Independent Reviewing Officer
Derby City Council
United Kingdom
Published yesterday
Social care
Full Time
Directorate: People Services
Hours: 37 hours a week
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: The Gate House
Do you want to be part of a team that is committed to improving outcomes for Children in Care in Derby?
If so, then we would like you to apply to join our enthusiastic and supportive team of Independent Reviewing Officers.
You will need to have significant post-qualifying social work experience, working with children in care, preferably with management/ supervisory experience.
You will need a clear understanding of the current responsibilities and challenges within the role of Independent Reviewing Officer and be able to evidence your ability to carry out the requirements of the post. Experience of managing complex cases, effectively communicating with young people and their families and the confidence and ability to work constructively with senior managers offering a critical perspective and appropriate challenge will also be a key requirement of the post.
You will also be involved in wider Quality Assurance issues such as identifying themes that affect the service to Children in Care as a whole and developing children's participation.
You need to be SW England registered and you will need to have a good working knowledge of current legislation and regulations relating to Children in Care. You must be able to travel to placements across the country.
You will receive good management support, regular supervision and professional development opportunities locally and regionally.
Who We Are
Here at Derby City Council, we're dedicated to delivering nearly 250 first-class services to citizens and businesses in the heart of the Midlands. People are at the centre of all that we do, and we have an outstanding track record of recruiting and developing talented individuals by providing them with varied and fulfilling career opportunities. Find out more about what it's like to work for us.
What We Offer
You too could be part of something brilliant by becoming a colleague at Derby City Council; in addition to making a difference to the lives of people across the city, you'll also receive:
• Flexible work/life balance scheme
• Hybrid working
• Continued professional development opportunities & career conversations
• 27 days annual leave (rising to 32 days after 5 years' service), plus bank holidays
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Team Derby Rewards - retail and leisure discounts
• Tusker Car Benefit Scheme
• Cycle2Work Scheme & free cycle training
• Employee Assistance Programmes & Support
• Access to our Equality Employee Networks - LGBTQ+, Disabled Employee Network & Carers and our Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic Employee Support Network
• Support for colleagues who are carers
The Opportunity
In the role of Independent Reviewing Officer here's an example of what you'll be doing to make an impact:
Fulfil the statutory duties of the IRO in relation to children in care, to
• monitor the performance by the local authority of their functions in relation to the child's case
• participate in any review of the child's case;
• ensure that any ascertained wishes and feelings of the child concerning the case are given due consideration by the appropriate authority; and
• perform any other function which is prescribed in regulations.
The primary task of the IRO is to ensure that the care plan for the child fully reflects
the child's current needs and that the actions set out in the plan are consistent with
the local authority's legal responsibilities towards the child as corporate parents.
Next Steps
If you would like to apply for this vacancy, please submit an application via the Derby City Council website .
The closing date for this vacancy is at midnight on 26th October 2025. Any applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.
Interviews will be held on the 4th November 2025. Face to Face Interview at Kedleston Road Main Building, 184 Kedleston Road, Derby
If you would prefer to apply for this job using your CV, then please download the attached Declaration Form and send it to Pervez Akhtar Pervez.Akhtar@derby.gov.uk . Without a completed declaration form, your application will not be accepted. We also encourage you to download the Equalities Form and return this to recruitment.team@derby.gov.uk, however this is optional and will not affect your application.
Important Information
Links to the full Job Description and Person Specification are below.
As part of our safer recruitment checks the successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.
All employees will normally be appointed to the minimum of the grade for the job.
Before you complete your application form please read our guidance on filling in your application form .
Remember to align your personal statement to the essential criteria in the Person Specification.
Please be aware that where there are colleagues within the organisation who are 'at risk' of redundancy, requirements to redeploy to another suitable role will apply and take priority.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
We are a fair and inclusive employer and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds. We recruit for diversity and value difference. As many of our roles can now be home-based, we are able to offer more opportunities for people who need this facility.
We are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. If you are a disabled person, you have the choice to apply under our Guaranteed Interview Scheme so long as you demonstrate that you meet the essential requirements for the job.
We feel it is essential that we recruit a talented workforce that is as diverse as the community we work for.
Please let us know of any individual requirements or reasonable adjustments you may have during the application, interview, or onboarding process and we'll do all we can to help. We strongly believe in social understanding of disability and for us it's all about removing barriers to equality.
If you have any questions regarding this vacancy or are having difficulty applying, please contact our Recruitment Team on 01332 640844 (Relay UK - 18001 01332 640 844) or at recruitmentteam@derby.gov.uk. https://www.derby.gov.uk/signing-service/
Please see Job Description here
Please see Person Specification here
Please see Declaration here
Please see Equalities here
Please see DBS Code of Conduct here
Hours: 37 hours a week
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: The Gate House
Do you want to be part of a team that is committed to improving outcomes for Children in Care in Derby?
