Independent Reviewing Officer

Description

Independent Reviewing Officer

Job Location: Gloucestershire

This is a Gloucestershire County Council job.

Job Location: Shire Hall, The Link, Ground Floor

Salary: GBP54,143 - GBP56,293 per annum

Hours per Week: 22.2

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: 04/11/2026

Job Requisition Number: 14908

This post is not open to job share

We are currently recruiting for an Independent Reviewing Officer to join our Reviewing Service on a part-time basis, to champion the needs of children in the care of Gloucestershire County Council.

Reward and Support

For all your hard work, you will receive the following:

Between GBP54,143 - GBP56,293 per annum subject to experience (pro rata for part-time staff)

GBP5,000 welcome payment (pro rata for part-time staff)

GBP2,000 retention payment (pro rata for part-time staff)

up to GBP8,000 relocation package

flexible and agile working opportunities

25.5 days annual leave rising to 30.5 days after 5 years continuous service (pro rata for part-time staff)

option to purchase 10 days of additional leave per year (pro rata for part-time staff)

family friendly policies and benefits to help support you and your family

supportive and positive working environment with regular, robust supervision

Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)

access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) that provides free, confidential, counselling and advice for employees, available 24 hours a day, online and by telephone

an in-house Occupational Health service

employee discount scheme

links to employee networks such as Prism (LGBT+) and the Young Employees Network

career development and qualification opportunities

access to our Social Work Academy

Cycle to Work scheme (eligibility criteria and t&cs apply)

Green Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme (eligibility criteria and t&cs apply)

Please note that all our welcome and retention payments are subject to terms and conditions as well as tax and national insurance deductions

Please note that our relocation policy is subject to terms and conditions

Right child, right support, right time, every time

In our recent inspection in June 2025, our Children's Services have been officially judged as 'Good' with 'Outstanding' elements. Ofsted also said 'Leaders have set out a clear vision for delivering success for children, by modelling values and creating a culture where the workforce, children and families feel valued and heard; risk is managed confidently with bottom lines clearly set out.'

This marks an important step in our journey to improve outcomes for our children and young people, and we remain focused on our mission: to continue building on this success and ensure that every child and young person in our county has the opportunity to thrive.

Gloucestershire offers a range of opportunities to develop your career, supported by a phenomenal Social Work Academy offer, a developing systemic practice methodology, an ambitious leadership team and an award-winning workforce.

We are a local authority adopting, and training all colleagues in, systemic social work practice. If you would like to be part of an authority that takes a relational approach to working with families and focuses on what needs to change in the system around a child and family to enable children to thrive, then consider a role with GCC.

About the role

As an IRO, you can expect to:

chair statutory reviews for children in care in line with IRO Regulations and national guidance

ensure that reviews are timely, child-centred, and delivered to a high professional standard

monitor the progress and quality of Care Plans, actively addressing any drift or delay

provide robust challenge and escalate concerns to senior management and CAFCASS as needed

ensure the meaningful involvement of children, young people, families, and carers

collaborate with professionals across agencies and support improvements to practice

promote equality and consider the individual needs of each child, including factors such as race, disability, religion, and identity

About You

There are some things we require of you to be successfully appointed to this post:

a full driving licence and willingness to drive

DBS clearance (Enhanced Adults and Children's)

to have completed your ASYE year (if you qualified after 2012)

Social Work England registered

at least 5 years post qualifying experience in Children's Social Work, including child protection and care proceedings

experience in management and/or supervision within a Children's Social Work team

experience chairing complex meetings and managing conflict

strong understanding of legislation, permanence planning, safeguarding, and quality assurance

How to apply

For an informal chat about this role, please contact

We reserve the right to close an advertisement earlier than the stated closing date if we receive a suitable number of applications.

Interviews are due to take place in person at Shire Hall on Friday 23rd October 2026.

If you would like to find out more about our Children's Service please take a look here: Children's Social Care Careers Careers hub

We welcome applications from newly qualified and social workers in the early years of their career. Depending on your qualification date and previous experience, you will be invited to either join our accredited ASYE programme or to complete an alternative early career development in-house pathway. The appropriate option will be explored and confirmed as part of the interview and offer process.

Ad ID: 5419008628