Independent Reviewing Officer/Child Protection Chair
| Posting date: | 27 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £61,195 to £67,369 per year |
| Additional salary information: | includes £6,700 market supplement |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 12 April 2026 |
| Location: | Reading, Berkshire |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 3 days per week |
| Company: | Reading Borough Council |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | DOC0061 |
Summary
At Reading Borough Council, we are committed to improving outcomes for children, young people and families. We are on an ambitious journey to deliver high quality services across safeguarding, early help, education and SEND.
We’re now looking for an experienced and dedicated professional to join us as a Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) and Child Protection Chair [CP].
This is a pivotal role that ensures the protection, wellbeing and voice of children is at the centre of everything we do. You will lead and quality assure safeguarding processes, bring constructive challenge, and work closely with partners to achieve the best outcomes for children.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
About the role
In this role, you will take a leading position in strengthening safeguarding practice across Reading. You’ll provide independent oversight, offer authoritative challenge, and help ensure all plans for children are effective and outcome focused.
Your responsibilities will include:
Chairing Child Protection Conferences in line with statutory requirements.
Leading Looked After Child (LAC) Reviews and monitoring Care Plans.
Providing rigorous quality assurance across safeguarding and care planning processes.
Supporting the LADO function by managing concerns and allegations against people who work with children.
Chairing Allegation Management Meetings and advising employers, police and social care colleagues.
Working collaboratively with partner agencies to drive improvements and promote best practice.
Contributing to service development through audits, observations of practice and project work.
You’ll play a key role in ensuring the child’s voice is central to decision making and that agencies work together effectively to protect children and young people.
About you
You’ll be a confident safeguarding professional who brings strong analytical skills, independence of thought and the authority to challenge practice when needed. You will be comfortable leading complex discussions and making sound, evidence based decisions.
To be successful in this role, you’ll need:
A Social Work qualification and Social Work England registration.
Full British Driving Licence
Minimum two years Management Experience in line with the statutory requirements
Demonstrable experience managing Child Protection Conferences and IRO function and experience in allegations against people who work with children,
Strong understanding of safeguarding legislation, guidance and statutory responsibilities.
Experience in chairing complex multiagency meetings.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with an ability to build trusted professional relationships.
Strong organisation and time management skills, able to manage competing priorities.
You’ll also bring a commitment to continuous improvement and a drive to ensure high quality services that improve outcomes for children.
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - champion and inspire a culture which ensures that all employees across the organisation work together to provide excellent outcomes for Reading
Drive Efficiency - create an environment in which resources are used efficiently and employees’ skills are developed and used effectively
Be Ambitious - aspire to deliver excellence and inspire and support others to reach their potential
Make a Difference to Reading - inspire a culture in which the customer is the focus and where change is welcomed as an opportunity
Our offer
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
Closing Date: Sunday 12th April 2026
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Interview Process: To be confirmed
We’re now looking for an experienced and dedicated professional to join us as a Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) and Child Protection Chair [CP].
This is a pivotal role that ensures the protection, wellbeing and voice of children is at the centre of everything we do. You will lead and quality assure safeguarding processes, bring constructive challenge, and work closely with partners to achieve the best outcomes for children.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.
About the role
In this role, you will take a leading position in strengthening safeguarding practice across Reading. You’ll provide independent oversight, offer authoritative challenge, and help ensure all plans for children are effective and outcome focused.
Your responsibilities will include:
Chairing Child Protection Conferences in line with statutory requirements.
Leading Looked After Child (LAC) Reviews and monitoring Care Plans.
Providing rigorous quality assurance across safeguarding and care planning processes.
Supporting the LADO function by managing concerns and allegations against people who work with children.
Chairing Allegation Management Meetings and advising employers, police and social care colleagues.
Working collaboratively with partner agencies to drive improvements and promote best practice.
Contributing to service development through audits, observations of practice and project work.
You’ll play a key role in ensuring the child’s voice is central to decision making and that agencies work together effectively to protect children and young people.
About you
You’ll be a confident safeguarding professional who brings strong analytical skills, independence of thought and the authority to challenge practice when needed. You will be comfortable leading complex discussions and making sound, evidence based decisions.
To be successful in this role, you’ll need:
A Social Work qualification and Social Work England registration.
Full British Driving Licence
Minimum two years Management Experience in line with the statutory requirements
Demonstrable experience managing Child Protection Conferences and IRO function and experience in allegations against people who work with children,
Strong understanding of safeguarding legislation, guidance and statutory responsibilities.
Experience in chairing complex multiagency meetings.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with an ability to build trusted professional relationships.
Strong organisation and time management skills, able to manage competing priorities.
You’ll also bring a commitment to continuous improvement and a drive to ensure high quality services that improve outcomes for children.
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - champion and inspire a culture which ensures that all employees across the organisation work together to provide excellent outcomes for Reading
Drive Efficiency - create an environment in which resources are used efficiently and employees’ skills are developed and used effectively
Be Ambitious - aspire to deliver excellence and inspire and support others to reach their potential
Make a Difference to Reading - inspire a culture in which the customer is the focus and where change is welcomed as an opportunity
Our offer
We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.
A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave
A wide range of flexible working opportunities
Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS)
On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted
Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work
Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax
Closing Date: Sunday 12th April 2026
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Interview Process: To be confirmed
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.