Independent reviewing officer

Independent reviewing officers oversee and review care plans to ensure local authorities are acting in the best interests of children.

Managers

Independent reviewing officers are also referred to as child protection chairs or reviewing officers.

As an independent reviewing officer (IRO) you’ll:

oversee care plans and ensure they’re meeting the needs of children
chair review meetings and organise them in a child-friendly way
act as a first point of contact for children and advocate for their interests
ensure care plans are being fully implemented by local authorities
act as a consistent and trusted point of support in a child’s life
manage relationships between children, families, local authorities and the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass)
ensure local authorities are fulfilling their statutory obligations
provide guidance and support to social workers, families, placement providers and other external partners
follow formal escalation processes to raise concerns with senior managers or Cafcass

You'll need:

decision-making and problem-solving skills to handle complex and sensitive cases
experience of conducting child-centred and family-focused reviews
the ability to negotiate with different parties to achieve positive outcomes
effective communication skills to manage competing relationships
critical thinking skills to assess complex information and make evidence-based decisions
the ability to act as a critical friend to social workers to ensure good outcomes for children
knowledge of child protection legislation, policies and best practice guidelines
effective leadership and management skills

To become an IRO, you must have:

been practising as a qualified and registered child and family social worker for at least three years
experience supervising social workers and advising on their practice
experience chairing complex meetings and reviews

With experience you could:

progress into an advanced leadership role such as service manager or head of service
move into a training and consultancy role and deliver training programmes to social workers
specialise in quality assurance and compliance, ensuring standards and regulatory requirements are met
develop your practice and leadership skills through the Pathways social work leadership modules.

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These resources have been developed by Department for Education.
Published: 18 September 2023
Last updated: 21 November 2025