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Description

We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for ßÙßÇÂþ»­. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.

This permanent opportunity has a starting salary of £52,942 - £57,125 per annum based on a 36-hour working week.

Are you looking for a fresh opportunity to use your social care management skills and experience? Are you ready for a pivotal role that safeguards continuity of quality care for children and young people, where their current feelings and wishes are considered?

If that sounds interesting, we invite you to consider our Child Protection (CP) Chair / Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) opportunity within our North East Independent Reviewing Service Team, part of the Quality Performance Service.

Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days' holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years' service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Professional support from experienced and qualified members of the team to help you grow and develop your career

About the Role

You'll be joining our team of established CP Chairs / IRO's where you will have the chance to share your knowledge and expertise gained as a social work practitioner and manager, to provide invaluable insight and accountability for monitoring the progress of outcome focused plans for our children and young people, which are effective and reflective of their needs and wishes and timely; in line with our statutory requirements.

The combined CP Chair/ IRO role provides a unique opportunity to build trust and safety with the children and young people you support as they progress on their journey.

Through your work with case auditing, service reviews and reviewing the quality of practice, you'll use the breadth and depth of your experience to support not just children, young people and their families, but staff too, making recommendations for improvements both in conference meetings and in relation to child protection plans; helping to have a positive influence and impact on how we do things at ßÙßÇÂþ»­. At present we are seeing increased demand within Looked After Reviews, meaning this would be the greater focus of the role for now.

Supporting your career development is a top priority for us. We have a comprehensive training programme and an Academy which supports the multi-agency partnership. The Council is invested in training staff in the Family Safeguarding model, Motivational Interviewing, as well as investing in support to develop systems thinking in practice in ßÙßÇÂþ»­. As an Independent Chair you will be supported to ensure that you are competently able to deliver in your role for both CP conferences and Looked After Reviews. Your development will also be supported by regular supervision and performance conversations as well as a range of coaching, e-learning and other reflection and learning opportunities.

Shortlisting Criteria

To be shortlisted for interview your CV and personal statement will clearly evidence:

• Registered with Social Work England and hold a Social Work degree or equivalent qualification
• A passion for Social Work
• A broad knowledge of practice and legislation, including safeguarding and children in care
• Management experience within Children's Social Care
• A track record of improving outcomes for children and young people
• You will need to be able to work flexibly and travel extensively across ßÙßÇÂþ»­ and the UK

Contact Us

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment. For an informal discussion please contact Linde Webber.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 6th August 2025 with interviews to follow.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

An enhanced DBS 'Disclosure and Barring Service' check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children's and Adults' Barred List checks will be required for this role.

Local Government Reorganisation

ßÙßÇÂþ»­ is preparing for Local Government Reorganisation which will allow us to implement the Government led policy of devolution, which is all about giving more powers to local areas.

Currently, ßÙßÇÂþ»­ has a two-tier council system, with 11 district and borough councils and a county council, all responsible for different services. All these councils will be reorganised into a smaller number of new unitary councils which will come into effect in April 2027. At this point, this role will be transferred, with all existing terms and conditions intact into one of the new unitary councils.

Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - ßÙßÇÂþ»­.

Our Behaviours

The ßÙßÇÂþ»­ Way behaviours are a guide that supports our council to work together effectively and deliver our best for our customers and communities, and for each other. Discover more about our behaviours.

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description. Our also provides insights of the culture at ßÙßÇÂþ»­ and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.

Our Commitment

ßÙßÇÂþ»­ is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where:

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role.

We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.

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