Torbay Council
Independent Reviewing Officer – Cared For Children - 25.90 hours
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Application Deadline: 27 August 2026 Department: Children's Services Location: Torbay Council Compensation: £54,307 - £57,631 / year
Description
The full-time equivalent salary of £54,307.00 to £57,631.00 includes an amount for a market supplement ranging from £7,126.00 to £7,362.00 per year. This market supplement is reviewed annually.
**Job Description & Person Specification > **
Are you an experienced Social Worker with a passion for improving outcomes for children and young people in care?
Torbay Council is seeking an enthusiastic and highly skilled Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) to join our Cared For Children Reviewing Service. This is an exciting opportunity to play a pivotal role in ensuring that children and young people receive the highest standards of care, support, and advocacy while helping to drive continuous improvement across children's services.
As an Independent Reviewing Officer, you will independently chair statutory reviews for children in care, monitor care planning, challenge poor practice where necessary, and ensure that children's voices remain central to decision-making processes.
About the Role
You will:
- Chair statutory reviews for children and young people in care and secure accommodation reviews.
- Monitor the quality and effectiveness of care planning and service delivery.
- Provide independent advice, challenge, and oversight to promote best practice and positive outcomes.
- Work collaboratively with social care, education, health, police, and other partner agencies.
- Undertake quality assurance activities and contribute to service development.
- Act as the Designated Lead Officer for allegations against teachers and other staff.
- Provide safeguarding advice and support to education providers in relation to Section 175 of the Education Act 2002.
About You
We are looking for a confident and experienced practitioner who can demonstrate:
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- A recognised Social Work qualification and current Social Work England registration.
- A minimum of five years' post-qualifying experience working with children and families.
- Significant experience of chairing complex multi-agency meetings.
- Strong understanding of children's legislation, safeguarding, and statutory guidance.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and analytical skills.
- Confidence to independently challenge practice and influence positive change.
- A commitment to delivering child-centred, relationship-based practice.
Why Join Torbay Council?
At Torbay Council, we are committed to delivering the best possible outcomes for children, young people, and families. We offer:
- Hybrid working arrangements.
- A supportive and collaborative working environment.
- Opportunities for professional development and learning.
- The chance to influence practice and help shape services for children and young people.
- A role where your expertise can make a genuine difference every day.
This post will be carrying out Regulated Activity. As such, the post will require an Enhanced Criminal Record Check plus an additional Barred List Check. The check will reveal any spent and unspent convictions and adult cautions (which have not been filtered), any local Police information, and a check of either the Adult, Child, or Adult and Child Barred Lists.
Please note that vacancies may close early if a sufficient number of applications are received.
If you are viewing this advert on a job board, you can access the full job description by placing the below URL into your browser: https://www.torbay.gov.uk/jobs/job-descriptions/independent-reviewing-officer-cared-for-children/
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For an informal chat, please contact Lucy Reeves on 07500097230 or lucy.reeves@torbay.gov.uk.
Interviews are expected to be conducted during the week commencing 8th September 2026.
This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.
Our adverts do sometimes close early - even where there's a published deadline - so if you're keen, please apply as soon as possible.
Skills
Essential:
- The ability to effectively chair complex meetings and to manage contributions by all participants ensuring clear outcomes.
- Ability to challenge poor practice effectively.
- Self-motivation, personal confidence, leadership, and negotiation skills.
- The ability to make independent judgements that take into account the views of others but are not unduly influenced by these.
- Problem-solving and analytical abilities.
- This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
Knowledge
Essential:
- An understanding of child development and the effects of trauma, significant harm, loss, and separation on children.
- An understanding of all relevant Child Care legislation and statutory guidance.
- An understanding of the national minimum standards for regulated provisions (adoption, fostering, residential care).
- An understanding of Section 175 of the 2002 Education Act and related documentation.
- Understanding of 'Allegations of abuse against Teachers and other staff' guidance and related documentation.
Experience & Qualifications
Essential:
- A minimum of five years post-qualifying experience of working with children.
- Social Work qualification as recognised by Social Work England.
- Current Social Work Registration.
- Experience of effectively chairing complex multi-agency meetings.
- Experience of legal proceedings and adoption.
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