Job Description

About the role

We are looking for an experienced individual to provide a stable and professional service to some of our most vulnerable children in Northamptonshire.

If children and young people are at the centre of everything you do, we want to hear from you.

As an Independent Reviewing Officer within the Safeguarding & Quality Assurance Service here at Northamptonshire Children's Trust you will be joining a dedicated team of professionals


What will you be doing?

The Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) post involves fulfilling the statutory role of independent oversight of care planning for Children in Care, promoting better outcomes for the children and young people of Northamptonshire. Your duties to monitor and review care planning and case work are set out in the IRO Handbook.


You will be responsible for reporting on the Local Authority's performance as corporate parent and have the skills to appropriately resolve concerns at the appropriate management level when required, using escalation and dispute resolution processes.


You will have an active role in continuing to develop nurturing, impactful working relationships and help ensure effective practice across the professional network and promote child centred practice.

Please note that whilst the role advertised is primarily for an IRO, you would be required to Chair Child Protection Conferences should service need require this.

The post requires travel both in and out of County.


If you feel you have the skills and drive to contribute to this, please get in touch - in the first instance, please call Mikesh Kotak (07738 636989) or Gerry Vaughan (07738 637072)


We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, we encourage you to submit your application as early as possible.


About you
You are passionate, tenacious, knowledgeable and driven to pursue the best outcomes for our Children in Care. You have well developed communication and direct work skills to promote our children and young peoples' consultation and participation. You are skilled in promoting the involvement of parents and carers and the ability to work in a demanding multi agency environment. As a proactive professional you will set high standards, shape ideas, and promote more effective practice using new approaches and ideas wherever appropriate. You have a high level of research knowledge underpinning your practice and be fully informed about current policy and guidance; able to demonstrate excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage conflicting priorities effectively. A social work qualification, with SWE registration and an enhanced DBS clearance is required. You should have significant post qualifying experience and have experience as a Team Manager, experienced Practice Manager, or other relevant management experience employed on either a permanent or agency basis and bring proven experience of outcomes.

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore subject to an enhanced DBS certificate. It is also a regulated activity and will be subject to a Barred List check


When applying please ensure your supporting statement covers

h

ow you fulfil the essential criteria

set out in the person specification as this will be used for shortlisting. You will need to provide a full employment history including any gaps since leaving full time education


About us

At Northamptonshire Children's Trust, children, young people and families are at the heart of all we do - in every decision we make and every action we take. Our mission is driven by the unwavering commitment to achieving the best outcomes for them. The Trust is wholly owned and funded but operationally independent from the Councils.


Our workforce are our most valuable asset and are pivotal to making the services and support we offer to children, young people and families who need us to be the absolute best we can be.


We value our colleagues and empower them to be able to do the best job of their lives every single day, working in a culture of support and kindness where achievements are celebrated and creativity is very much welcomed.


At NCT equality, diversity and inclusion are part of us and in everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and thrive in our organisation. We are a disability confident employer and have a commitment to care leavers who we guarantee an interview if they meet the essential criteria.


Join our dedicated team and be a part of an organisation where your work makes a real difference.


Our benefits

We are committed to continuous improvement, building a skilled, knowledgeable, and flexible workforce alongside promoting innovation and creativity whilst keeping children, young people and families at the heart of all we do.


We really value our workforce and offer you a great benefits package including:

28 days annual leave,

plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time) and an additional 5 days, after 5 years

Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover

(3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health pension protection.

Opportunity to purchase

up to 25 days annual leave

Employee Assistance Programme

- We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.

Employee discounts

with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.

Flexible and family working arrangements

including enhanced maternity benefits

A permanent, supportive and inclusive management team

where you will be empowered to make good professional decisions Extensive Learning & Development and

career development

opportunities *

Subsidised

town centre car parking scheme