About the job Child in Need Reviewing Officer
Child in Need Reviewing Officer
Temporary Contract
Job Details
Client: London Borough of Lambeth
Service Area: Family Support and Child Protection Service / Safeguarding
Hours: 35 hours per week
Start Date: 30 November 2026
End Date: 21 February 2027
Duration: 12 weeks
Number of Roles: 1
Working Pattern
TBC
Location
6 Brixton Hill
London
Lambeth
SW2 1RW
Pay
PAYE Rate: £30.92 per hour
Job Overview
London Borough of Lambeth is seeking an experienced Child in Need Reviewing Officer to provide independent oversight and review of Child in Need plans for children and families receiving services under Section 17 of the Children Act 1989.
The role will involve chairing Child in Need review meetings, monitoring progress, challenging drift and delay, escalating safeguarding concerns and promoting high standards of practice across safeguarding teams.
The service is specifically seeking someone who has worked as a Service Manager in Family Support and Child Protection / Safeguarding.
Important – Please Read Carefully
This is a qualified children's social care / safeguarding reviewing role.
Candidates must have a Social Work qualification, current professional registration, significant children's social care safeguarding experience and experience chairing or reviewing Child in Need / safeguarding plans.
Enhanced DBS, professional registration and 5 years references/work history are required.
Key Responsibilities
- Review Child in Need plans
- Chair CIN review meetings
- Facilitate multi-agency meetings
- Ensure child-focused planning
- Monitor plan progress
- Challenge drift and delay
- Provide independent scrutiny
- Review assessments
- Escalate safeguarding concerns
- Monitor risk and outcomes
- Apply safeguarding thresholds
- Promote evidence-based practice
- Work with social workers
- Work with managers
- Work with partner agencies
- Promote multi-agency accountability
- Produce review records
- Prepare recommendations
- Maintain electronic records
- Prepare management information
- Monitor statutory timescales
- Support audits
- Identify learning themes
- Support service improvement
- Maintain professional standards
Essential Experience & Skills
- Social Work qualification
- Professional registration
- Children's social care experience
- Safeguarding experience
- Child in Need casework
- Family Support and Child Protection
- Chairing professional meetings
- Multi-agency working
- Quality assurance
- Practice review
- Audit experience
- Children Act 1989 knowledge
- Working Together knowledge
- Safeguarding thresholds
- Risk assessment
- Report writing
- Accurate recording
- Professional challenge
- Independent working
- Enhanced DBS eligibility
Desirable
- Service Manager experience
- FSCP safeguarding background
- Reviewing Officer experience
- Independent oversight role
- Practice Educator Award
- Post-qualifying training
- Service improvement
- Policy development
- Safeguarding partnership knowledge
- Quality assurance leadership
Additional Information
The service wants someone who has worked as a Service Manager in Family Support and Child Protection / Safeguarding.
Interview will be held online.
Target interview date is 30 October 2026.
Candidate submission deadline is 23 October 2026.
Maximum CVs per agency: 2.
Disclaimer
On applying for this vacancy, you agree that your personal details will be passed onto our client for their consideration of your suitability for the role.
I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to notify Fix Space Recruitment Limited of any hirer who I do not want my details to be passed onto.
Job Reference: OR118490
Screening Questions
- Do you hold a recognised Social Work qualification, such as Degree, DipSW, CQSW or equivalent, and current professional registration with Social Work England / HCPC as required by the order?
- Do you have significant post-qualification experience in children's social care, specifically within safeguarding, Family Support and Child Protection, Child in Need or similar statutory services?
- Have you previously worked as a Service Manager, Reviewing Officer, Quality Assurance Officer or in a senior safeguarding oversight role within FSCP / safeguarding services?
- Do you have experience chairing Child in Need reviews, professional meetings or multi-agency safeguarding meetings and providing constructive professional challenge?
- Can you evidence strong knowledge of the Children Act 1989, Working Together to Safeguard Children, Child in Need processes, safeguarding thresholds and multi-agency safeguarding practice?
- Do you have experience reviewing CIN plans, challenging drift and delay, escalating safeguarding concerns, preparing accurate review records and producing clear recommendations?
- Can you complete Enhanced DBS, Criminal Convictions Declaration, Declaration of Interest, Lambeth New Starter Form and 5 years references/work history checks?
Skills: Children's Social Care, Safeguarding, Child in Need, CIN Reviews, Social Work, Children Act 1989, Multi Agency Working, Quality Assurance, Reviewing Officer, Service Manager