Job Description

Salary

57,493 - 60,443

Reference number

BUC13941

Contract type

Permanent

Working hours

Full Time

Level of DBS check required

Enhanced with Barred List

Date posted

29 Jul 2025, 11 p.m.

Application deadline

24 Aug 2025

Contact email

lauren.watts@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

Overview

The Independent Reviewing Service provides a vital quality assurance role for children looked after by Buckinghamshire Council ensuring that children receive the best possible care and support. Our service safeguards and promotes the welfare of children in care by providing independent oversight of their care planning and ensuring their voices are heard in decisions that affect them.



As an Independent Reviewing Officer, you'll have the incredible opportunity to shape futures and create lasting positive memories. You will play a vital role in overseeing care planning for children in care, working closely with children, families, schools, and other professionals to ensure their needs are met and that they are safe, supported, and thriving. Your empathy, knowledge and dedication will be the driving force behind meaningful change in their lives.

In addition to the salary advertised, you will receive a market premium of 2,500 per annum.

Take a look at our

Children's Social Care Candidate Pack

to learn more about working for Buckinghamshire Council Children's Services.

About us

Buckinghamshire Council creates positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally.



Buckinghamshire is an ambitious, rapidly growing county, and our economy is one of the strongest in the country. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty and ranks as one of the top rural areas to live in the UK and yet it is incredibly well connected- only an hour from London on the train. The county has a rich history and heritage and is the birthplace of the international Paralympic movement.



We are looking for motivated, ambitious, and inspiring people to join us on our journey. You will be entitled to a range of different benefits to make sure you are happy both at work and at home.

About the role

The Independent Reviewing Officers' primary focus is to quality assure the care planning and review process for each child, ensure their views and wishes are given full consideration, and provide positive challenge when children's plans or professional practice is not of the required standard or in the child's best interests. You will:


Lead statutory reviews for children in care, ensuring their care plans are robust, timely, and child focused. Monitor the performance of the local authority in relation to each child's case. Promote and uphold the rights of children and young people, ensuring their views are central to decision-making. Challenge and escalate concerns where progress is not being made or where practice falls short. Work collaboratively with social workers, carers, families, and partner agencies to drive positive outcomes.

About you

Are you passionate about making a real difference in the lives of children and young people? Do you have the skills and experience to champion their rights and ensure their voices are heard? If so, we want to hear from you.



If you have the skills, drive, and energy to join Buckinghamshire Council, provide oversight of its Corporate Parenting responsibilities, and be aspirational for children, our senior leadership team would welcome your application for this critical role.



To join us, you must be SWE-registered, hold a qualified social worker qualification, and have a minimum of three years post qualifying experience working at senior practitioner level; and ideally, management experience with children looked after and in child protection.

Please see the job description for further information.

Other information

If you would like to find out more about this role, please contact

Lauren Watts

at

lauren.watts@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

Closing date

: Midnight on Sunday 24th August

Interview date

: week commencing 1st September


We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Buckinghamshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.



This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:


All unspent convictions and conditional cautions All spent convictions and adult cautions that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020 and 2023).

For further information on filtering please refer to Nacro guidance and the guidance published by the Ministry of Justice (see, in particular, the section titled 'Exceptions Order').

Our values

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are - Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.



By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:


a fair and inclusive culture the chance to really make a difference to those around you health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that's why we're working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.



From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it's important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.



We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That's why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements.



We provide discounts on various Cafes, restaurants and shops, a generous employer pension contribution in line with the Local Government Pension Scheme, discounts on gym memberships and more - https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/

Social Work qualified roles are also entitled to a generous enhanced reward package, as follows:


Competitive salary with a market increment Annual leave up to 30 days per year, as well as other types of leave and the opportunity to buy further leave Up to 15 days per year training, learning and development offer Free parking across all of our office sites
If you are interested in relocating to Buckinghamshire and working with us, relocation packages are also available.