Fixed Term - 12 months

The IRO / Child Protection Conference Chair Team Manager is a senior statutory role within Sefton Council’s Safeguarding and Quality Assurance Service. The post holder will lead and manage the Independent Reviewing Officer and Child Protection Conference Chairing service, ensuring high quality, timely and child‑focused safeguarding practice that improves outcomes for children and young people.

The key responsibilities include:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership to the Independent Reviewing Officer and Child Protection Conference Chairing service.
• Ensure the Council meets its statutory obligations in the delivery of a Child Protection, Cared for Reviews, LADO and Foster Carer Reviews, complying with legislation, policy and procedures and relevant frameworks
• Manage, supervise and support staff, ensuring high‑quality professional supervision, performance management and workforce development.
• Ensure Child Protection Conferences and statutory reviews are convened and concluded within statutory timescales and in line with legislation, policy and procedures.
• Maintain oversight and quality assurance of conference decision‑making, plans, minutes and recording, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and legal compliance.
• Promote and ensure children’s participation, advocacy and that the child’s voice and lived experience are central to all reviewing processes.
• Provide professional challenge to practitioners and managers, addressing drift, delay or poor practice and escalating concerns appropriately to senior leaders or external bodies where required.
• Lead and promote effective multi‑agency partnership working, ensuring strong engagement, accountability and shared safeguarding responsibility.
• Analyse performance, audit findings and service data to identify themes, risks and areas for improvement, contributing to service improvement and strategic planning.
• Lead and contribute to quality assurance audits, reviews, learning and development activity across Children’s Social Care.
• Represent the Service and Council at internal, multi‑agency and external forums as required.

Please see Appendix A in the Recruitment Pack for a full copy of the Job Description and Person Specification

Closing Date - Monday 4th May

Provisional Interview Date Friday 8th May

Please note we reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applicants.

Equal Opportunities

Sefton Council strives to ensure that our workforce is inclusive and representative of our communities. A diverse workforce is important to us, our staff bring with them a wide range of experiences, views, ideas, and innovations, and we are committed to providing an environment that recognises, respects, and values everybody’s identity, where individual differences are strengths and where everyone can thrive and maximise their potential. We are always open to learning and growing as an organisation, and we welcome new ideas and initiatives that promote equality, diversity and inclusion.

We are an Equal Opportunities Employer; all candidates will receive equal treatment. Our decision to appoint will be based upon whether an individual’s skills, experience, qualifications, and abilities make them the most suitable candidate for the role.

GUARANTEED INTERVIEW SCHEME

Please note that all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for these jobs (as given in the Person Specification) and who want to apply under the Disability Confident Scheme will be invited to interview.

If you are currently in care or have previously been in care, we provide a guaranteed interview scheme for care experienced people if you meet the essential requirements for the role.

If you’re an unemployed Sefton resident, register with our Sefton@Work service for free support to help you into employment.  You may be eligible for extra assistance such as funding for travel, work clothing, or vouchers to make starting your new job easier.  Call Sefton@Work on 0151 934 2610 or visit seftonatwork.net to find out more and get started today!