Independent Reviewing Officer

Job Description

Job title: Independent Reviewing Officer
Job Category: Social Care Qualified
Location 45 Fordhouse Lane, Stirchley, Birmingham, West Midlands, B30 3BN, Birmingham Children’s Trust
Hours per week 36.50
Salary: £27.89 per hour
3 days remote 2 days in the office
1 x The Avenue (a day of your choice )
1 x Lifford House Friday
Job description
Senior Social Worker – Child Protection Enquiry Team
We are looking for an experienced and motivated Senior Social Worker to join our Child Protection Enquiry Team, supporting children and families across the east of Birmingham. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a stable, fully permanent service with a permanent Team Manager, a supportive Senior Practitioner, and a committed team environment.
About the Team
You will join a well-established Child Protection Enquiry Team made up of six Senior Social Workers, one Senior Practitioner, and one Family Support Worker. The team works closely together to respond to safeguarding concerns, complete timely enquiries, and make clear, child-focused decisions about next steps for children and families.
About the Role
As a Senior Social Worker in the CP Enquiry Team, your main responsibility will be to undertake Section 47 enquiries and progress them within a five-day turnaround. You will use your professional judgement, safeguarding knowledge, and analytical skills to determine whether cases should progress to an Initial Child Protection Conference, step down to support under Section 17, or be closed where no further statutory intervention is required.
The role involves responding to RED strategy discussions, managing step-ups from the Family Help service, and working in partnership with children, families, and multi-agency professionals to assess risk and ensure that children are safeguarded effectively.
Key Responsibilities
• Undertake timely and proportionate Section 47 enquiries in line with statutory guidance and local procedures.
• Progress enquiries within a five-day turnaround, ensuring management oversight and timely decision-making.
• Assess risk, need, and protective factors for children and families where safeguarding concerns have been identified.
• Make evidence-based recommendations about whether cases should progress to an Initial Child Protection Conference, step down to Section 17 support, or require no further statutory intervention.
• Participate in RED strategy discussions and contribute to clear, child-centred safeguarding decisions.
• Respond to step-ups from Family Help where concerns indicate that a child may require a statutory safeguarding response.
• Work closely with children, parents, carers, wider family networks, and partner agencies to complete thorough and balanced enquiries.
• Maintain high-quality recording, analysis, and planning within required timescales.
• Take part in the team duty cycle, which operates one week in every three.
What We Offer
This is a manageable and well-supported role within a stable service. You will benefit from a positive work-life balance, a consistent team structure, and clear support from both the Team Manager and Senior Practitioner. Monthly supervision is guaranteed, and you will be part of a team that values reflective practice, professional development, and supportive working relationships.
The team primarily covers the east of Birmingham. There may be occasional need to travel outside of patch; however, this is rare. The service is well established, fully permanent, and benefits from stable leadership and a strong team culture.
About You
You will be an experienced Senior Social Worker who is confident in understanding and analysing risk, particularly where children and families are being considered under a Section 47 threshold. You will be organised, able to work at pace, and confident in making safeguarding decisions within clear timescales.
You will have strong assessment, communication, and report-writing skills, and be able to work effectively with children, families, professionals, and partner agencies. You will be child-focused, analytical, resilient, and committed to achieving safe and proportionate outcomes for children and families.
Essential Skills and Experience
• Qualified Social Worker with relevant professional registration.
• Experience of working with children and families where safeguarding concerns are present.
• Strong understanding of Section 47 enquiries, Section 17 support, Initial Child Protection Conferences, and statutory safeguarding processes.
• Ability to analyse risk, need, and protective factors and make clear recommendations.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to work in a fast-paced team environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including clear recording and report writing.
• Confidence in multi-agency working and contributing to strategy discussions.
• Commitment to child-centred, trauma-informed, and relationship-based practice.