Location
Bexleyheath, London Borough of Bexley

Hours
Full Time (hours not specified)

Salary
£65,979 per annum

About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and confident social worker to take on the statutory role of Fostering Independent Reviewing Officer (FIRO). This pivotal position provides independent oversight, scrutiny and challenge to ensure children in care have high-quality, safe and stable living arrangements. You will chair statutory annual reviews and maintain oversight of foster carers and kinship carers’ performance and development, ensuring regulatory standards are met. You will work closely with supervising social workers, children’s social care teams, fostering panel, and multi-agency partners to promote best practice and secure positive outcomes for children. This role offers the opportunity to influence practice, strengthen safeguarding, and support foster and kinship carers with fairness, clarity and professional curiosity. If you are looking to bring your fostering and safeguarding expertise to a role with real impact, we would welcome your application.

Benefits
Bexley is a vibrant and diverse outer London Borough nestled in the Thames Gateway between London and Kent, combining the perfect blend of city vibe and the tranquillity of Kent. The borough features award-winning parks, open spaces, and heritage sites. Excellent transport connections include the Elizabeth Line and proximity to the M25. Bexley offers fantastic amenities such as libraries, leisure centres, shopping areas, and numerous primary and secondary schools as well as further education institutions. Our offer includes a competitive salary, coaching and mentoring programmes, an excellent pension scheme, and generous annual leave plus bank holidays.

Experience
Applicants must be experienced and confident social workers with fostering and safeguarding expertise suitable for the statutory FIRO role. For full essential and desirable criteria, please refer to the Person Specification within the Job Description.

About you
You should demonstrate fairness, clarity, and professional curiosity in your approach. The role requires the ability to provide independent oversight and challenge to ensure high standards of care. A commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults is essential.

Qualifications
Appointment to this post will be subject to the outcome of an Enhanced Disclosure obtained through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Please ensure your personal statement fully aligns with the role criteria and does not exceed two sides of A4.