Job Introduction
Here at Staffordshire our IRO service is extremely important to us and this is recognised by a further investment in our service, which has provided the opportunity of creating additional Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) and Independent Conference Chair (ICC) roles.
Due to the retirement of one of our current Service Leads, and the creation of 6 additional IRO and ICC posts we are able to advertise for two IRO and ICC Lead posts. These are fantastic opportunities enabling a successful candidate to provide management to our dual role IRO’s and ICC’s and providing your expertise within such a crucial service for our children and young people.
Where will these roles be based?
As mentioned, we have two positions as follows:
1 x IRO and ICC Lead - Central and South Staffordshire Hub: Stafford, South Staffs and Cannock Districts
1 x IRO and ICC Lead - East Staffordshire Hub: Burton, Tamworth and Lichfield Districts.
These two roles will join our existing IRO and ICC Lead = who is based in our North Staffs hub: Staffordshire Moorlands and Newcastle districts.
Main Responsibility
The independence and scrutiny of children’s plans is essential for those children who are safeguarded via a Child Protection Plan or who are Looked After within the Local Authority. A focus is required for these children to ensure that their outcomes are improved and that their plans progress without delay, providing a positive impact upon them, utilising our restorative practice model of working. Your role as an IRO and ICC Lead will enable Staffordshire County Council to continue to ensure that we maintain a learning culture and that we strive to provide an excellent service to our children and young people.
As IRO and ICC Lead you will be responsible for the operational management and strategic development of the Independent Chairperson Service, ensuring quality assurance in care planning and management of thresholds for child protection and Looked After Children. There will be a requirement for report writing, auditing and monitoring of operational trends and activity, producing statistical reports and making recommendations for service development.
The Ideal Candidate
You’ll need to have:
• A qualification in Social Work (Dip SW/ CQSW/CSS) and be registered with Social Work England
• Hold a post qualification award in Advanced Practice, Research or Management
• A working knowledge of statutory frameworks and of regulations
and guidance relevant to the task
• A working knowledge of inter-agency procedures for protecting
children and for the assessment of children in need
• Be able to think creatively
• An ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing
with professional staff in local organisational networks
But above all, you’ll be driven by a passion to shape and improve practice in children’s services, knowing that the work you do will improve outcomes for children and young people.
How do I find out more about the posts?
For more information or an informal chat please contact jennifer.arries@staffordshire.gov.uk also please see attached on our Staffordshire jobs board our 'Children and Families Service Vision.'
Proposed interview dates: Friday 24 February 2023
About Staffordshire County Council
We are no ordinary county council:
Our Values:
The core of who we are as an organisation. Just like we all have personal values that shape our thoughts and behaviour, organisational values drive how we think and act collectively.
Our values were created and shaped by colleague feedback and national best practice and they sit at the heart of People Strategy:
We have a real sense of community spirit that brings our people together. This feeling of belonging means we are all connected to what we do and take pride in the difference we make every day for Staffordshire people. We are ambitious and our sights are set firmly on a better future.
We look forward and race ahead - that goes for your career too.
Our benefits:
We recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive working environment where employees can achieve their full potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance.
In addition to your salary, as a member of staff, you will have access to a range of benefits.
Our recruitment process:
As an Authority we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Staffordshire County Council is an equal opportunities organisation and Disability Confident employer. We encourage applications from all background and communities
As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Silver Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the minimum criteria for the post.
As you’ll know safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our children and young people/vulnerable adults is important to us and that’s why this position is subject to a criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service. If applicable you should disclose details of unspent and unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions and convictions in your application form.
