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18 Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing Officers
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136 <h1>
136 Appointment and Role of Independent Reviewing Officers
136 </h1>
141 <div class="well">
142 <p class="bold">
142 RELATED GUIDANCE
143 </p>
144 <p>
144 <a href="p_look_aft_rev.html">
144 Case Reviews Procedure
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145 RELATED GUIDANCE
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146 IRO Handbook
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-case-review" target="_blank" rel="noopener">
147 The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations - Volume 2: Care Planning, Placement and Case
Review
147 </a>
148 </div>
155 <div class="section">
155 <h2 id="app_iro">
155 1. Appointment of the Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO)
155 </h2>
156 <p>
156 The local authority must appoint an Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) for every Child in
Care. The name of the IRO and their contact details must be recorded on the child's case
record.
156 </p>
157 <p>
157 The IRO must be appointed to the child's case and meet the child before the first Case
Review and, as a matter of good practice, should be appointed within the first 5 working
days.
157 </p>
158 <p>
158 Sibling groups, whether or not placed together, should have the same IRO and should be
informed that they share the same IRO as their brothers and sisters, 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.
158 </p>
159 <p>
159 The child should be given notification of their IRO, along with details about how to make
contact with them. This could be by email or text. If the child is only informed verbally,
then the date that they were given this information must be placed on the case record.
159 </p>
160 <p>
160 The IRO should be allocated for the duration that the child is in care and should continue
as the IRO if a child returns to care of the same local authority at a later date, if
reasonably practicable.
160 </p>
161 <p>
161 Where a mother and/or father and their child are in care, the child and parent should have
different IROs.
161 </p>
162 <p>
162 If the IRO leaves the employment of the local authority, or for any other reason stops being
the IRO for a particular child, they should introduce the new IRO to the child in person.
162 </p>
163 </div>
164 <div class="section1">
164 </div>
170 <div class="section">
170 <h2 id="extended_role">
170 2. Role of the IRO
170 </h2>
171 <p>
171 There are two clear and separate aspects to the function of the IRO: chairing a child's
review - see
171 <a href="p_look_aft_rev.html">
171 Case Reviews Procedure
171 </a>
171 , and monitoring a child's case on an ongoing basis including whether any safeguarding
issues arise.
171 </p>
172 <p>
172 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
Children in Care (not just around individual children).
172 </p>
173 <p>
173 The IRO should immediately alert senior managers if any such areas are identified.
173 </p>
174 <p>
174 The responsibilities of the IRO include:
174 </p>
175 <ul>
176 <li>
176 A responsibility to consult the child about their Care Plan at each review and at any time
that there is a significant change to the Care Plan;
176 </li>
177 <li>
177 Ensuring that Care Plans for Children in Care are based on a detailed and informed
assessment, up to date, effective and provide a real response to each child's needs;
177 </li>
178 <li>
178 Identifying any gaps in the assessment process or delivery of service;
178 </li>
179 <li>
179 Offering a safeguard to prevent any 'drift' in care planning and the delivery of services;
179 </li>
180 <li>
180 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 they
fully understand the implications of any changes to their Care Plan, and
180 </li>
181 <li>
181 Ensuring that, having regard to age and understanding, the child has been informed of the
steps they may take under the Children Act 1989, and in particular, where appropriate:
182 <ul>
183 <li>
183 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 their behalf, and, if there is no such
person, assist the child to obtain such advice;
183 </li>
184 <li>
184 The right to access representations/complaints procedures and how to do this.
184 </li>
185 </ul>
186 </li>
187 <li>
187 Making sure that the child understands how an advocate could help and their entitlement to
one;
187 </li>
188 <li>
188 Advising the child of their right to apply for an order or seek discharge of an order;
188 </li>
189 <li>
189 In relation to short breaks:
190 <ul>
191 <li>
191 Being sensitive to the close and active involvement of parents of a Child in Care who
has a series of short breaks;
191 </li>
192 <li>
192 Problem-solving where there might be difficulties or issues;
192 </li>
193 <li>
193 Alerting the local authority if there are concerns that the placement is not meeting
the child's needs.
