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INDEPENDANT REVIEWING OFFICER (CHILDRENS)   This job has expired Job id: 28270664
Location: Merton, South West London (SW19)
Salary: unspecified
Company:Open Source IT
Job type: Contract
Date posted: unspecified


Description: LONDON BOROUGH OF MERTON CHILDREN’S SERVICES DEPARTMENTJOB DESCRIPTIONPOST TITLE: Independent Reviewing OfficerGrade: PO4DIVISION/SECTION: Children Social Care Safeguards, Strategy & DevelopmentLocation: Responsible to: Children’s Safeguards ManagerResponsible for: Post number: Date: January 20031. MAIN PURPOSE To contribute to the Safeguarding of children and Young Persons, by chairing Child Protection Conferences, Looked After children Reviews and Reviews of services to Children in Need. This service will challenge discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion, sexuality or disability, which respects children’s rights, views and feelings and promotes and safeguards the welfare of children.To promote and develop services which work in partnership with parents and enable them wherever possible to care for their children safely at home within their own communities.To develop an effective working relationship with other Council departments and external agencies, and to work in collaboration with other Local Authorities where appropriate.To be aware of national research, policy, and practice initiatives in relation to child protection, children looked after, and children in need, and to contribute to the development, implementation and revision of internal procedures.To act as an Independent Chairperson for Child Protection Conferences, LAC Reviews, Reviews of Services to Children in need and Foster Carer Reviews.To contribute to the development of quality assurance systems and standards, and to assist in the monitoring and auditing of children’s services.To provide professional consultation on childcare and child protection matters, and to chair complex Strategy Meetings at a senior level.2. MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESTo convene and chair child protection conferences and strategy meetings in accordance with Department of Health guidance, LSCB policy and standards and Children’s Services procedures.To positively promote and encourage family participation at conferences and ensure that the views, wishes and feelings of children are clearly recorded.To ensure that a detailed social work assessment, including an evaluation of risk factors, is available for each conference and that parents and other conference participants are given an opportunity to consider the report.To ensure that every child on the child protection register has a written, implemented inter-agency child protection plan, and that the plan is actively monitored and reviewed as part of the conference process.To contribute to the development, implementation and revision of child protection policy and procedures.To chair meetings, within the Council’s clearly defined, equal opportunities framework and to promote anti-discriminatory practice.To contribute to the development and delivery of child protection and looked after children training to Children’s Services staff.To attend and advise as necessary sub-committees and task groups set up by the LSCB.To convene and chair children looked after reviews in accordance with legislation, Department of Health guidance and Children’s Services procedures.Positively promote and encourage family participation at reviews and to facilitate active participation by the child/young person.To ensure that all the looked after forms and records are completed and that other key agencies have been consulted or, if appropriate, invited to the review.To ensure that every looked after child/young person has a written care plan which is actively monitored and reviewed and that the views, wishes and feelings of the child/young person are clearly recorded.To ensure that any outstanding child protection issues are discussed at the review and are part of the formal looked after planning process.To chair Foster Carer Reviews, in accordance with statutory and procedural requirementsTo chair reviews of services to Children in Need and to ensure that appropriate Care Plans are in place.To work with the Children’s Safeguards Manager to offer a consultative service to all staff in relation to children looked after and child protection matters.To contribute to the collection and analysis of relevant management information.LONDON BOROUGH OF MERTON CHILDREN SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENTPERSON SPECIFICATIONPOST TITLE: Independent Reviewing OfficerGrade:Date: January 20031. KnowledgeThe Person Specification is based on the duties of the post as detailed in the Job Description. Candidates selected for interview will need to demonstrate that they meet all the essential criteria identified for short listing applicants for interview.A/I/O indicates at which stage of the recruitment process your ability to meet the criteria will be tested.A = Application Stage I = Interview Stage O = Other Assessment2. SkillsThe minimum requirements considered necessary to carry out the duties of the post fully are:1. Comprehensive working knowledge of the public and private law relating to children and of the powers and duties of local authorities in respect of children. A/I.2. Thorough knowledge of current Government guidance to LA’s on child protection, and inter-agency and social services procedures in Child Protection and in respect of Looked After children. A/I.3. Highly developed skills in chairing conferences or reviews in an impartial and independent manner, particularly enabling inexperienced participants to contribute to the process. A/I4. Thorough knowledge of child development. A/I5. Previous comprehensive experience of promoting and developing services to work in partnership with parents. A/I6. Ability to keep issues in perspective during the conference process, drawing upon expertise regarding current research and guidance, and to resolve conflicting issues. A/I7. Ability to evaluate indicative or contradictory evidence; to formulate and record clear decisions and ensure that action plans that reflect these decisions. A/I8. Ability to contribute to the development of, and to carry out audit work conducted in the Department and to contribute to its analysis. A/I9. Highly developed analytical skills and proven problem solving ability to facilitate providing a consultative service to social workers and other professionals. A/I10. Ability to show initiative by suggesting ways to develop and improve practice, and produce reports. A11. Ability to contribute to the development of quality assurance systems and standards, and to develop relevant policy and procedures. A/I12. Ability to liaise effectively with other agencies at all levels. A13. Comprehensive and accurate report writing skills.14. Highly developed communication skills. A/I15. Computer skills, including ability to develop and maintain databases. A16. Ability to collect, collate and assist in the analysis of management information. A17. Relevant professional Social Work qualification. A18. In-house training in Child Protection guidelines and procedures. A19. Specific and sustained post qualification experience in Child Protection work and work with Looked After Children. A20. Ability to drive, and possession of a current driving licence. A21. The ability to comply with the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy and Customer Care practices.22. Ability to work outside of normal office hours and to travel outside of the London Borough of Merton3. Experience/TrainingDesirable criteria will only be used to select candidates where a large number of candidates meet all the essential criteria.1. Post Qualification Training in Child Protection and childcare. A2. Experience of providing training in Child Protection and Child Protection work. A3. Direct experience of working with foster carers


Contact: James Robertson
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