IRO - Independent Reviewing Officer

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Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) – Birmingham Children's Trust

SW Locums is recruiting an experienced Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) to join Birmingham Children's Trust on a fully remote basis. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced social work professional to make a meaningful impact on the lives of children and young people while enjoying the flexibility of remote working.

Location: Birmingham (Fully Remote)
Start Date: ASAP
Pay Rate: £37.99 per hour
Hours: 36.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday

About the Role

As an Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO), you will play a vital role in promoting positive outcomes for children and young people in care by ensuring that care planning arrangements are effective, child-centred and legally compliant.

You will provide independent oversight and professional challenge to ensure that each child's care plan reflects their individual needs, promotes permanence and stability, and that Birmingham Children's Trust fulfils its statutory responsibilities and corporate parenting duties.

You will also act as an independent champion for children and young people, ensuring their views, wishes and feelings are heard and influence decision-making while providing quality assurance throughout the care planning process.

Key Responsibilities

• Chair statutory Child in Care Reviews and other review meetings, ensuring all statutory requirements, regulations and procedures are followed.

• Ensure care plans reflect each child or young person's current circumstances, assessed needs, wishes and long-term aspirations.

• Promote effective permanence planning and ensure suitable arrangements are in place to achieve timely and sustainable permanence.

• Monitor progress against agreed care plans, ensuring actions and decisions are completed within required timescales.

• Participate in meetings and professional discussions relating to individual children where this supports the effective delivery of the IRO role.

• Provide independent oversight and constructive challenge to improve outcomes for children in care.

• Ensure children's voices remain central to planning and decision-making.

What We're Looking For

• Qualified Social Worker with Social Work England registration.

• Significant experience working with children in care and statutory children's services.

• Previous experience as an Independent Reviewing Officer or within a similar senior safeguarding role.

• Strong knowledge of relevant legislation, statutory guidance and care planning processes.

• Excellent communication, chairing and decision-making skills.

• Ability to provide effective professional challenge while maintaining positive working relationships.

Why Birmingham Children's Trust?

Birmingham Children's Trust is committed to delivering high-quality services that place children and young people at the heart of everything they do. The Trust continues to invest in improving outcomes for children through strong partnership working, professional development and a culture that encourages high standards of practice, collaboration and continuous improvement.

Why Work with SW Locums?

At SW Locums, we specialise in placing experienced social work professionals into rewarding locum opportunities across the UK. We pride ourselves on providing a friendly, responsive and knowledgeable service, offering competitive rates, ongoing support and access to some of the country's leading local authority opportunities. Our dedicated consultants work closely with you throughout your assignment to ensure you have the support you need to succeed.

If you're an experienced Independent Reviewing Officer looking for your next remote opportunity, apply today to start as soon as possible.