193 </li>
194 </ul>
195 </li>
196 </ul>
197 </div>
198 <div class="section1">
198 </div>
204 <div class="section">
204 <h2 id="referral_cafcass">
204 3. Referral to CAFCASS
204 </h2>
205 <p>
205 The IRO has the authority to refer a case to CAFCASS if they 'consider it appropriate to do
so'.
205 </p>
206 <p>
206 The IRO
206 <span class="bold">
206 must
206 </span>
206 consider whether it is appropriate to refer a case to CAFCASS if:
206 </p>
207 <ul>
208 <li>
208 In their 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
208 </li>
209 <li>
209 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.
209 </li>
210 </ul>
211 </div>
212 <div class="section1">
212 </div>
218 <div class="section">
218 <h2 id="role_iro">
218 4. Role of the IRO in Relation to Children Subject to Care Proceedings
218 </h2>
219 <p>
219 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.
219 </p>
220 <p>
220 As soon as the IRO has been appointed to a child subject to proceedings:
220 </p>
221 <ul>
222 <li>
222 The IRO should provide the local authority legal adviser with the name of the IRO and with
their contact details; and
222 </li>
223 <li>
223 The Children's Guardian should be advised of each review meeting and invited, where
appropriate;
223 </li>
224 <li>
224 The local authority legal adviser and the Children's Guardian should receive a copy of
each review record.
224 </li>
225 </ul>
226 <p>
226 The IRO should ensure that they are in discussion with the Children's Guardian at intervals,
as is appropriate for each child's case and that the topics of discussion include:
226 </p>
227 <ul>
228 <li>
228 The wishes and feelings of the child;
228 </li>
229 <li>
229 The current Care Plan;
229 </li>
230 <li>
230 Whether details of the Care Plan are subject to a formal Outcome Resolution process and if
so details of this;
230 </li>
231 <li>
231 Any complaints that have been received about the case; and
231 </li>
232 <li>
232 Any issues raised in court in relation to the implementation of the current Care Plan.
232 </li>
232 </ul>
232 </div>
233 <div class="section1">
233 </div>
239 <div class="section">
239 <h2 id="duty_soc_worker">
239 5. Duty of Social Worker to Keep IRO Informed
239 </h2>
240 <p>
240 The Social Worker must inform the IRO of significant changes/events in the child's life
including:
240 </p>
241 <ul>
242 <li>
242 Any proposed change of Care Plan, for example arising at short notice in the course of the
proceedings following directions from the court;
242 </li>
243 <li>
243 Discharge from care by a person with parental responsibility when the child is section 20
Accommodated;
243 </li>
244 <li>
244 Where agreed decisions from the review are not carried out within the specified timescale;
244 </li>
245 <li>
245 Major changes to the contact arrangements;
245 </li>
246 <li>
246 Changes of allocated social worker;
246 </li>
247 <li>
247 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;
247 </li>
248 <li>
248 Complaints from or on behalf of the child, parent or carer;
248 </li>
249 <li>
249 Unexpected changes in the child's placement provision which may significantly impact on
placement stability or safeguarding arrangements;
249 </li>
250 <li>
250 Significant changes in birth family circumstances for example births, marriages or deaths
which may have a particular impact on the child;
250 </li>
251 <li>
251 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;
251 </li>
252 <li>
252 If the child is excluded from school;
252 </li>
253 <li>
253 If the child has run away or is missing from an approved placement;
253 </li>
254 <li>
254 Significant health, medical events, diagnoses, illnesses, hospitalisations or serious
accidents; and
254 </li>
255 <li>
255 Panel decisions in relation to permanency;
255 </li>
256 <li>
256 Where a placement is a Placement at a Distance.
256 </li>
257 </ul>
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