Local Government Jobs

Barnsley is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of the children in its care and providing them with the best service possible. As proof of this, in response to the stringent requirements placed on Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs) in the Children & Young Persons Act 2008, and despite the significant pressures placed on all local authorities’ budgets, we are looking to recruit to a recently vacated post. This post is crucial to ensuring that children & young people in Barnsley’s care have care plans of the highest quality and are receiving the services needed to fully achieve those plans. You will chair the statutory reviews of children in care, including those receiving short breaks, monitor the quality of the local authority’s performance in relation to the child’s case and ensure that the child’s wishes and feelings are at the forefront of the care planning process. You will command the respect of the others working with the child and possess the professional expertise to identify good and poor practice alike, effectively challenge deficiencies and gaps with officers at all levels within the local authority and possess the confidence and credibility to refer cases to CAFACSS, where necessary, for consideration of specific issues by the courts. This is a real opportunity to make a difference for children in care and make a real contribution to improving outcomes for this very vulnerable group of children & young people. Interviews will take place on Wednesday September 15th 2010.