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282 <h2>
282 Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing Officers
282 </h2>
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287 <div id="scope_box">
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288 RELATED CHAPTER
288 </h3>
289 <p>
289 <a href="p_look_aft_rev.html">
289 Looked After Reviews Procedure
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290 <h3>
290 RELATED GUIDANCE
290 </h3>
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291 <a
href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/children-act-1989-care-planning-placement-and-cas
e-review" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
291 The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case
Review
291 </a>
291 </p>
292 <p>
292 <a href="files/iro_handbook.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
292 IRO Handbook
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292 </p>
293 <h3>
293 AMENDMENT
293 </h3>
294 <p>
294 This chapter was updated in April 2017 in relation to the role of the Independent Reviewing
Officer in line with the Children Act 1989 guidance and regulations - Volume 2: care planning,
placement and case review (June 2015). In particular, the IRO being sensitive to the close and
active involvement of parents of a child looked after in a series of Short Breaks and
problem-solving where there might be difficulties or issues.
294 </p>
295 </div>
296 <div id="sections">
298 <h3 id="sections_list">
298 Contents
298 </h3>
299 <ol>
300 <li>
300 <a href="#app_iro">
300 Appointment of the Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO)
300 </a>
300 </li>
301 <li>
301 <a href="#extended_role">
301 Role of the IRO
301 </a>
301 </li>
302 <li>
302 <a href="#referral_cafcass">
302 Referral to CAFCASS
302 </a>
302 </li>
303 <li>
303 <a href="#role_iro">
303 Role of the IRO in Relation to Children Subject to Care Proceedings
303 </a>
303 </li>
304 <li>
304 <a href="#duty_soc_worker">
304 Duty of Social Worker to Keep IRO Informed
304 </a>
304 </li>
305 </ol>
306 <h3 id="app_iro">
306 1. Appointment of the Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO)
306 </h3>
307 <p>
307 If a Local Authority is looking after a child, it must appoint an Independent Reviewing Officer
(IRO) for that child's case. The name of the IRO and his/her contact details must be recorded on
the child's case record.
307 </p>
308 <p>
308 The IRO must be appointed to the child's case and meet the child before the first Looked After
Review and, as a matter of good practice, should be appointed within the first five working days.
308 </p>
309 <p>
309 Sibling groups, whether or not placed together, should have the same IRO and should be informed
that they share the same IRO as their siblings, except where conflict of interest between siblings
makes this inappropriate or the size of the sibling group makes this unmanageable. The issue of
sibling contact should also be addressed in the IRO's annual report.
309 </p>
310 <p>
310 The child should be given notification of his/her IRO, along with details about how to make
contact with him/her. This could be by email or text. If the child is only informed verbally, then
the date that s/he was given this information must be placed on the case record.
310 </p>
311 <p>
311 The IRO should be allocated for the duration that the child is looked after and should continue as
the IRO if a child returns to care of the same local authority at a later date, if reasonably
practicable.
311 </p>
312 <p>
312 Where a mother and/or father and their child are looked after, the child should have a different
IRO.
312 </p>
313 <p>
313 If the IRO leaves the employment of the local authority, or for any other reason stops being the
IRO for a particular child, s/he should introduce the new IRO to the child in person.
313 </p>
314 <h3 id="extended_role">
314 2. Role of the IRO
314 </h3>
315 <p>
315 There are two clear and separate aspects to the function of the IRO: chairing a child's review -
see
315 <a href="p_look_aft_rev.html">
315 Looked After Reviews Procedure
315 </a>
315 , and monitoring a child's case on an ongoing basis including whether any safeguarding issues
arise.
315 </p>
316 <p>
316 As part of the monitoring function, the IRO also has a duty to identify any areas of poor
practice, including general concerns around service delivery/collective experience of looked after
children (not just around individual children).
316 </p>
317 <p>
317 The IRO should immediately alert senior managers if any such areas are identified.
317 </p>
318 <p>
318 The responsibilities of the IRO include:
318 </p>
319 <ul>
320 <li>
320 A responsibility to consult the child about his/her Care Plan at each review and at any time
that there is a significant change to the Care Plan;
320 </li>
321 <li>
321 Ensuring that Care Plans for looked after children are based on a detailed and informed
assessment, up to date, effective and provide a real response to each child's needs;
321 </li>
322 <li>
322 Identifying any gaps in the assessment process or delivery of service;
322 </li>
323 <li>
323 Offering a safeguard to prevent any 'drift' in care planning and the delivery of services;
323 </li>
324 <li>
324 Monitoring the activity of the Local Authority: that Care Plans have given proper consideration
and weight to the child's current views, wishes and feelings and that he/she fully understands
the implications of any changes to their Care Plan, and
324 </li>
325 <li>
325 Ensuring that, having regard to age and understanding, the child has been informed of the steps
he/she may take under the Children Act 1989, and in particular, where appropriate:
326 <ul>
327 <li>
327 The right to apply, with leave, for a Section 8 Order/discharge of a Care Order - if the
child wishes to take legal proceedings under the Children Act 1989, the IRO must establish
whether an appropriate adult is able and willing to assist the child to obtain legal advice
or bring proceedings on his/her behalf, and, if there is no such person, assist the child to
obtain such advice;
