Fostering Independent Reviewing Officer

Your new companyWe are currently recruiting for a Fostering Independent Reviewing Officer for a welcoming and supportive team, on a part-time (3 days per week), permanent basis.Your new roleThe post holder will carry out work in the form of preparing for and chairing Annual Household Reviews for Foster Carers, and a very small number of Adopters, undertaking regular case audits of fostering and adoption case files, and carrying out Standards of Care meetings. The post is to meet the needs of the service. The post holder will not carry a supervisory caseload.Main Accountabilities:

• Liaise with Supervising Social Workers to ensure all paperwork for annual household reviews is received in a timely way and in order.
• Chair and facilitate annual household reviews of Foster Carers.
• Chair and facilitate a very small number of annual reviews of Adopters.
• Provide a clear and concise report of the annual household reviews.
• Chair standards of care meetings as and when they arise.
• Liaise regularly with the Fostering Practice Manager on any practice issues arising from each review.
• Ensure that there is a clear understanding with the service and carers regarding when reviews need to be presented to Panel.
• Maintain the agency's high standards, in order to promote positive outcomes for children and young people, and ensure that social work, foster care, and adoption practice continues to achieve high grades in Ofsted inspections.
• Ensure that the agency's policies and procedures are properly implemented and adhered to, and that agency practice complies with UK legislation and the UK National Minimum Standards.
• Develop a regular programme of auditing fostering and adoption case files, and prepare regular reports in respect of this, identifying areas for service development.
• Liaise and work closely with the Independent Reviewing Officers for Children in Our Care, and auditors from other teams to share good practice and learning.
• Work with the Panel administrator to monitor and maintain the database that tracks foster carers' attendance at panel.
• Maintain an accurate record of when annual household reviews are due, to ensure that these reviews are completed within timescales.
• Work closely with the Head of Service, Panel Chair, and Panel Administrator to create fostering panel schedules.

What you'll need to succeed

• Social Work qualification with significant, demonstrable post-qualification experience.
• The commitment and capacity to complete an appropriate management qualification.
• Substantial experience of providing services for looked after children.
• Previous experience of working in an adoption and/or fostering service as either a senior practitioner or manager.
• Full driving licence.

What you'll get in return

• Training and development opportunities
• Agile working supported by technology
• Flexible working policies
• Friendly working environment and great colleagues

What you need to do nowIf you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now. Alternatively, please send your CV If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.

Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk