Child and Young Person Review Officer

If so, we have a current opportunity for an experienced Child and Young Person Review Officer (IRO), working with and for the children of Walsall.

Children and families are at the heart of our practice in Walsall as identified within our recent Ofsted inspection.

About the job

As a Child and Young Person Review Officer, you will play a vital role in ensuring that children and young people in care have strong, independent oversight of their care planning and review arrangements. You will chair statutory reviews, promote the voice and lived experience of children and young people, and work closely with social workers, carers, families and partner agencies to ensure care plans are purposeful, timely and focused on achieving the best possible outcomes.

You will provide constructive challenge where needed and support high-quality planning for children and young people throughout their care journey. This includes ensuring that statutory responsibilities are met, that children's views are heard and acted upon, and that plans remain responsive to their changing needs, relationships and aspirations.

Your duties also include Quality Assurance to ensure children receive the best service possible. The service prides itself on high expectations of its members and what is expected for children. In return there are many opportunities for professional development and you will be joining an exceptionally supportive team., We are committed to creating the right conditions for you to do your best work. This includes manageable workloads, strong management support, essential paperwork only and the use of enabling technologies., Note: Applicants appointed to posts that require an enhanced DBS clearance must declare any periods of time that they have lived, studied or worked abroad and be prepared to provide an Overseas Criminal Records Certificate (OCRC) or a Statement of Good Conduct (SOGC) relating to anytime they were overseas.

The role requires 5 years post qualifying experience, experience of working with Children and Families and Managerial or supervisory experience ( required as per the Department for Children, Schools and Families - IRO Handbook Section 2.16- regulation 46 ). This can include supervising students and lesser experienced staff.

This post is covered by the Government's Code of Practice on the English Language Fluency Duty for public sector workers. The post holder will be required to communicate verbally with customers and provide advice and/or information in accurate spoken English.

About you

We are looking for an experienced and confident practitioner with extensive social worker experience who is passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people in care. You will bring strong knowledge of children's social care practice, care planning, safeguarding, permanence and the statutory review framework.

You will be skilled in chairing complex meetings, analysing information, providing clear recommendations and offering professional challenge in a restorative and constructive way. You will be able to build effective relationships with children, young people, families, carers, practitioners and partners, while maintaining independence and a clear focus on the child's best interests.

Most importantly, you will share Walsall's ambition for children and young people. You will be relational, child-centred and inclusive in your approach, with a strong commitment to equality, participation and continuous improvement.

Walsall offers a comprehensive training and development programme, which contributed to our OUTSTANDING Ofsted grading in May 2025. There is an impressive learning offer for practitioners and wide-ranging training that enables workers to continue developing their knowledge and confidence in practice.

Wellbeing is at the heart of our work. We offer specialist clinical supervision, flexible working to support work-life balance, and access to employee assistance and therapeutic support when needed. We want social work in Walsall to be a career people choose to stay in., At Walsall Council, we appreciate that AI can be a useful tool for ideas or guidance. However, we encourage you to make sure your application reflects your own voice and experiences. Over-reliance on AI can make responses feel less personal, and we really want to understand what makes you unique. Your experiences, skills, and perspective are what set you apart, so please ensure your application as a whole - particularly your 'Supporting Information' - reflects your own voice.

Walsall Council's Children's Services are the only Ofsted 'Outstanding' local authority in the Black Country. During a visit in May 2025, Inspectors described Walsall Council as a place where children were at the heart of. The council's journey of continuous improvement started in 2017 and has since transformed into a service with a clear vision, clear priorities and a clear plan, all informed by the views of our staff and children. Staff are at the core of delivering great outcomes for children and young people in Walsall, which is underpinned by our Walsall Right 4 Children vision. The latest Ofsted inspection demonstrated that staff in children's services are proud to work for Walsall Council and feel supported to do great work.