and reported feeling safe and 'belonging'. Social workers reported that management is thoughtful, considers successes and celebrates good practice...the senior leadership team are visible and social workers can discuss issues affecting their work with children.
Within this position, hybrid working opportunities are available. However, you will be expected to be office-based 3 days a week.
What you'll need to succeed
To be successful in this position you must be able to work in the UK, have a recognised Social Work qualification and be registered with the Social Work England.You are required to have statutory local authority children's services experience along with experience of improving outcomes for children who are being harmed, including children who experience domestic abuse and chronic neglect.You will need to have the ability to engage in a restorative manner with parents, carers and children in order for them to know they are central to all aspects of planning. As well as having the ability to share expertise in the field of child protection with social workers, social work managers and partner agencies.You will have strong communication skills, both verbally and written, and have the ability to organise and manage a varied workload.
What you'll get in return
Pension:
Southend-on-Sea City Council provide membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) for employees aged under 75. The LGPS is a generous scheme and provides you with a future income, independent of share prices and stock market fluctuations.Leave Entitlements:We offer our employees a generous leave entitlement from 25 days up to 32 days based on length of service (Continuous service). Southend-on-Sea City Council also offer a range of flexible working and family-friendly leave.*We also offer paid time off to allow employees to undertake volunteering activities*
Here at Southend-on-Sea City Council we also offer our employees free access to a benefit portal that provides access to wellbeing support and a range of salary sacrifice schemes to help spread the cost of items, including:
- Bicycles, cars, electronics and gym membership.
- The portal also provides access to a range of discounts on products and services including retail, food shopping, travel, dining out and leisure activities.
Nowhere else will you gain as much experience on the job, making us a sought-after place to work. If you are passionate, dedicated to making a change and ready for a challenge - you could be the candidate we are looking for.
What you need to do now
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV.
If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.
Hays EA is a trading division of Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited and acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk