Independent Reviewing Officer (QSW) - Children's Services

To find out more about this vacancy and about working with us at Newham, join us at our IN PERSON RECRUITMENT EVENT AND COFFEE MORNING at Newham Dockside on 21/10/2022 at 09:30am.

Find out more and sign up to attend via this link – we’d love to meet you!

Independent Reviewing Officer

£55,674 - £57,746 (includes £5,000 market supplement)

Permanent – Full time, flexible hours

Newham Dockside, E16 2QU

Deadline for applications: 19/10/2022 at 23:59

JOB DESCRIPTION

ABOUT US

IT’S OFFICIAL. WE ARE GOOD.

Ofsted has rated our Children’s Services as GOOD overall, with Leadership being rated as OUTSTANDING. Read Ofsted’s published report in full here.

Management was described as being ambitious and effective in delivering care and protection for children. Ofsted noted that we have created an environment where good social work can flourish, with manageable caseloads and a strong Social Work Academy. Ofsted also commended our Practice Model; Newham Circles of Support.

Ofsted described Newham as having an improved CPD offer and a positive culture of learning and development; our expanded QA service, team of Practice Development Social Workers and our Clinical Team serve as an excellent support network for practitioners. Our flexible approach to working has continued post pandemic, and Newham offers genuine remote working to social workers. Most practitioners work from home entirely outside of a weekly anchor day, which most find a refreshing opportunity to check in with management and colleagues face to face.

We will continue to strive for the best for our children their families as we continue on the path to making Newham a centre of excellence for children’s social care.

Apply now, and be part of our success.

We are NEWHAM

We are RECRUITING

We are GOOD.

Click here to view our recruitment video.

ABOUT THE JOB

Reporting to the IRO Service Manager, you will join our experienced team of 6 IROs.

IROs are required to chair children in care’s review meetings and play a vital role in the futures of our looked after children. You will provide specialist consultation and support to colleagues and training on a range of issues relating to the care of Children in Care as well as setting standards and challenging current practices where appropriate to raise the quality of practise across Children’s Social Care.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a high performing service and your work will make a huge difference to the lives of Newham’s looked after children.

For more details and a full list of duties please download to the job description. 

ABOUT YOU

‘People at the heart of everything we do’

You are a qualified social worker and experienced IRO, with extensive post qualification experience in an IRO service, and/or of management within a statutory children’s social work setting.

You possess excellent chairing and communication skills to confidently manage a variety of complex meetings whilst ensuring the active participation of children and young people and their parents/carers in the reviewing process.

You work constructively and creatively with peers, external stakeholders, and the social workers/managers responsible for direct work with looked after children. You are a confident decision maker and able to instil confidence in others. You will be committed to Newham’s practice model of a restorative approach with systemic practice across all services and place children and families at the centre of your decisions.

You will have an excellent track record of delivering successful outcomes for young people within a diverse urban community. You have high working standards and are conscious of your own professional development, actively seeking avenues of learning and improvement for yourself and others.

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Liz Gosling, IRO Service Manager: elizabeth.gosling@newham.gov.uk.       

OUR OFFER

We've been working hard to make Newham a great place to practise social work.

Please visit our Children’s Social Care recruitment microsite to find out more about the training and development opportunities on offer: https://children.newhamsocialworkerjobs.com/

We will offer you:

• A rewarding role in an Ofsted rated GOOD children’s services department.
• Stable leadership rated by OFSTED as OUTSTANDING.
• The opportunity to work in a richly diverse, challenging, supportive inner London Borough.
• A competitive package of up to £57,746 (includes market supplement).
• Manageable caseloads + support from our clinical team and Practice Development SWs.
• Genuine remote and flexible working options – we know how important this is to you.
• Smarter Working with new modern technology.
• New Social Work Academy + training in Systemic practice and weekly lunchtime seminars.
• ‘Newham Circles of Support’ - a positive, nurturing and collaborative work environment built on trust where Systemic and Restorative practice will be encouraged to flourish.
• Oyster card/parking permit for business use.
• Wellbeing service, leisure and discount benefits (Council scheme).
• Travel season ticket loan, cycle scheme, Local Authority pension.
• We will keep improving and be a ‘social work centre of excellence’ by 2023.

TO APPLY

To apply please submit your CV and a supporting statement (1-2 sides of A4) through our online recruitment portal.

The supporting statement should demonstrate how you mee