Provision of Independent Reviewing officer and Foster Carer reviews

A brief overview and background to the opportunity are provided below: Background The Independent Reviewing Officer’s (IRO) primary function is to act as a robust counterbalance to the Local Authority, by providing expert and independent quality assurance on the Local Authority’s care planning and reviewing process for children and young people looked after (CLA) by Brent. This duty is executed through highlighting when positive outcomes are achieved for the CLA and flagging occasions when it has not been possible to progress a child’s care plan. A crucial part of the role is to champion the voice of the child to contribute meaningfully to the co-design of their care plan and to scrutinize action plans against their progress to ensure that the arrangements for the child’s current and long-term care are in place. The Foster Carer Reviewing Officer (FCRO) will conduct reviews with foster carers once a year, with a view to ascertaining the suitability of the Foster Carer and their capacity of demonstrating competence in meeting the needs of looked after children, in line with the Fostering Regulations and Fostering national minimum standards. Service Overview & Local Context Children Looked After The Service Provider will assist the Brent Reviewing Team by providing IROs to chair and participate in CLA reviews. The primary responsibilities of the IROs will be to incorporate the thoughts and voice of the child in their care plan and review targeted and achievable recommendations as part of the plan to enable positive outcomes. The IROs are also responsible to submit all appropriate documentation, within agreed timeframes and to standard, and hold the Local Authority to account for their performance in light of the legal responsibilities towards the child. Foster Carers The Service Provider will provide FCROs who will be responsible for conducting annual reviews of Foster Carers with an emphasis on monitoring the implementation of Fostering Panel recommendations, highlighting good practice, but also looking at concerns and allegations; addressing practice that falls below expected standards, including non-compliance with agreed plans and practice levels. This will ensure that the Brent CLA receive corporate parenting that is at a good standard. As of 21st February 2024: • There are 298 Brent children and young people Looked After (130 of whom are currently 16 years and older and 49, who are Unaccompanied Asylum Seekers Children). • There are 90 Brent Foster Carers Service Volume The expected Service Volume for the Service Provider will be to provide suitable FCROs/IROs to chair Foster carer reviews (circa 100 yearly) and CLA reviews for children that Brent Council has corporate parenting responsibility for. The majority of CLA reviews covered by the Service Provider will be focusing on the older young people cohort of 16 years plus, with some additional LAC reviews for younger children and young people (circa 330-350 review annually) Contract Length & Budget The contract term will be 2 years with an option to extend by a further 24 months (1+1).