Job info |
Job info details |
Job title |
Independent Reviewing & Safeguarding Officer |
Strategic team/Directorate |
Safeguarding Unit |
Service |
Children’s Services |
Business unit |
Joint Commissioning |
Responsible to (day to day issues) |
Senior Independent Reviewing Officer |
Accountable to (line manager) |
Senior Independent Reviewing Officer |
Salary grade |
K |
1. Key purpose of job
- To chair statutory reviews and child protection conferences in accordance with current legislation, guidance and departmental policies and procedures.
2. Anticipated outcomes of post
- Children and young people are safeguarded.
- Effective and efficient chairing of Child Protection meetings and CLA reviews to best practice standards.
- Child protection and CLA plans clearly identify the outcomes sought and actions being taken to achieve them.
- To ensure the best outcomes and highest standards are achieved for those Children and Young People subject to protection plans and in care.
- The provision of expert consultancy and advice in the areas of child protection and children looked after reviews.
- Contribution to the development of multi-agency Safeguarding systems and children in care processes.
- Promotion of effective multi agency working.
- Promotion of corporate parenting.
3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post
- Responsible for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children at all times.
- To chair child protection strategy meetings, initial case conferences and CP reviews.
- To undertake reviews of children in care and monitor the quality of planning in relation to those children and young people.
- To provide independent specialist advice relating to children and young people in care and children subject to child protection procedures to staff of the Children’s Services Directorate and other agencies, and contribute to service and policy development.
- To undertake and investigations into complaints. To work with operational managers to ensure that advocacy services are available where needed.
- To carry out a quality assurance function through the challenge of poor practice and work with operational managers to overcome service deficits.
- To work alongside managers and staff to ensure effective integration of all planning processes in relation to individual children and young people in care and those subject to child protection procedures.
- To undertake independent investigations and management reviews as commissioned by the Director of Children’s Services or Assistant Directors.
- To provide, maintain and disseminate information to other staff concerning up to date research, evidence and practice in promoting good outcomes for children and young people in care and those subject to child protection procedures.
- To ensure that the parents and anyone else involved with children and young people in care and those subject to child protection procedures are consulted about their care / protection plan.
- To chair Secure Accommodation Review Meetings.
- To contribute to development of services, policies and procedures in relation to children and young people in care and those subject to child protection procedures.
- Contributing to the work of the Torbay Children’s Safeguarding Board as directed by the Line Manager including policy development and independent management reviews.
- Maintaining an up to date knowledge base, that includes: statutory requirements, policy and practice trends and research in Child Protection and related childcare matters.
- To contribute to training with regard to children looked after and children subject to protection plans.
- In the course of chairing a conference or review the officer will, in a charged environment, have to address and manage contentious issues and make life altering decisions. This will include taking a balanced and evidential based line that carefully assesses the risks to CYP in a context of conflicting views and evidence.
- The Officer will have to work with parents and young people in difficult situations where they may be upset, aggressive and or disruptive. This will require officers to determine the most appropriate and safe way to gain the views and input from parents and young people.
- To constructively challenge the practice and contributions of other professionals in multi-agency settings. This will require being respectful but assertive in identifying a course of action that may be different from the ones offered by other professionals and the planed allocation of financial and human resources that agencies were intending to make.
The above outlines the duties required for the time being but this is not a comprehensive or exclusive list and duties may be varied from time to time which does not change the general character of the job or the level of responsibility entailed.
4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post
5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post
- Model excellent professional practice and standards.
6. Working environment and conditions of the post
- Normal working environment and conditions.
7. Physical demands of the post
8. Specific resources used by the post
- The post holder will manage the combined budget of the Independent Reviewing Unit and the Safeguarding Unit.
9. Key contacts and relationships
- External: All agencies working with children in care and their families and those subject to child protection procedures e.g. Health, Police, Education, Connexions, Probation, Children’s Services, Adults Services etc.
- Internal: All professionals working with children in care and their families, e.g. Social Workers, Managers, Personal Advisors, Community Care Workers, Family Centres, Children’s Disability Team, foster carers etc.
10. Other duties
- To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.
Other Information
- All staff must commit to Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
- The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement.
- The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
- The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
- This post is based at Tor Hill House but the post holder may be required to move their base to any other location within the Council at a future date.
- The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees - “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
- If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.
- As this post meets the requirements in respect of exempted questions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, all applicants who are offered employment will be subject to a criminal record check (Disclosure) from the Disclosure & Barring Service before the appointment is confirmed. This will include details of ALL cautions, reprimands or final warnings as well as convictions, whether “spent” or “unspent”. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post.
- Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
- The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures.
- As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2017 (part 7) the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.
Person Specification
Note for Candidate
All Candidates
The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement.
In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.
Candidates who consider that they have a disability
Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.
If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.
Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.
If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.
Job info |
Job info details |
Job Title |
Independent Reviewing & Safeguarding Officer |
Strategic team/Directorate |
Safeguarding Unit |
Service |
Children’s Services |
Business unit |
Joint Commissioning |
Skills and effectiveness
Essential skills and effectiveness
- Five years post qualifying experience of working with children in need.
- The capacity to relate to children, young people, their parents, carers and care staff and professional staff at all levels.
- Ability to challenge poor practice effectively.
- The ability to effectively chair complex meetings and to manage contributions by all participants ensuring clear outcomes.
- Problem solving and analytical abilities.
- Self-motivation, personal confidence, leadership and negotiation skills.
- The ability to make independent judgements that take into account the views of others but are not unduly influenced by these.
- Ability to work to tight deadlines.
Desirable skills and effectiveness
- Direct work with children and young people.
- Ability to lead project or development work.
- Previous experience of chairing child protection meetings or review meetings for CLA.
- Experience of development of policies and/or procedures.
- The ability to chair child protection meetings effectively including the management of contributions, summarising key issues, explaining the decision making thresholds and agreeing and creating Outline Plans.
Knowledge
Essential knowledge
- An understanding of child development and the effects of trauma, significant harm, loss and separation on children.
- An understanding of all relevant Child Care legislation and statutory guidance.
- An understanding of the national minimum standards for regulated provisions (adoption, fostering, residential care).
- IT literate.
- Ability to demonstrate independence from LA case management.
Desirable knowledge
- Human Rights legislation, Freedom of Information Act, Education Act 2002, Licensing act 2003.
- South West Peninsula Child Protection Procedures.
Experience and achievements
Essential experience and achievements
- A minimum of 5 years post qualifying experience.
- Supervision and management of social work staff.
- Experience of effectively chairing complex multi-agency meetings.
- Experience of legal proceedings and adoption.
- Proven understanding of Child Protection Practice.
- Commitment to anti-discriminatory Practice.
- Ability to demonstrate a child centred commitment to valuing diversity and respect for others language, religion and culture.
- Proven ability to write reports and contribute to policy development.
Desirable experience and achievements
N/A
Qualifications/professional memberships
Essential qualifications/professional memberships
- Social Work qualification as recognised by the General Social Care Council.
- Registration as a social worker by the General Social Care Council or by the Care Council for Wales or in a corresponding register maintained under the law of Scotland or Northern Ireland.
Desirable qualifications/professional memberships
N/A
Other requirements
Other requirements of the job role
- Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
- Ability to carry out the physical requirements of the role (i.e. manual handling).
- Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties.
- Ability to accommodate unsociable hours.
- Ability to accommodate occasional home-working.