Fostering Independent Reviewing Officer; FIRO

At Cheshire East, we believe children thrive when they experience safe, stable and nurturing relationships. As a relational local authority, children, families and carers are at the heart of everything we do. Through our Family First approach, we are committed to working alongside families and carers to achieve the best possible outcomes for children and young people.

This is a rare opportunity to join a well-established, experienced and stable Safeguarding & Reviewing service within Cheshire East's Safeguarding and Review Service. As we continue to develop our practice within the Family First reform agenda, we are looking for an experienced and motivated
Fostering Independent Reviewing Officer
(FIRO) to make a significant contribution to the quality and effectiveness of our fostering service.

Foster carers play a vital role in the lives of children and young people, providing safe, nurturing and stable homes where children can thrive. As a FIRO, you will provide independent oversight and scrutiny of foster carer reviews, ensuring that fostering households are appropriately supported, challenged and enabled to deliver the highest standards of care.

We are seeking a practitioner who values the importance of relationships, understands the complexities and rewards of fostering, and is committed to supporting foster carers to develop and succeed in their role. You will bring professional curiosity, sound judgement and a strengths-based approach, working collaboratively with carers and professionals while maintaining the independence required of the role.

To undertake the independent review of foster carers in accordance with fostering regulations, national minimum standards and local procedures, ensuring that carers continue to provide safe, nurturing and effective care to children and young people.

The role is responsible for providing independent oversight, evaluation and quality assurance of fostering arrangements, supporting high standards across the fostering service and promoting positive outcomes for children.

Working within Cheshire East's relational practice framework, the postholder will develop positive and productive relationships with foster carers and professionals while maintaining independence, objectivity and professional accountability.

• Foster Carer Reviews
• Championing Quality Care
• Quality Assurance and Independent Scrutiny
• Partnership Working
• Reporting and Administration

The role is diverse with no one day the same, for more information on the role please view the 'In this job you will' section within the attached job description specification document.

• Professional Social Work qualification.
• Current registration with Social Work England
• Significant post-qualifying experience within Children's Social Care.
• Experience of working within fostering services, with foster carers or within looked after children's services.
• Experience of chairing meetings and managing complex professional discussions.
• Experience of multi-agency partnership working.
• Experience of quality assurance, service improvement or independent reviewing functions.

To find out more about the essential and desirable criteria for the role please view the attached job description specification document.

• Enhanced annual leave
  - Start with an impressive 34 days of annual leave (including bank holidays) from day one, and watch it grow to 39 days after just five years of service
• Purchase of annual leave -Want more time off? You can purchase up to 10 extra days of annual leave each year, giving you the flexibility to balance work and life just the way you want (Pro-ratio for part-time staff)
• Flexible working pattern
  - Enjoy a 37-hour standard full-time work week with the added perks of flexi-time and hybrid/remote working arrangements where possible. Your work-life balance just got a whole lot better
• Salary sacrifice green car scheme
  - Drive green and save green! Lease a brand-new electric or hybrid car through our salary sacrifice scheme.
  There's no credit checks, no deposits
  , just significant savings and exclusive offers on a three-year lease
• White goods salary sacrifice scheme -Upgrade your home with ease. Purchase home and electronic items through our salary sacrifice scheme, spreading the cost of big-ticket purchases like appliances, computers, and tech gadgets directly from your salary
• Enhanced public pension
  -Secure your future with our career average pension
  , where…