• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How To Apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact

• Sam Taylor SDM ISU Call 07598065326 Email Samuel.taylor2@leeds.gov.uk
• Sarah Riddle IRO Team Manager Call 01133782954 email sarah.riddell@leeds.gov.uk

The closing date for application is 25 th October 2026

We will inform the candidates to be interviewed via email before the end of day on 2 nd November 2026. Interviews will take place between 09/11/26 - 11/11/26. Please hold the full day in your diary.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy .

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

We promote diversity and want a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds. Leeds City Council is recognised in Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index 2024. We are also an Age-friendly Employer, a Mindful Employer and a Disability Confident Leader.

All new Leeds City Council appointments are made subject to the satisfactory completion of a six-month probationary period.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, candidates must consider their own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. For more information visit Skilled Worker visa on the government website. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Special conditions this post is subject to a higher-level check with the Disclosure and Barring Service. Please note that a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining employment; this will depend on the circumstances and background to any offence.

Job Purpose

Responsible for ensuring quality-of-care planning for looked after children, ensuring their needs are met and their voices are heard, by chairing review meetings and monitoring progress. The IRO will fulfil the statutory requirements of the role as set out in the IRO Handbook and The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations (amended 2015).

Responsibilities

• Monitor the performance by the local authority of their functions in relation to the child’s care plan
• Participate in the review of the child’s case.
• Ensure that any ascertained wishes and feelings of the child are given consideration by the local authority.
• Perform any other function prescribed in care planning regulations.
• Establish relationships with children and young people who are looked after, ascertain their wishes and feelings, and promote the voice of the child.
• Ensure plans for looked after children are based on a detailed and informed assessment, are up to date, effective and provide a real and genuine response to each child’s needs.
• Make sure children and young people understand how an advocate could help and know their entitlement to one.
• Highlight and prevent any ‘drift’ in care planning for looked after children and the delivery of services to them
• Monitor the activity of the local authority as a corporate parent in ensuring care plans have given proper consideration and weight to the child’s wishes and feelings and that, where appropriate, children and young people fully understand the implications of any changes made to their care plan.
• Confidently challenge any deficits in the quality or delivery of the child’s care plan either informally or through the statutory Dispute Resolution Process.
• Chair statutory Looked after Child Reviews and Adoption Reviews in line with regulatory requirements and liaise appropriately with operational staff.
• As well as reviewing those children placed within the city, to review care plans of children placed out of area, and those in secure accommodation.
• Chair some other types of reviews e.g. pathway plans and supervision orders where children have been previously looked after.
• Collate information arising from reviews relating to policy, practice, resources, and inter-agency participation.
• Contribute to monitoring reports submitted to Senior Management.
• Identify and respond to any issues of poor practice and highlight areas of good practice which might be used to support a learning organisation.
• Remain aware of developments in relation to Legislation, Guidance and Regulations and Departmental procedures.
• Contribute to developing consistency and high standards in the reviewing process.
• Contribute to practice and performance improvement activities in respect of social work services to children
• Contribute to service and multi-agency training and development activity relevant to the role.
• Represent the Independent Reviewing Service on service development projects relevant to the role.
• Take part in the delivery of training and development activities relevant to the IRO role.
• Actively promote and support Leeds City Council's and Departmental Policies on Equal Opportunities and to work in an anti-oppressive manner.

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications

Appropriate professional qualification (Dip SW, Degree, CQSW or equivalent). The post holder must be registered as a social worker (Social Work England) and maintain yearly registration.

Essential requirements

Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.

• Able to engage positively and creatively with looked after children and involve children and young people in reviewing their plans.
• Able to identify and promote good outcomes for looked after children
• Able to develop and maintain good relationships with parents and carers of looked