Friday 4 September 2015

NAIRO Press Release 30/07/15

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT REVIEWING OFFICERS

Chair, Maggie Duggins
Vice Chair, Zoe Martin
Vice Chair, Jon Fayle

NAIRO Publishes IRO Toolkit
NAIRO has published an “IRO toolkit” which it has sent to all Directors of Childrens Services, and the Children’s Minister, Edward Timpson MP.
We think there is strong evidence (from Ofsted and research reports, as well as evidence from NAIRO members) that the IRO service in some Local Authorities areas is not always making the impact it should.
Over the last couple of years, we have developed a “toolkit” of various measures that we believe will help to raise standards and bring more consistency to the service across the country.
The measures may be used individually, or taken as a whole package. Local Authorities are welcome to amend our tools to suit local circumstances.
We encourage Local Authorities, IRO managers and practitioners to look at these measures and implement them where it looks like they could improve services for children in care.
Maggie Duggins Chair of NAIRO said “We are passionate about improving outcomes for children in care. We believe that the adoption of some or all of these measures by Local Authorities will help to support IROs and improve IRO practice, for the benefit of looked after children”
NAIRO
30.7.15

Notes for Editors
Independent Reviewing Officers
An Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) is a qualified social worker who has a responsibility to review the cases of children in care at regular intervals. A key element of the role is to scrutinise the local authority care plan for the child, in particular taking into account the child’s wishes and feelings, and being mindful of the child’s rights. If the IRO believes the LA plan is not in the best interests of the child, she/he has the duty to challenge the local authority to whatever level is necessary to resolve the matter.
NAIRO
NAIRO was founded in March 2009. It is the only national professional organisation for IROs in the country. We have a fast growing membership from England, Wales, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man.
NAIRO is devoted to improving outcomes for looked after children by maximising the positive impact of the reviewing process. 
NAIRO has recently registered as a charity with a view to obtaining more funding from charitable sources, to enable us to strengthen our organisation for the benefit of children in care.
We have the benefit of several leading academics in social work or related fields, amongst our associate membership. We also have a number of eminent patrons who support our work.
For more information see our website www.nairo.org.uk

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