The City of York Council are recruiting an Independent Reviewing Officer. For this role you will hold a professional Social Work qualification and be expected to:

Quality assure the planning and review process in respect of Child Protection Plans and Care Plans for Children and Young People in Care. To facilitate this by the convening and chairing of meetings with children and young people, families and multi-agency partners.

Monitor the performance of the local authority in relation to the child’s case to ensure that local authority interventions safeguard and promote the welfare of the child, are proportionate to and reflect the child’s assessed needs, take into account the child’s ascertainable wishes and feelings and ensures that the actions set out in the plan are SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, time-limited) and consistent with the local authority’s statutory responsibilities towards the child.

Challenge practice at the highest level if these standards are not met.

This role is to provide review independent of those involved in the operational delivery of services, to monitor the progress of the plan, to make decisions to amend the plan as necessary in light of changed knowledge and circumstances, to raise concerns around unmet responsibilities if identified and ensure the resolution of any disputes arising out of the care planning process.

We look forward to receiving your application.

As this role is public facing, applicants will need to demonstrate, at interview, their competency to converse and provide advice and guidance to members of the public, in spoken English to CEFR level C1: Can express him/herself fluently and spontaneously, almost effortlessly. Only a conceptually difficult subject can hinder a natural, smooth flow of language.

City of York Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. We require the successful candidate to undertake an enhanced Criminal Record check via the Disclosure and Barring Service.

At the moment due to the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, some of our staff are working remotely from home but a return to a combination of working remotely and physically from the Council’s offices is anticipated in the near future.

As a new starter, your contractual location will be the designated council office for your team. Your working arrangements will vary according to your service and role, and the current Government guidance. For many roles, there will be more opportunities in the future for remote and hybrid working. However, this comes with the expectation that, as workplaces open up, there is likely to be an ongoing and occasional requirement to attend the workplace.

The Council is highly committed to investing in the talent and wellbeing of our staff and can offer a generous annual leave allowance, access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, comprehensive Health & Wellbeing initiatives and a reward package which recognises your contribution. We can offer flexible working practices, community engagement and volunteer activities and, as part of our commitment to you, promote continuous Learning & Development. In addition we also offer a growing range of discounts, rewards and savings.

For further information or an informal discussion please contact Belinda Ball, Independent Reviewing Officer Service Manager, Belinda.ball@york.gov.uk  or on : 07594647010 

Job Description

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