THE FAMILY JUSTICE REVIEW AND THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES BILL
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

NAIRO is holding its 3rd Annual Conference in central London at the MIC Centre near Kings Cross on September 18th 2013. The conference will cost £20.00 for members of NAIRO, and £50.00 for non-members. The conference will start at 9.30 am and finish at 4.00pm.

Invited speakers include

Edward Timpson MP, Minister for Children
The Rt Hon Sir James Munby, President of the Family Division and Head of Family Justice
Roger Morgan Childrens Rights Director
Matthew Brazier, Lead Officer for Ofsted Thematic IRO Inspection
Professor June Thoburn, NAIRO Patron, Emeritus Professor of Social Work, UEA
Roger Kline, Aspect Trade Union, Whistleblowing Expert
Representative of Virtual School Heads Organisation
Maxine Wrigley, Chief Executive, A National Voice

This conference will cover various topics, including

• The Children’s Minister’s vision for IROs
• Implications of Family Justice Review for IROs
• Ofsted and IRO Effectiveness
• Working with Virtual School Heads
• The views of Children and Young People about IROs

A lot of interest has been shown in this conference, and there will be limited places. If you want to be sure of a place, please book now, using the attached forms which can also be accessed on the NAIRO website at the link below

http://nairo.org.uk/annual-conference-2012

CODE OF PRACTICE FOR INDEPENDENT REVIEWING OFFICERS

Introduction

The Work of Independent Reviewing Officers
Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs) are social workers who work with looked after children, their families, their carers, social workers and other professionals involved in providing services for those children.

The core task of the independent reviewing officer is to manage the review process for looked after children. In particular they chair reviews for children in a way which should:

• Hold the welfare of the child as the paramount consideration
• Ensure the voice of the child is heard clearly in the process
• Subject the local authority care plan to critical scrutiny and challenge the local authority in relation to that care plan if necessary.

The IRO has a complex array of duties that are undertaken through communications with a large network of people who are responsible for the care of the child. There is sometimes conflict and disagreement involved in the work, and the constructive management of disagreement is a key part of the job.

The Code of Practice
This code has been drawn up by the National Association of Independent Reviewing Officers (NAIRO). The document has been the subject of rigorous and full consultation with the members of that association. Other key stakeholders have also been consulted, but the content of the code is entirely the responsibility of the members of NAIRO.

IROs who are members of NAIRO are committed to aspiring to meet the requirements of the code. Compliance is aspirational, because there may be factors which prevent IROs from always complying, most obviously resource constraints

It is intended that the adoption of the Code of Practice by IROs and the support of their managers in meeting its requirements, will raise standards of practice of IROs across the country. It will also lead we believe to greater uniformity and consistency of practice.

This Code of Practice seeks to set out the core values, principles and behaviours that may be expected of IROs in undertaking the complex tasks and duties associated with the role.

The code is consistent with the statutory framework within which IROs operate. It seeks to distil the most important elements contained within the statutory framework, and particularly the IRO Handbook. However our code goes considerably beyond the statutory requirements. We seek to incorporate what we regard as elements of good practice and covers areas not strongly covered by the statutory guidance, for example children’s rights.

Structure of the Code
The Code of Practice will be organised in a number of sections relating to particular areas of practice. There are 11 sections set out below

1. Experience and qualifications
2. A child friendly review process
3. The voice of the child
4. Children’s rights
5. Scrutinising the care plan
6. Monitoring the case and keeping in touch with the child
7. Challenging the local authority
8. Cases in family proceedings
9. Reporting to the L.A. about its Looked After Children’s Service

Some of the requirement of the code will not always apply or wholly apply, because of the age and understanding of the child. For example, it is not possible to consult a baby on their care plan. To avoid duplication and repetition, it should be taken as read that in relation to involvement of children in the review process, it is always dependent on their age and understanding.

Finally, the code does not refer to targets, performance indicators, or strict time limits. Nor does it have a “tick box” mechanistic approach. Of course, where there is a clear statutory requirement, we would expect it to be met. But in line with the spirit of the Munro review, the code seeks to encourage professional discretion and professional decision making by IROs, according to an agreed framework of good practice.

NAIRO May 2012

Conference Programme- under development

Venue:

MIC Hotel and Conference Centre 81-103 Euston Street London NW1 2EZ http://www.micentre.com

Map and Directions: http://www.micentre.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=88&Itemid=2

MIC is located on a quiet side street in the heart of North West London. MIC has wheelchair access and can cater for those with disability.

MIC is a 1.1 mile walk from Euston Railway Station (34/38 Eversholt Street, Euston, London NW1 1DA)

Food & Drinks: There is a Café within MIC.

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