We are also looking for enthusiastic team members with an absolute commitment to getting the right outcomes for children.
We currently have a 0.5 FTE position within the service:
· A part time position which will be South England agile based, chairing Looked after Reviews for unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and a small number of other children placed in mainland UK.
· You may also be expected to chair Child Protection Conferences on occasion.
We will look to you to ensure child protection and care planning is effective and timely and the voice of the child is heard throughout.
For our unaccompanied children we will look to you to have the knowledge and experience to effectively ensure their needs are met.
As part of our commitment to transforming Social Work and relationship-based practice, you will work in the Isle of Wight and Hampshire strengths-based approach to ensure children and families contribute to plans and decisions that affect their lives. You will ensure plans are SMART, monitor their progress to ensure children receive the right support at the right time and provide quality assurance to the children and the service.
You will have excellent chairing skills with the ability to manage complex dynamics sensitively and with a consistent focus on the child. Your skills and abilities will enable you to work with families, carers, professionals and as part of a multi-agency team whilst having the confidence and knowledge to appropriately challenge. This will include at times challenge to colleagues, managers and other agencies where necessary to reach a resolution for the child.
As an IRO you will carry out statutory reviews for children we care for and chair Child Protection Conferences if required. You will need to have good knowledge of Care Planning and Reviewing regulations and the IRO Handbook as well as a good understanding of current safeguarding legislation and guidance.
You must be a Social Work England registered Social Worker with at least 5 years post qualifying experience with significant experience in work with looked after children and child safeguarding.
When you join #TeamIWC you'll receive our staff benefits package, including:
- Annual leave entitlement of 32 days p/a PLUS public holidays!
- Local Government pension scheme
- Discounted Solent ferry travel
- Island bus network discount
- Cycle to work scheme
- Staff parking permit scheme
- Discounted island sports & leisure gym membership
- National and local discounts & benefits schemes
A relocation scheme of up to £8,000 may be available to new employees specifically relocating to the Isle of Wight to take up a role with us. If you choose to commute to the Isle of Wight daily, you may be eligible get your travel costs reimbursed. Further details are available upon request.
Find out more about working for the Isle of Wight Council and living on the Island here.
The Isle of Wight Council protects its employees from discrimination and this is supported by the Unacceptable Behaviour Policy, Employee Code of Conduct and Behaviours Framework. We actively promote the diversity of our workforce and we provide flexible working options (where appropriate) to support the different needs of our employees.
The Isle of Wight Council is an equal opportunities employer, who is proud to encourage applications from all cultures, backgrounds and abilities to better reflect the diversity within our local community. In addition to this, we are also a Disability Confident Employer. Along with a number of other areas of commitments, this means that providing you meet the basic essential requirements of the advertised role and have declared yourself as disabled, you will be offered an opportunity for an interview within the council.
This council and its schools recruit according to the council’s Recruitment, Policy and Procedure and are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment.
This role falls within the strategic partnership between the Isle of Wight Council and Hampshire County Council. The employer will be the Isle of Wight Council and employment is on Isle of Wight terms and conditions. Hampshire County Council has delivered, on behalf of the Isle of Wight Council, all of its children’s services functions and will continue to do so until 2023. The original five-year partnership arrangement under direction of the Secretary of State finished in 2018 but has been extended voluntarily by both local authorities for a further five years.
The management reporting line for this role is ultimately through Hampshire County Council Children’s Services Director/Assistant Director and managers who take operational responsibility for children’s services.
The Isle of Wight Council is committed to supporting all newly qualified social workers (NQSWs) through the implementation of a robust post graduate competency framework referred to as the Assessed and Supported Year of Employment (ASYE). The ASYE is intended to be the first stage of the continuing professional development for Registered Social Workers, and the framework will be closely allied to the Professional Capabilities Framework (PCF). You will be therefore, be required to satisfactorily complete the ASYE programme within a 12-month period (or 18 months if part time).
If you have difficulty completing your online application or if you need further information about how to apply, telephone 01983 823134 or email callcentre@iow.gov.uk. Please note only applications completed and submitted online by the closing date will be accepted.
We often receive a high volume of applicants for our vacancies. If you do not hear from the recruiting manager within three weeks of the closing date, we regret that your application will not have been successful on this occasion. If unsuccessful, we actively encourage you to revisit our job pages and apply to alternate posts that may be suitable.