Independent Reviewing Officer

The Independent Reviewing Service provides a vital quality assurance role for children looked after by Buckinghamshire Council. We play an integral part in the Authority's journey to improvement and our oversight and challenge matters to vulnerable children and young people.

The independent Reviewing Officer role is valued by our senior management team, and we are determined to ensure children receive the care, support, and services they need to enable them to 'be the best they can be'., The Independent Reviewing Officers' primary focus is to quality assure the care planning and review process for each child, ensure their views and wishes are given full consideration, and provide positive challenge when children's plans or professional practice is not of the required standard or in the child's best interests. You will chair and oversee the child's review process, work collaboratively with the child's network and seek to resolve any challenges raised in a timely way that has a positive impact on the child.

We are looking for motivated, ambitious, and inspiring people to join us on our journey. You will be entitled to a range of different benefits to make sure you are happy both at work and at home., If you have the skills, drive, and energy to join Buckinghamshire Council, provide oversight of its Corporate Parenting responsibilities, and be aspirational for children, our senior leadership team would welcome your application for this critical role.

To join us, you must be SWE-registered, hold a qualified social worker qualification, and have a minimum of three years post qualifying experience working at senior practitioner level; and ideally, management experience with children looked after and in child protection.

Buckinghamshire Council is a relatively new organisation that combines the strengths and expertise of the previous five councils in the county to create positive change for local people, communities, and businesses. We are firmly focused on the future and have made a clear commitment to serve residents better and to provide stronger representation for Buckinghamshire, both locally and nationally.

Buckinghamshire is an ambitious, rapidly growing county, and our economy is one of the strongest in the country. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty and ranks as one of the top rural areas to live in the UK and yet it is incredibly well connected- only an hour from London on the train. The county has a rich history and heritage and is the birthplace of the international Paralympic movement., We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are - Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture


• the chance to really make a difference to those around you


• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops


• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group


• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us


• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events


At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that's why we're working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it's important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Service Area

Buckinghamshire is a successful, growing place with fantastic natural assets, a highly productive economy and many resourceful and thriving communities. However, we are far from complacent and our new and ambitious unitary authority is well placed to tackle the challenges associated with growth, an aging population, climate change and inequalities in both opportunities and outcomes - particularly for our children and young people.

Children's Services is on an improvement journey and as our very recent Ofsted report shows, we have continued to improve despite the pressures of the pandemic and have built solid foundations for future success. Relationships with partners are strong and our collective response to the pandemic has strengthened and deepened our work together.

We have a big, ambitious agenda for Buckinghamshire, and our teams work collaboratively and at pace to make a positive difference to the lives of children and young people across the county.

We are looking for talented and driven individuals to help us achieve the best outcomes for our children, young people and families in Buckinghamshire. Our key priorities include continuing to protect vulnerable children and young people from harm, whilst sustaining an environment where social work practice can thrive. Through our vital work with our partners, including The Buckinghamshire Safeguarding Childrens Partnership, we continue to improve our collective response to children and young people who have been exposed to domestic abuse, exploitation, substance misuse and mental health issues.

No matter what role you take on in our Children's services, you will be part of a team who is dedicated to supporting children and their families to achieve their full potential.

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That's why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements.

We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme with an employer contribution of 24.6%.

We also offer a salary sacrifice personal car lease scheme and the opportunity to gain membership to Costco. We have discounted gym memberships - https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/

Social Workers are also entitled to a generous enhanced reward package, as follows:

• Competitive salary with a market increment


• A 'Golden Hello' lump sum payment upon successful completion of probation


• New lease car scheme


• Annual leave up to 30 days per year, as well as other types of leave and the opportunity to buy further leave


• Up to 15 days per year training, learning and development offer


• Free parking across all of our office sites


If you are interested in relocating to Buckinghamshire and working with us, relocation packages are also available.