Independent Reviewing Officer

Job Information

Achieving for Children is a Community Interest Company that has a public sector ethos, combined with the freedom to innovate enabling us to do things differently. As a not-for-profit social enterprise owned by three local authorities (Windsor & Maidenhead, Kingston and Richmond), we offer the freedoms of a social enterprise with the employment benefits of local government. To find out more about us

We are responsible for the entire range of children’s education, health and social care services in all three boroughs. We use a Signs of Safety practice model and approach which ensures the voice of the child is at the heart of everything we do. There’s never been a better time to join AfC, we are growing our workforce, implementing new flexible working arrangements and have increased our virtual wellbeing offer.

We are recruiting for a permanent, full-time independent reviewing officer (a caseload of approximately 45-50 children).

About the role

As an Independent Reviewing Officer with Achieving for Children, you will be responsible for
- Chairing review meetings for looked after children, ensuring there is an effective care plan which fully reflects the child’s needs with actions that are consistent with the local authorities legal responsibilities toward the child.
- Chairing complex multi-agency and multi-disciplinary child protection conferences, making decisions about the likelihood of significant harm and ensuring the conference formulates a safe and suitable plan
- Offering professional consultation and advice, chair and coordinate complex meetings, and manage allegations against people who work with children in paid employment or in voluntary work.

About you

To be an Independent Reviewing Officer for AfC, you will be passionate about making a positive difference to the lives of children and young people as well as demonstrating the following points
- Educated to a degree level with a relevant professional qualification in social work
- Active Social Work England registration and proven evidence of continuing professional development.
- Experience of management within children’s social care
- Experience of chairing complex multi agency and multi-professional meetings.
- Experience of building strong partnerships, maintaining relationships and co-producing solutions to challenges across a diverse set of stakeholders, including children, young people and their families. Advocating the voices of those we are working with.
- Experience of constructively challenging casework and resolving issues using effective dispute resolution processes.
- Proven ability to effectively use data, intelligence and evidence to create meaningful insight and to inform own decision making.

About our benefits

We are focused on creating a positive supportive environment, where you will have access to a really wide range of resources, as well as a competitive salary and all the perks to enable hybrid working. In AfC you will also have access to:

- 29 days annual leave, increasing to 33 days after 2 years and 35 days after 4 years.
- Tailored induction sessions commencing on the date you start working for AfC
- Stable and supportive leadership
- Hybrid and mobile working (between home and work) with latest technology to facilitate this
- Local Government salary and pension scheme (LGPS or Teachers Pension)
- Flexible working options - helping to keep a good work life balance
- A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme
- A range of staff benefits and discounts
- An excellent learning and development offer to support your career pathway

To find out about all of the breadth of benefits of working for Achieving for Children For our social work offer

Important Information

**Right to work**: The UK has introduced a new points-based immigration system affecting EU and Non-EU workers and sponsorship requirements. We advise checking the GOV.UK website for right to work guidance.

**Safeguarding**: We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).