327 </li>
328 <li>
328 The right to access representations/complaints procedures and how to do this.
328 </li>
329 </ul>
330 </li>
331 <li>
331 Making sure that the child understands how an advocate could help and his or her entitlement to
one;
331 </li>
332 <li>
333 <p>
333 Advising the child of their right to apply for an order or seek discharge of an order;
333 </p>
334 </li>
335 <li>
335 In relation to short breaks:
336 <ul>
337 <li>
337 Being sensitive to the close and active involvement of parents of a child looked after in a
series of short breaks;
337 </li>
338 <li>
338 Problem-solving where there might be difficulties or issues;
338 </li>
339 <li>
339 Alerting the local authority if there are concerns that the placement is not meeting the
child's needs.
339 </li>
340 </ul>
341 </li>
342 </ul>
343 <h3 id="referral_cafcass">
343 3. Referral to CAFCASS
343 </h3>
344 <p>
344 The IRO has the authority to refer a case to CAFCASS if he/she 'considers it appropriate to do
so'.
344 </p>
345 <p>
345 The IRO
345 <span class="bold">
345 must
345 </span>
345 consider whether it is appropriate to refer a case to CAFCASS if:
345 </p>
346 <ul>
347 <li>
347 In his/her opinion, the Local Authority has failed in any significant respect to prepare the
child's Care Plan; review the child's case or effectively implement any decision in consequence
of a review; or are otherwise in breach of their duties to the child in any material respect;
and
347 </li>
348 <li>
348 Having drawn this to the attention of persons of appropriate seniority in the Local Authority,
the issues have not been addressed to IRO's satisfaction within a reasonable period of time.
348 </li>
349 </ul>
350 <h3 id="role_iro">
350 4. Role of the IRO in Relation to Children Subject to Care Proceedings
350 </h3>
351 <p>
351 The IRO will need to consider together with the Children's Guardian what communication is
necessary in order to promote the best possible care planning process for each child.
351 </p>
352 <p>
352 As soon as the IRO has been appointed to a child subject to proceedings:
352 </p>
353 <ul>
354 <li>
354 The IRO should provide the Local Authority legal adviser with the name of the IRO and with
his/her contact details; and
354 </li>
355 <li>
355 The Children's Guardian should be advised of each review meeting and invited, where appropriate;
355 </li>
356 <li>
356 The Local Authority legal adviser and the Children's Guardian should receive a copy of each
review record.
356 </li>
357 </ul>
358 <p>
358 The IRO should ensure that s/he is in discussion with the Children's Guardian at intervals, as is
appropriate for each child's case and that the topics of discussion include:
358 </p>
359 <ul>
360 <li>
360 The wishes and feelings of the child;
360 </li>
361 <li>
361 The current Care Plan;
361 </li>
362 <li>
362 Whether details of the Care Plan are subject to a formal dispute resolution process and if so
details of this;
362 </li>
363 <li>
363 Any complaints that have been received about the case; and
363 </li>
364 <li>
364 Any issues raised in court in relation to the implementation of the current Care Plan.
364 </li>
365 </ul>
366 <h3 id="duty_soc_worker">
366 5. Duty of Social Worker to Keep IRO Informed
366 </h3>
367 <p>
367 The Social Worker must inform the IRO of significant changes/events in the child's life including:
367 </p>
368 <ul>
369 <li>
369 Any proposed change of Care Plan, for example arising at short notice in the course of the
proceedings following directions from the court;
369 </li>
370 <li>
370 Discharge from care by a person with parental responsibility when the child is section 20
Accommodated;
370 </li>
371 <li>
371 Where agreed decisions from the review are not carried out within the specified timescale;
371 </li>
372 <li>
372 Major changes to the contact arrangements;
372 </li>
373 <li>
373 Changes of allocated social worker;
373 </li>
374 <li>
374 Any safeguarding concerns involving the child which may lead to enquiries being made under
Section 47 of the 1989 Act ('Child Protection Enquiries') and outcomes of Child Protection
Conferences or other meetings that are not attended by the IRO;
374 </li>
375 <li>
375 Complaints from or on behalf of the child, parent or carer;
375 </li>
376 <li>
376 Unexpected changes in the child's placement provision which may significantly impact on
placement stability or safeguarding arrangements;
376 </li>
377 <li>
377 Significant changes in birth family circumstances for example births, marriages or deaths which
may have a particular impact on the child;
377 </li>
378 <li>
378 If the child is charged with any offence leading to referral to youth offending services,
pending criminal proceedings and any convictions or sentences as a result of such proceedings;
378 </li>
379 <li>
379 If the child is excluded from school;
379 </li>
380 <li>
380 If the child has run away or is missing from an approved placement;
380 </li>
381 <li>
381 Significant health, medical events, diagnoses, illnesses, hospitalisations or serious accidents;
and
381 </li>
382 <li>
382 Panel decisions in relation to permanency;
382 </li>
383 <li>
383 Where a placement is a Placement at a Distance.
383 </li>
384 </ul>
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