Safeguarding and Independent Reviewing Officer - Pledge (ID 02376)

Job title: Safeguarding and Independent Reviewing Officer - Pledge (ID 02376)

Job Category: Social Care Qualified

Location: Churton Road, Rhyl, Denbighshire, LL18 3ND, Denbighshire County Council

Hours per week: 37

Salary: £30.50 per hour

Job Purpose

The ability to chair complex meetings to a high standard and ability to negotiate and resolve contentious issues.

• To act as an independent chair at Child Protection meetings and Statutory Reviews as required by the Wales Safeguarding Procedures 2019 and other statutory regulations and in accordance with the Social Services & Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.

• To rigorously monitor, assess, review and scrutinise the quality and effectiveness of Safeguarding procedures and Looked after Care and Support Plans to ensure the best outcomes for children.

• To provide visible and clear guidance on professional practice to all staff across the Education and Children's Services Service on all aspects of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children in need and looked after children to ensure best outcomes.

• To produce and implement clear guidance and standards and provide rigorous and independent challenge to ensure high quality practice across the department.

• To contribute to the development of the North Wales Safeguarding Children Board and Conwy & Denbighshire Local Safeguarding Delivery Group, undertaking work at the direction of the Unit Manager, and to assist the Council and other agencies in meeting their wider safeguarding responsibilities.

• To ensure the voice of the child/young person is heard and provide access to Independent Advocacy and Independent Visitors.

• In conjunction with other members of the Safeguarding and Reviewing Unit, to develop and maintain a range of quality assurance systems in relation to departmental procedures, undertake specified audits of practice and service delivery and provide high quality advice concerning child care practice.

The post holder will play a key role, linking with Service Managers and staff in Social Care, Education, the Police, Health and other agencies, in the development of best practice in care planning and service provision for children and young people.

Principal Accountabilities and Responsibilities

• To chair all statutory reviews for looked after children in accordance with Part 6 Code of Practice (Looked After & Accommodated Children) Social Services & Well-being (Wales) Act 2014.

• To act as Independent Chair and manage initial and review Child Protection Conferences, ensuring departmental and multi-agency adherence to statutory and Welsh Government requirements as per the Wales Safeguarding Procedures 2019. Ensure that decisions made at these meetings are in the best interests of the child. To rigorously scrutinise, monitor, assess, review and challenge, where necessary, the quality and effectiveness of multi-agency Care and Support Protection Plans and Looked after Care and Support Plans and to escalate any concerns that cannot be resolved by the agreed departmental escalation to CAFCASS to prevent breaches of a Childs human rights.

• To promote diversity and equality within the service.

• To play a key role scrutinising and analysing audits of Case Files carried out by Practice Leader, Senior Managers and Head of Service. Contribute to the quarterly reports to Senior Management Team highlighting areas of concerns, trends, good and poor practice, non-compliance with process and procedures and whether or not a child's voice has been heard.

• Provide Induction/Mentoring briefings to social workers.

• Develop and maintain systems for monitoring services delivered within the unit against divisional standards and performance indicators.

• To chair Placed with Parents Meetings and make recommendations on the outcome to the Principal Manager, Childrens Services.

• To Chair Section 5 Meetings/ Professional Concern/Position of Trust Meetings as per Wales Safeguarding Procedures.

Knowledge, Skills, Training and Experience

• The post holder must have a professional qualification in Social Work i.e. Degree in Social Work, Dips, CQSW, and CSS.
• At least 5 years post qualifying fieldwork experience within a child care setting is desirable.
• To be able to provide independent advice in respect of Children's Safeguarding and Looked After Children, to all levels of the service.
• Detailed and current knowledge of relevant legislation, regulations and guidance. Knowledge of key research and practice developments in children's services.
• Proven ability to take on high level of responsibility and decision making and to use information to take critical high risk decisions
• To have the relevant knowledge and skills to be able to deal with complaints and appeals against Child Protection Registration in order to prevent escalation to the Ombudsman and other relevant regulatory bodies.
• Knowledge and understanding of performance monitoring and management systems.
• The IRO will require the knowledge and experience to be able to diffuse high risk situations and act as a mediator in volatile situations.
• The IRO will require the knowledge of conflict resolution processes.
• The IRO requires knowledge of both Children and Family Law and of court process both national and internationally.
• To be able to provide detailed and evidenced based reports when required for Senior Managers and Courts.
• To be aware of available community resources and be able to recommend signposting where relevant