Issue - meetings

Report CEF22016

The report provided an account of the activity of the Independent Reviewing Service between 1 April 2021 and January 2022. The report evaluated the effectiveness of the Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) Service in ensuring the local authority, as a corporate parent, discharged its statutory responsibilities towards looked after children.

In opening the discussion, the Vice-Chairman highlighted the transformation of the Service, noting that it was pleasing to see the voice of the child reflected.  The importance of young people knowing their IRO was also recognised, and the Chairman highlighted that previous feedback from young people demonstrated that knowing their IRO made a difference.

In response to a question, the Head of Quality Improvement confirmed that recruitment remained a challenge, strategies for recruitment were being considered and two new IROs has been brought into the service.  In terms of recruitment, the service had not reached the 90% target but the stability of the group of IROs had been improved.

RESOLVED: That the progress and actions of the Independent Reviewing Officers in discharging their statutory duties and contributing to the aims of the Corporate Parenting Strategy be noted.