Job summary
The role:As an Independent Reviewing Officer/CP Coordinator, you will work as part of a strong dedicated team to review and coordinate child protection plans. You will be responsible for chairing meetings and ensuring all actions are effectively followed up on, ensuring that children's needs are met and appropriate services are in place. You will work collaboratively with social workers, families, and other professionals to safeguard the welfare of vulnerable children.
Main duties of the job
Key responsibilities:
- Chairing child protection conferences and reviews to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of child protection plans
- Ensuring that assessments and decisions made regarding children's welfare comply with statutory requirements and best practice
- Coordinating the involvement of all relevant professionals, agencies, and services to support child protection plans
- Providing guidance, advice, and information to professionals involved in case management
- Participating in quality assurance processes to support continuous improvement within Children and Family Services
Key skills and attributes:
- Qualified Social Worker with registration with Social Work England
- Significant experience working as an Independent Reviewing Officer and/or Child Protection Coordinator or at least 3 years social work management experience
- In-depth knowledge of relevant legislation, regulations, and statutory guidanceStrong communication and interpersonal skills, enabling effective collaboration with diverse stakeholders
- Excellent decision-making and analytical abilities, with a focus on safeguarding children
- Resilience and the ability to work effectively within a demanding and fast-paced environment
About us
West Berkshire Council offer excellent employment benefits such as:
- Flexible working wherever possible between the hours of 07.00-19.00
- Hybrid working wherever possible working 40% in the office
- Access to a wide range of training and development opportunities
- Generous Local Government pension scheme
- Family friendly policies
- A range of local discounts
- Access to a wide range of training and development opportunities
- Wellbeing Programme including Employee Assistance Programme and employee benefits
- You will also be entitled to a generous annual leave entitlement starting at 30days per annum (plus public holidays) Rising by an additional 5 days after 5 years service.
Please note that the closing date is given as a guide.We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
This post is a Sensitive Post for the purpose of the Local Government Housing Act 1989 and the post-holder is therefore restricted from engaging in any prescribed political activities. In summary, this means that you are prohibited from holding political office and from involvement in any political activity within or outside the workplace. Full details of the restrictions can be found in the Councils Policy and Guidance on Politically Restricted Posts
Join us at West Berkshire Council and make a difference in the lives of children and families in our community.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main Duties and Responsibilities
- To chair Child Protection Conferences, ensuring that these meet the quality standards
laid down by the service.
- To work as an Independent Reviewing Officer, carrying out the role in accordance with
statutory guidance and departmental quality standards.
- To be responsible for ensuring that child protection conferences and CIC review meetings
are timely and are carried out to a high standard.
- To work in conjunction with operational managers and other staff to ensure that child
protection and child in care systems are fully and effectively implemented within the
service.
- To contribute to quarterly and annual service reports and plans as required.
- To provide training and information to operational staff and other professionals involved.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
within the CP and CIC processes as required.
- To input and maintain records of child protection conferences and CIC reviews and other
contacts relating to children on their electronic case records.
- Responsibility for developing, quality assuring and applying policies and procedures for
Children subject to Child Protection plans and children in care reviews in conjunction with
other senior managers.
- To work as part of the Childrens Services Management Team and represent the service
in interagency or corporate forums as appropriate and contribute to auditing, strategic
planning and development.
- To ensure the effective participation of children, young people, their parents and wider
families in Child protection conferences and review meetings for children in care.
- To provide timely advice and guidance to colleagues in response to legislation,
government guidance and research.
- To work with operational managers to ensure that quality standards are met in relation to
staff performance.
- To carry out additional duties as required, which will include deputising for the Local
Authority Designated Officer in the management of allegations against professionals at
times.
- To ensure all actions carried out comply with Council Policy, the Councils Standing
Orders, the Councils Financial Regulations and the Code of Conduct for Council Officers.
- To promote equality as an integral part of the role and to treat everyone with fairness and
dignity.
- To recognise health and safety is a responsibility of every employee, to take reasonable
care of self and others and to comply with the WBC Health and Safety policy and any
service-specific procedures / rules that apply to this role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Main Duties and Responsibilities
- To chair Child Protection Conferences, ensuring that these meet the quality standards
laid down by the service.
- To work as an Independent Reviewing Officer, carrying out the role in accordance with
statutory guidance and departmental quality standards.
- To be responsible for ensuring that child protection conferences and CIC review meetings
are timely and are carried out to a high standard.
- To work in conjunction with operational managers and other staff to ensure that child
protection and child in care systems are fully and effectively implemented within the
service.
- To contribute to quarterly and annual service reports and plans as required.
- To provide training and information to operational staff and other professionals involved.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
within the CP and CIC processes as required.
