About The Role
We are looking for a compassionate, grounded, and relationship-driven leader to guide our Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) Service. This is a role for someone who believes deeply in the power of connection, advocacy, and thoughtful oversight to change the trajectory of children's lives.
As Assistant Head of Service, you will nurture and lead a team alongside your team and HOS whose core purpose is to stand alongside children in our care, ensuring their journeys are understood, their plans are ambitious, and their voices are heard with clarity and respect. You will help create the conditions in which IROs can offer gentle but confident challenge, meaningful guidance, and unwavering support-always centered on the child's experiences and story.
This is an opportunity to play a highly influential role in shaping how our Trust listens, learns, and grows in partnership with our children and young people. Your role will be to support our improvement plan as we continue to focus on excellence for all our children in care.
Key Responsibilities
• Provide supportive, values-led leadership to the IRO Service, modelling curiosity, empathy, and thoughtful challenges.
• Ensure that every review places the child's voice, feelings, and aspirations at its heart.
• Strengthen the visibility and independence of the IRO role so that children feel genuinely advocated throughout ...