Child Protection Advisor & Independent Reviewing Officer

Job IntroductionChild Protection Advisor & Independent Reviewing OfficerWe have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Social Worker to join the Children’s Safeguarding Unit as a Child Protection Advisor/Independent Reviewing Officer (CPA/IRO).As a Child Protection Advisor, you will chair Child Protection Conferences, ensuring that clear, robust and timely plans are in place to safeguard children at risk of significant harm.As an Independent Reviewing Officer, you’ll be the independent voice for children and young people, ensuring their views and experiences meaningfully shape decisions about their care. You will play a key role in promoting their safety, wellbeing and outcomes by chairing cared for reviews, pathway plan reviews and adoption reviews, ensuring plans are appropriate, timely and responsive to their needs.This dual role is central to holding the Local Authority and partner agencies to account. You will monitor children’s plans, champion high-quality practice and drive improved outcomes for children, young people and their families.This is a fixed-term contract for one year, supporting the service through key developments associated with the Families First Partnership Programme, including the implementation of the Lead Child Protection Practitioner (LCPP) role. We welcome applicants who are flexible and adaptable. As the Safeguarding Unit evolves, the successful candidate may be required to undertake the LCPP role, where appropriate, to support service delivery.This position is well suited to someone who is motivated to make a difference, values quality assurance and thrives in a collaborative, multi-agency environment.We promote flexible working where this aligns with service needs. You can work from a range of locations, including home; however, meetings with children, young people and families are expected to take place in person.We are looking for someone who:

• Is a qualified Social Worker.
• Is registered with Social Work England.
• Has significant experience of working with children and families, including complex casework and multi-agency meetings.
• Demonstrates strong communication, negotiation and analytical skills.
• Works within a relational and strengths-based framework.
• Is committed to achieving outstanding outcomes for children, young people and their families.
• Can travel across Northumberland and work flexibly to meet service needs.

For more information on this role, please contact Catherine Macdonald, Senior Manager on catherine.macdonald@northumberland.gov.uk.

Northumberland County Council’s (NCC) vision is ‘Land of Great Opportunities’, for current and future generations. We believe there is no better place to live and work.
For further information about working for NCC, please visit our website here.

Why choose us?
We have some outstanding benefits and perks to offer you, including:

• 26 days annual leave plus public/bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years of service (pro rata for part-time employees)
• Automatic enrolment into the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexi scheme (if applicable) – up to 2 days flexible leave available per month (pro rata for part-time employees)

To see all our excellent benefits and perks, please click here.

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Further information
For guidance on completing your application and for information about our Equality and Diversity principles, please see the attached guidance notes here.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria. If you have a disability and would prefer to apply in a different format, please see the alternative methods below. This information will be treated as confidential and will only be used to check that you meet the essential requirements of the post.

Alternative application format:
British Sign Language: northumberlandcc-cs.signvideo.net
For those with speech difficulties or hearing loss: Text relay service dial 018001 01670 623930

Although we advertise on North East Jobs, and other websites, your application process will be directed to our Tribepad system. Please note that all communication regarding your application for this post will be sent to the email address that you have registered on Tribepad, including your invite to interview if you are shortlisted. Please check your emails regularly, including Spam/Junk, after the closing dates for notifications.