- To input and maintain records of child protection conferences and CIC reviews and other
contacts relating to children on their electronic case records.
- Responsibility for developing, quality assuring and applying policies and procedures for
Children subject to Child Protection plans and children in care reviews in conjunction with
other senior managers.
- To work as part of the Childrens Services Management Team and represent the service
in interagency or corporate forums as appropriate and contribute to auditing, strategic
planning and development.
- To ensure the effective participation of children, young people, their parents and wider
families in Child protection conferences and review meetings for children in care.
- To provide timely advice and guidance to colleagues in response to legislation,
government guidance and research.
- To work with operational managers to ensure that quality standards are met in relation to
staff performance.
- To carry out additional duties as required, which will include deputising for the Local
Authority Designated Officer in the management of allegations against professionals at
times.
- To ensure all actions carried out comply with Council Policy, the Councils Standing
Orders, the Councils Financial Regulations and the Code of Conduct for Council Officers.
- To promote equality as an integral part of the role and to treat everyone with fairness and
dignity.
- To recognise health and safety is a responsibility of every employee, to take reasonable
care of self and others and to comply with the WBC Health and Safety policy and any
service-specific procedures / rules that apply to this role.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Social Work Degree, Diploma in Social Work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent.
- Registration with Social Work England.
Experience
Essential
- At least 5 years post qualifying experience.
- Experience of chairing complex meetings.
- Experience of managing complex Child Protection and Children in Care work.
- At least 3 years social work supervisory and management experience.
- Expert knowledge of current and relevant child care legislation, guidance and procedures.
- Skills and experience in communicating with children and young people.
- Ability to assess risks and protective factors.
Knowledge, Skills, Work Related Qualities
Essential
- Knowledge and understanding
- Substantial experience working with children in care including legal proceedings.
- Extensive knowledge and understanding of legislation and guidance applying to tasks undertaken by Social Workers within Children's Services.
- Skills and abilities
- Ability to use Outlook, and a web browser to access information
- Basic ability to use Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc)
- Ability to involve young people, parents and carers in meetings and in decision making.
- Ability to manage conflict and disagreement effectively the role involves quality assuring the work of front-line staff managing relationships to deliver service improvements.
- Work-related personal qualities
- Ability to work within timescales, to organise own workload and to manage time effectively.
- The ability to authoritatively Chair key multi agency meetings, ensuring that all agencies contribute appropriately.
- Ability to work as part of team.
- Ability to write reports and analyse data.
- Ability to communicate with diverse audiences.
Desirable
- Substantial experience working with children in care including legal proceedings.
- Knowledge & understanding of the procedural framework relating to managing allegations.
- An understanding of the role of Family Group Conferences.
- Experience and skill in using the Signs of Safety assessment framework,
- Experience of developing and managing policies and procedures.
- Skills and abilities.
- The ability to deliver training.
- Ability to complete auditing activities, to include follow up from auditing.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Social Work Degree, Diploma in Social Work, CQSW, CSS or equivalent.
- Registration with Social Work England.
Experience
Essential
- At least 5 years post qualifying experience.
- Experience of chairing complex meetings.
- Experience of managing complex Child Protection and Children in Care work.
- At least 3 years social work supervisory and management experience.
- Expert knowledge of current and relevant child care legislation, guidance and procedures.
- Skills and experience in communicating with children and young people.
- Ability to assess risks and protective factors.
Knowledge, Skills, Work Related Qualities
Essential
- Knowledge and understanding
- Substantial experience working with children in care including legal proceedings.
- Extensive knowledge and understanding of legislation and guidance applying to tasks undertaken by Social Workers within Children's Services.
- Skills and abilities
- Ability to use Outlook, and a web browser to access information
- Basic ability to use Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc)
- Ability to involve young people, parents and carers in meetings and in decision making.
- Ability to manage conflict and disagreement effectively the role involves quality assuring the work of front-line staff managing relationships to deliver service improvements.
- Work-related personal qualities
- Ability to work within timescales, to organise own workload and to manage time effectively.
- The ability to authoritatively Chair key multi agency meetings, ensuring that all agencies contribute appropriately.
- Ability to work as part of team.
- Ability to write reports and analyse data.
- Ability to communicate with diverse audiences.
Desirable
- Substantial experience working with children in care including legal proceedings.
- Knowledge & understanding of the procedural framework relating to managing allegations.
- An understanding of the role of Family Group Conferences.
- Experience and skill in using the Signs of Safety assessment framework,
- Experience of developing and managing policies and procedures.
- Skills and abilities.
- The ability to deliver training.
- Ability to complete auditing activities, to include follow up from auditing.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
