Independent Safeguarding & Reviewing Officer

What's involved with this role : Interim Independent Safeguarding & Reviewing Officer Reference no: Stoke 5225818 Pay Rate: £30.50 per hour PAYE This opening assignment is for 2-3 months Enhanced DBS disclosure is listed as a requirement for this role The purpose of the role is to provide a consistent and high-quality service to frontline teams in the chairing and management of statutory reviews for children looked after and of child protection conferences. This post entails the planning, preparation and chairing of child protection conferences and statutory reviews for Looked After children. Key responsibilities :

• Develop and maintain effective partnership working across the statutory, voluntary and independent sectors.
• Ensure the delivery of CLA reviews and CP conferences in accordance with statutory requirements.
• Contribute to the development of a service delivery plan.
• Provide a timely written record of the discussion and decisions made in a statutory review of a child in care. To provide a timely written record of the decisions made in a child protection case conference.
• Contribute to the formation and implementation of training and development programmes, in respect to the Children’s Services’ workforce.
• Contribute to the promotion of high standards of competence and decision making in child protection and childcare, using evidence and research to inform good practice.
• Maintain a high level of professional knowledge in childcare legislation, policy and procedure, and with particular reference to evidence-based practice.
• Ensure that the decisions from the review set out clear and measurable actions.
• Provide advice and consultation to Social Workers, Team Managers and to relevant professional staff from partner agencies, as to practice and procedural matters and where there are specific areas of complexity.
• It is expected that through effective oversight and midway reviewing, the Safeguarding and Reviewing chair shall provide independent scrutiny as to whether plans for children are being implemented effectively and respond appropriately to any proposed or actual changes to the child’s Care Plan or Child Protection Plan, which have a significant impact on the implementation of the plan.

“Role Requirements” - to give yourself the maximum chance of success please try and ensure your CV addresses the following essential criteria : Qualifications :

• Possess a degree in Social Work, DIPSW or equivalent and be registered with Social Work England.

Experience :

• Minimum of 12 months recent experience in a similar role, or context and ideally within a public sector organisation.
• Significant post qualification experience of social work in voluntary or statutory agencies
• Experience of working within child protection and or experience of working with children who are looked after by a local authority.
• Experience of chairing or participating in child protection conference and children’s statutory reviews.
• Experience of chairing meetings in relation to children and families.
• Experience of managing sensitive and confidential information, analyse risk and formulation of good quality plans.
• Experience of challenge both within the organization but also with Partner agencies.
• Experience in contributing to development of policy and practice.

Knowledge :

• Knowledge and experience of professional standards, professional capabilities framework and knowledge and skills statements across children and family’s services.
• Knowledge of models of coaching and mentoring.
• Expert knowledge and understanding of local authority duties in relation to the IRO and Independent Chairing of conferences.
• Sound knowledge of child care legislation, including the IRO handbook.
• Understand statutory policy and procedures for service users.
• Willingness to undertake training as part of personal development.

Skills & Abilities :

• Ability to work under pressure, independently and be part of a team.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written including keyboard skills.
• Ability to produce reports for court.
• Be able to set priorities manage the progress of own and others work and competing demands.
• Be able to communicate effectively verbally and in writing with colleagues other agencies and children, young people and their families.
• Be able to develop skills and change working methods to adapt to new and changing situations and circumstances.
• ICT Skills: Strong IT skills including Microsoft packages or equivalent (e.g. G Suite).

To help speed up the process of uploading your CV to the client we would suggest that you send us your CV in Word format (or equivalent) if possible, rather than as a PDF **_If you are successful in securing this role, please note that for the entire duration of this contract, regardless of extension you will be working this role at the PAYE rate that has been advertised. For absolute clari