Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO)
🕒 Hours: Part time – 22.2 hours per week
💰 Salary: Up to £55,607 per annum (pro rata)
💸 Plus £7,000 market premia and £3,000 annual retention payment after one year (pro rata)
🏢 Medway Council – Safeguarding & Quality Assurance Service
📍 Location: Medway / Hybrid working available
💫 Be the independent voice that makes a difference for children in Medway At Medway Council, we are committed to ensuring every child and young person grows up feeling safe, heard, and supported.
We’re looking for an experienced Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) to champion the rights of children and young people in care and those in need of protection — helping to ensure their voices shape the decisions that affect their lives.
🌈 About the role As an IRO, you will:
Chair child protection conferences and looked-after reviews with confidence, clarity, and compassion.
Ensure every meeting fully reflects the voices and experiences of children, young people, and their families.
Challenge practice and decision-making where outcomes are not in a child’s best interests.
Promote high standards of inter-agency working, ensuring statutory responsibilities are met.
Contribute to quality assurance and performance improvement, helping to raise standards across children’s services.
Work collaboratively within the Safeguarding and Quality Assurance team to champion a culture of reflection, accountability, and learning.💡 About you You’ll be a qualified social worker, registered with Social Work England, with:
At least 5 years’ post-qualification experience, including in child protection or looked-after children services.
A strong understanding of Children’s legislation (Children Act 1989, 2004, Adoption and Children Act 2002, etc.) and national policy frameworks.
Experience of Family Court proceedings, pre-proceedings (FCP/PLO), and complex case management.
The confidence to challenge, influence and inspire professional practice across agencies.
Excellent communication, analytical and report-writing skills.
A genuine passion for amplifying the voices of children and young people.💼 What we offer When you join Medway, you’ll be part of a council that values its social workers and invests in their growth. We offer:
Competitive salary and benefits with market premia and retention payments (pro rata).
A strong culture of reflective supervision and peer support.
Flexible and hybrid working arrangements to promote work-life balance.
Opportunities to contribute to service development and innovation.
A workplace that truly listens — to our staff and to our children.🚀 Join us – and be the voice that makes every child matter If you’re ready to use your experience and passion to influence real change for children in Medway, we’d love to hear from you.
👉 Apply now and help us deliver excellence in safeguarding, care, and participation. pleaseemail your Cv to (url removed) or call (phone number removed)