Cheshire West and Chester Council is seeking a qualified Social Worker, with management or supervisory experience to join our dedicated Independent Reviewing Service as an Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO). This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in ensuring that children in care receive high-quality, child-centred services, with robust oversight of care planning and a strong focus on achieving the best possible outcomes for children and young people.
Organisation
Cheshire West and Chester Council
Location
Chester, Ellesmere Port, Winsford
Job Category
Children and Young People Services
Grade
CWAC NJC - Grade 11
Salary Min
£48,072 per annum
Salary Max
£54,992 per annum
Employment Type
Permanent
Cheshire West and Chester Council is a place where everyone can Thrive – through our core values of Teamwork, Honesty, Respect, Innovation, Value for Money and Empowerment.
As an Independent Reviewing Officer, you will champion the voice of children and young people, ensuring their views, wishes and feelings are central to decision-making. You will provide independent scrutiny and challenge where required, working collaboratively with social workers, carers, families, and partner agencies to ensure children are safe, nurtured, and supported to achieve their full potential. You will also play a vital role in driving practice improvement through quality assurance, audit activity, and service development.
This role is a key part of Cheshire West and Chester's ambitious Families First Partnership Programme, which brings together locality-based Family Help Teams, Family Help Safeguarding Teams, and Multi-Agency Child Protection Teams (MACPT). The programme promotes prevention, reunification where safe, and relationship-based, trauma-informed practice that places children and families at the heart of everything we do. As an IRO, you will ensure care planning reflects these principles and that family and kinship networks are explored and strengthened wherever possible.
This role is ideal for a highly skilled and experienced practitioner with substantial knowledge of children in care legislation, safeguarding, care planning, and corporate parenting responsibilities. You will be confident in providing constructive challenge, leading statutory reviews, managing complex situations, and influencing practice across multi-agency partnerships to improve outcomes for children and young people.
The council's approach is rooted in trauma-informed and systemic practice, ensuring empathetic and holistic interventions. Social workers are equipped with bespoke training, including trauma-informed practice and motivational interviewing, to deliver high-quality support.
Cheshire West and Chester offer a supportive work environment with strong leadership, reflective practice frameworks, and a culture of shared learning.
The council is committed to professional growth, with many senior roles filled by individuals who have progressed internally. High-quality training and development opportunities are available, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
A recent survey with frontline staff highlighted strong child-focused leadership, clear practice standards, and high-quality supervision. Staff feel trusted, supported, and valued, with many recommending Cheshire West and Chester as an excellent place to work.
If you choose to join us we offer:
Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
Bright, modern, recently refurbished office environments
Free parking at all office locations
Competitive salary of up to £54,992
Up to 16 days' flexi leave per year, in addition to annual leave
Social Work England registration paid for by the council
High-quality supervision and management support
Strong reflective practice framework
Excellent training and development opportunities
Clear progression and career development pathways
Local Government Pension Scheme
Employee rewards and discount schemes
Family-friendly policies and flexible working options
This role requires a qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England and significant post-qualifying experience within children's statutory social work, alongside extensive knowledge of legislation relating to looked after children, safeguarding, care planning, and child welfare.
For an informal discussion regarding the role, please contact:
Ian Bowden, Independent Reviewing Officer Operational Manager, on 07917 071548/[email protected]
Please note that this job is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
To find out more information about what it is like to work for Cheshire West and Chester Council including our rewards and benefits please see www.cwcrecruitment.co.uk
No candidate will meet every single requirement - if your experience looks a little different from what we've identified and you think you can bring value to the role, we'd love to learn more about you!
Cheshire West and Chester Council are committed to equality and diversity in employment. Please see the Equality Policy for more information.
Cheshire West and Chester Council have adopted a Local Living Wage for our employees which means that all employees will receive a minimum of £13.45 per hour for all contracted hours.
For any technical enquiries please email [email protected] and quote job reference number in all correspondence.
