Role: Independent Reviewing Officer/Child Protection Conference Chair

Team: Safeguarding & Quality Assurance Team

Grade: M4

Connect2Luton are excited to recruit a Independent Reviewing Officer/Child Protection Conference Chair on behalf of Luton Borough Council within their Safeguarding & Quality Assurance Team.

Main purpose of position:

The Independent Review Officers' (IRO) service is set within the framework of the updated IRO Handbook, linked to revised Care Planning Regulations and Guidance which were introduced in April 2011; The Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011, The Fostering Services: National Minimum Standards 2011 and The Children Act 1989. Responsibility of the IRO has changed from the management of the Review process to a wider overview of the case including regular monitoring and follow-up between Reviews. The IRO has a key role in relation to the improvement of care planning for children Looked After and for challenging drift and delay. The purpose of the post is as follows:

To Chair Reviews of Looked After Children and Child Protection Conferences as required in statute.

Chairing Meetings:

1. To chair Looked After reviews, strategy meetings and conferences effectively, ensuring that participants from all agencies involved in cases, have an opportunity to raise concerns and also ensure that conflict resolution, safeguarding and practice alerts are raised where appropriate.
2. To enable the child to have a voice in proceedings, meeting them beforehand to discuss issues they want to raise. This may involve seeing the child in their own home or placement
3. To ensure that parents have an opportunity to make their views known during the course of the meeting and are clear about any recommendations and plans made involving them and their family as part of the participation process.

Practice Leadership:

1. To provide and develop independent professional leadership around practice matters and advice and consultation for staff within children's services.
2. To maintain a knowledge of relevant legislation and research, to ensure that services respond proactively to required changes and also participate in the development of the Team Business Plan, to ensure that it reflects the Children's Services Plan and is in line with promoting positive outcomes for children and young people and their families.
3. To ensure that all duties are undertaken in a manner that promotes & values diversity.

Quality Assurance:

1. To be available for consultation and advice on case matters when required, to undertake Management Reviews of individual cases as necessary and also carry out thematic audits to ensure safety of practice and identify areas for learning and development
2. To ensure that management practices are in line with departmental, borough and national policies and also provide feedback to social workers and their managers to enable improvements in the review and conferencing process and outcomes for children and young people.
3. Ensure that the minutes and records of meetings are detailed, accurate, meet statutory and legal requirements and are available and distributed within required statutory timescales.

Communications:

2. To ensure a high level of communication with Social Workers, Team Managers, Service Managers and Divisional Managers on individual cases and any performance issues in regard to both individuals and Teams; devise and undertake presentations of the outcomes of audits or individual Management Reviews to a variety of audiences.
3. To communicate effectively and appropriately across the Council and also with partner agencies and also ensure that all enquiries and complaints are dealt with in accordance with agreed timescales.
4. To communicate with children and young people and their families and partner agencies promoting a culture of participation and engagement and dealing with areas of conflict in a sensitive manner that focuses on positive outcomes for children and young people.

Skills and Experiences:

• Substantial experience of working with looked after children and foster carers and children and young people who are subject to child protection plans, including complex legal proceedings.
• Substantial experience of managing teams.
• Demonstrable experience of developing and managing policies and procedures in line with national and local changes
• Ability to authoritatively Chair key multi - agency meetings, ensuring that all agencies contribute appropriately.
• Ability to communicate with diverse audiences and also to manage conflict and disagreements effectively
• Ability to involve young people and carers in meetings and in decision making.
• Ability to work within timescales.
• To organise own workload and to manage time effectively.
• Ability to manage staff and offer advice and consultation to less experienced staff.

Connect2Luton is a trading style of Luton & Kent Commercial Services LLP - A joint venture between Luton Borough Council & Commercial Services Kent Ltd. Connect2Luton is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business. It positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.