IRM Panel Member (Registered Social Workers)

About the IRM
The Independent Review Mechanism for England (IRM) provides, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education, review panels for potential and current foster carers and adopters when agencies have decided not to approve them as a foster carer or adopter, or to terminate or change the terms of their approval. The current contract will continue until March 2026.

About the Role
Review panel meetings are virtual currently 6 times per month. Each panel hears up to two cases per day and each case will involve up to one or two applicants, a supporter and up to two agency representatives. The Panel duration is currently from 9:00am until 4:45pm. Travel expenses would be paid for face to face panels up to the IRM travel cap. Panels are held in virtually though there may be face to face panels on occasions.
Salary: These are independent associate positions, a fee of £115 is payable per case heard.
Hours: 9am to 4.45pm on panel dates.

Panel members must be able to assimilate and analyse complex information from the case papers to enable them to identify the applicants’ strengths as well as core issues. They are required to prepare questions for panel and to subsequently review panel minutes.
The IRM provides panel documents in electronic format, as it is a digitalised service.

For successful candidates a standard DBS check will be required before you can take up the position, an on-line introduction and an opportunity to observe a panel will be provided. As Associates, panel members must provide their own insurance to cover £100.000 liability.

We are only looking for registered social worker panel members on this occasion, please do not apply if you are not a registered social worker.
To apply for this role, please click on the 'apply now' button below to complete the application. Please note we do not accept c.v.’s.

Interviews will be held virtually, dates to be confirmed.
We believe a diverse workforce enables us to improve our service. We are genuinely committed to encouraging candidates from all sections of the community. This includes those from, the global majority ethnic backgrounds, those that identify as LGBQT+, those with disabilities, those with lived experience of care, those with neuro-diversity, and those from other groups who are under represented at the IRM. We are actively encouraging applications from men as we recognise our current panel members, are predominantly women and we wish to diversify this.