If so, then we would like you to apply to join our enthusiastic and supportive team of Independent Reviewing Officers.
You will need to have significant post-qualifying social work experience, working with children in care, preferably with management/ supervisory experience.
You will need a clear understanding of the current responsibilities and challenges within the role of Independent Reviewing Officer and be able to evidence your ability to carry out the requirements of the post. Experience of managing complex cases, effectively communicating with young people and their families and the confidence and ability to work constructively with senior managers offering a critical perspective and appropriate challenge will also be a key requirement of the post.
You will also be involved in wider Quality Assurance issues such as identifying themes that affect the service to Children in Care as a whole and developing children's participation.
You need to be SW England registered and you will need to have a good working knowledge of current legislation and regulations relating to Children in Care. You must be able to travel to placements across the country.
You will receive good management support, regular supervision and professional development opportunities locally and regionally.
Who We Are
Here at Derby City Council, we're dedicated to delivering nearly 250 first-class services to citizens and businesses in the heart of the Midlands. People are at the centre of all that we do, and we have an outstanding track record of recruiting and developing talented individuals by providing them with varied and fulfilling career opportunities. Find out more about what it's like to work for us.
What We Offer
You too could be part of something brilliant by becoming a colleague at Derby City Council; in addition to making a difference to the lives of people across the city, you'll also receive:
• Flexible work/life balance scheme
• Hybrid working
• Continued professional development opportunities & career conversations
• 27 days annual leave (rising to 32 days after 5 years' service), plus bank holidays
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Team Derby Rewards - retail and leisure discounts
• Tusker Car Benefit Scheme
• Cycle2Work Scheme & free cycle training
• Employee Assistance Programmes & Support
• Access to our Equality Employee Networks - LGBTQ+, Disabled Employee Network & Carers and our Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic Employee Support Network
• Support for colleagues who are carers
The Opportunity
In the role of Independent Reviewing Officer here's an example of what you'll be doing to make an impact:
Fulfil the statutory duties of the IRO in relation to children in care, to
• monitor the performance by the local authority of their functions in relation to the child's case
• participate in any review of the child's case;
• ensure that any ascertained wishes and feelings of the child concerning the case are given due consideration by the appropriate authority; and
• perform any other function which is prescribed in regulations.
The primary task of the IRO is to ensure that the care plan for the child fully reflects
the child's current needs and that the actions set out in the plan are consistent with
the local authority's legal responsibilities towards the child as corporate parents.
Next Steps
If you would like to apply for this vacancy, please submit an application via the Derby City Council website .
The closing date for this vacancy is at midnight on 26th October 2025. Any applications received after the closing date will not be accepted.
Interviews will be held on the 4th November 2025. Face to Face Interview at Kedleston Road Main Building, 184 Kedleston Road, Derby
If you would prefer to apply for this job using your CV, then please download the attached Declaration Form and send it to Pervez Akhtar Pervez.Akhtar@derby.gov.uk . Without a completed declaration form, your application will not be accepted. We also encourage you to download the Equalities Form and return this to recruitment.team@derby.gov.uk, however this is optional and will not affect your application.
Important Information
Links to the full Job Description and Person Specification are below.
As part of our safer recruitment checks the successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.
All employees will normally be appointed to the minimum of the grade for the job.
Before you complete your application form please read our guidance on filling in your application form .
Remember to align your personal statement to the essential criteria in the Person Specification.
Please be aware that where there are colleagues within the organisation who are 'at risk' of redundancy, requirements to redeploy to another suitable role will apply and take priority.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
We are a fair and inclusive employer and welcome applications from people from all backgrounds. We recruit for diversity and value difference. As many of our roles can now be home-based, we are able to offer more opportunities for people who need this facility.
We are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. If you are a disabled person, you have the choice to apply under our Guaranteed Interview Scheme so long as you demonstrate that you meet the essential requirements for the job.
We feel it is essential that we recruit a talented workforce that is as diverse as the community we work for.
Please let us know of any individual requirements or reasonable adjustments you may have during the application, interview, or onboarding process and we'll do all we can to help. We strongly believe in social understanding of disability and for us it's all about removing barriers to equality.
If you have any questions regarding this vacancy or are having difficulty applying, please contact our Recruitment Team on 01332 640844 (Relay UK - 18001 01332 640 844) or at recruitmentteam@derby.gov.uk. https://www.derby.gov.uk/signing-service/
Please see Job Description here
Please see Person Specification here
Please see Declaration here
Please see Equalities here
Please see DBS Code of Conduct here