Lincolnshire County Council
Location
Lincolnshire | United Kingdom
Job description
Independent Reviewing Officer
Lincolnshire has been chosen by the Department of Education as one of the three national Families First for Children Pathfinders which will run between September 2023 and 2025.
We currently have vacancies for experienced professionals to join the Quality and Standards Service as an Independent Reviewing Officer This is a Countywide fixed term contract for 18 months.
About the Role
This role serves as a vital function for Children in Care in Lincolnshire.
The Independent Reviewing Officer must maintain a clear focus on the best interests of children, whilst working under pressure. The Independent Reviewing Officer should be skilled at enabling children, parents, carers and professionals to come together in a creative way to produce excellent quality plans for children using a strengths-based approach. The role requires a substantial understanding of the legislative framework that supports child and family social work and is best fulfilled by a brave and confident advocate that can champion the needs and rights of children and young people.
It is essential that Independent Reviewing Officers have a proven track record in working creatively to engage children and young people in decision making and can promote young people's voices within care planning.
About Pathfinder
The pathfinder was formally announced in July 2023 as part of the government’s children’s social care implementation strategy, ‘Stable Homes, Built on Love’ and responds to recommendations from the independent review of children’s social care and the Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel’s report on child protection.
This brings an exciting opportunity for Lincolnshire who are recognised within the sector as an innovative and transformational authority to take the lead in co-design and development of new ways of working. The pathfinder has been created to bring about innovative reforms to Family Help, Child Protection, Statutory Safeguarding Partnerships and in unlocking the potential of Family Networks for children and families across Lincolnshire.
The pathfinder draws on evidence and existing good practice, including from other government programmes including Family Hubs and Start for Life, Supporting Families, Reducing Parental Conflict and Strengthening Families. The pathfinder will seek to develop greater use of family networks, with increased use of family group decision-making, facilitated by support packages to remove any financial or practical barriers family networks may experience in caring for children.
In Lincolnshire we will work alongside key government agencies and local partners including Police, Health and Education within Lincolnshire to support the co-design and creation of a future system where we support families in a new way and develop a stronger multi-agency and expert child protection response. Our work on this pathfinder will be captured and evaluated by the Department for Education, with a view towards wider national sector led improvement.
This is an exciting time to join the Quality & Standards Service as an Independent Reviewing Officer
About You
THIS IS A FULL TIME QUALIFIED SOCIAL WORKER POSITION
As the Independent Reviewing Officer you will have 5 years post qualifying experience working with children and families and ideally some supervisory experience. Independent Reviewing Officers are working flexibly between home and office / community locations using a variety of in person, virtual / IT based methods to engage with children and young people and facilitate meetings. The necessary IT equipment and home working equipment is provided.
The authority has embraced smarter working and there are opportunities to work flexibly from home, the clear expectation that this role will also involve travelling to meet with children, young people their families and carers and to chair meetings.
Our offer
We are offering a competitive salary of £44,428 - £49,498 along with an extensive benefits package, details of which can be found in rewards and benefits brochure and many areas for professional support and development.
The closing date for applications is 27/3/24 and Interviews are planned for 9th & 10th April 2024
For an informal discussion please contact Richard Stone on (+44) 07721 039090 or Kim Murray on (+44) 7900 607798
A Smarter Working Employer
We have embraced new ways of working and hybrid working will be a feature of this role. You will be given a nominated contractual work base and you will be required to commute to this work base when necessary. Working arrangements regarding hybrid working will be discussed as part of the appointment process.
Our technology platform and equipment is very good enabling you to connect and collaborate remotely. We require that you have in place good connectivity, and we will discuss during the recruitment process if support with this is needed.
Please be advised that this position may be subject to a criminal record check.
All candidates are advised to read the attached job information pack prior to making an application.
On occasion we receive significantly more applications than expected for some vacancies and under such circumstances we reserve the right to bring forward the closing date of the advertisement. We therefore strongly advise you to apply for the role promptly to avoid disappointment should the closing date be brought forward.
We operate a talent pool scheme whereby candidates who are not successful on this occasion may be considered for a period of up to 3 months for equal positions.
Lincolnshire County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Fluency Duty
In accordance with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 (Fluency Duty), the ability to converse at ease with customers and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the pos
Job tags
Salary
£44.43k - £49.5k per annum
