Independent Safeguarding Reviewing Officer
| Posting date: | 29 August 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £49,282 to £54,495 per year |
| Additional salary information: | Permanent - 29 days annual leave per annum, rising to 34 days per annum after 5 years' service - Mobile Worker |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 28 September 2025 |
| Location: | Weston-Super-Mare, North Somerset |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 1 day per week |
| Company: | North Somerset Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | SCHB0795 |
Summary
Do you want to join a Local Authority who continually strives to improve services for children, young people and their families within North Somerset? Our vision is to make North Somerset a truly great place for children and young people to thrive, where all have the best possible life and opportunities, including those who are vulnerable and/or have special educational or additional needs.
We are looking for a motivated and experienced Social Worker or Social Work Manager to come and join our Quality Assurance and Safeguarding Team as an Independent Safeguarding & Reviewing Officer (ISRO).
This is a varied role reflecting the size of the organisation. Our ISRO’s have responsibility for quality assuring the care planning and statutory review process for children and young people in the care of the Local Authority, chairing regular child in care reviews and monitoring progress of care planning. You will also chair Child Protection Conferences in line with current North Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership procedures, as well as having quality assurance oversight for the duration of those plans.
You will also have a key role in contributing towards the development of quality assurance activity across Children’s Services along with other colleagues ensuring service standards and impact upon children are adhered to. North Somerset is embedding the Signs of Safety model into practice. CP conferences and children in care reviews reflect this and the ISRO/CP chairs need to be familiar with using this model to work with families and ensure children are supported by the best plans.
You will need to have a sound knowledge of childcare legislation, safeguarding, inter-agency policies and procedures and current developments in children’s services. You will require substantial experience of working with children in care and children who are subject to child protection plans, including complex legal proceedings. This role requires flexible working and an ability to prioritise and manage your own workload, as well as having good IT and report writing skills. In return we offer a supportive team environment; we are committed to continuous professional development and offer regular supervision and annual appraisal.
In this role, you will have the following key responsibilities;
• Responsible for chairing Statutory Reviews for Children in Care, Child Protection Case Conferences and managing allegations against staff and volunteers (LADO)
• Ensuring statutory childcare duties are met, national minimum standards and regulations are complied with, high standards of recognised professional practice are delivered. Work effectively with partners from other agencies to support individual children and families and improve their life chances
• To promote full and active participation of children and their families in meetings, including meeting children on their own and seeking their views to inform care planning and wishes and feelings
• To chair statutory multi-disciplinary, multi- agency meetings in order to minimise risk of harm to children subject to Child Protection Plans and Children in Care. To promote stability and permanency.
• The role will support the LADO function]
Essential Criteria:
• Social Work Qualification (DipSW/CQSW/CSS) Registered with Social Work, England
• At least 5 years post qualification experience of statutory childcare work including child protection and children in care
• Satisfactory enhanced DBS disclosure certificate (relevant applications and checks will be carried out before any job offer is confirmed)
• Demonstrate ability to
o Show initiative and self-reliance
o demonstrate good communication skills - oral and written.
o be adaptable and able to respond to requests or requirements at short notice.
o be able to work effectively with families, young people and other agencies.
o be able to provide direction to others.
o be able to assess risks and work positively with families to develop a protection plan.
o be able to prioritise work and deliver to deadlines
Desirable Criteria:
• Management qualification
For further information about the role, please contact Susan Gambier, Team Leader on 07385 039416
We are looking for a motivated and experienced Social Worker or Social Work Manager to come and join our Quality Assurance and Safeguarding Team as an Independent Safeguarding & Reviewing Officer (ISRO).
This is a varied role reflecting the size of the organisation. Our ISRO’s have responsibility for quality assuring the care planning and statutory review process for children and young people in the care of the Local Authority, chairing regular child in care reviews and monitoring progress of care planning. You will also chair Child Protection Conferences in line with current North Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership procedures, as well as having quality assurance oversight for the duration of those plans.
You will also have a key role in contributing towards the development of quality assurance activity across Children’s Services along with other colleagues ensuring service standards and impact upon children are adhered to. North Somerset is embedding the Signs of Safety model into practice. CP conferences and children in care reviews reflect this and the ISRO/CP chairs need to be familiar with using this model to work with families and ensure children are supported by the best plans.
You will need to have a sound knowledge of childcare legislation, safeguarding, inter-agency policies and procedures and current developments in children’s services. You will require substantial experience of working with children in care and children who are subject to child protection plans, including complex legal proceedings. This role requires flexible working and an ability to prioritise and manage your own workload, as well as having good IT and report writing skills. In return we offer a supportive team environment; we are committed to continuous professional development and offer regular supervision and annual appraisal.
In this role, you will have the following key responsibilities;
• Responsible for chairing Statutory Reviews for Children in Care, Child Protection Case Conferences and managing allegations against staff and volunteers (LADO)
• Ensuring statutory childcare duties are met, national minimum standards and regulations are complied with, high standards of recognised professional practice are delivered. Work effectively with partners from other agencies to support individual children and families and improve their life chances
• To promote full and active participation of children and their families in meetings, including meeting children on their own and seeking their views to inform care planning and wishes and feelings
• To chair statutory multi-disciplinary, multi- agency meetings in order to minimise risk of harm to children subject to Child Protection Plans and Children in Care. To promote stability and permanency.
• The role will support the LADO function]
Essential Criteria:
• Social Work Qualification (DipSW/CQSW/CSS) Registered with Social Work, England
• At least 5 years post qualification experience of statutory childcare work including child protection and children in care
• Satisfactory enhanced DBS disclosure certificate (relevant applications and checks will be carried out before any job offer is confirmed)
• Demonstrate ability to
o Show initiative and self-reliance
o demonstrate good communication skills - oral and written.
o be adaptable and able to respond to requests or requirements at short notice.
o be able to work effectively with families, young people and other agencies.
o be able to provide direction to others.
o be able to assess risks and work positively with families to develop a protection plan.
o be able to prioritise work and deliver to deadlines
Desirable Criteria:
• Management qualification
For further information about the role, please contact Susan Gambier, Team Leader on 07385 039416
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