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Advanced Practice for Independent Reviewing Officers HEA4173

Overview

This module focuses on the strategic importance of the statutory Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) role within local authority services to looked after children and young people and the knowledge, skills and values required by the Independent Reviewing Officer to assess and monitor care planning and challenge local authority provision and/or practice where appropriate.

The proposed module focuses on the core capabilities that support effective practice in the role and offers an informed, efficient and quality assured route to attaining and developing these capabilities, thereby supporting better practice in social care and better outcomes for people who use social care services and the local authorities and other agencies that provide them. It also provides a useful, relevant and certificated opportunity to practitioners to demonstrate compliance with continuing professional development requirements of the relevant professional register.

Start dates for this module are to be confirmed.

Module code:HEA4173
Level:7
Module credits:20
Cost for new students:TBC

If your tuition fee is being paid by a sponsor or you are a sponsor paying a student’s fee, you are required to send a copy of a purchase order to [email protected].

For further guidance please visit: Sponsored students – Edge Hill University

Who is this module for?

Learners enrolled on this module must be currently registered as a social worker with the HCPC and must have sufficient relevant social work experience in children’s social care to undertake the required functions as set out in any relevant statutory guidance for independent reviewing officers and local authorities.

What are the key aims of the module?

Focusing clearly on the goal of safeguarding children, the module aims to examine and develop the capability of Independent Reviewing Officers to maintain a critical and evidence informed understanding of risk assessment and management and facilitation of effective interprofessional/multi agency working.

What will I study?

  • Safeguarding looked after children – a critical review of current legislative, policy and guidance frameworks.
  • Working with risk – understanding the links between adversity, vulnerability, protection and resilience (including a review of the strengths and weaknesses of contemporary risk assessment and management models and tools).
  • Working towards the goal – critically evaluating assessment and planning around the needs and welfare of looked after children.
  • Testing reliability – understanding human bias in professional judgement and the role of hypothesis, critical analysis and challenge.
  • The child within the family – a critical understanding and application of systems theory, attachment theory and child development theory.
  • Constructive engagement – productive approaches to using the views and agency of the child, their parent(s) and others, including the application of narrative theory, transference and defence mechanisms, strengths based approaches and task based approaches in work with children and families.
  • Finding and using research for evidence informed practice.
  • Owning the role – establishing and maintaining authority within the IRO role when working with other services and professionals.
  • Learning from experience – key messages from children, families and practice.

How will I be assessed?

Essay (30% module weighting).
Critical analysis of the scope, impact and implications of the role of IRO in children’s safeguarding (1500 words).

Presentation (70% module weighting).
Presentation: anonymised critically reflective analysis of one example of case work and outcomes, highlighting effective practice and areas for development in IRO practice (30 mins).

To pass this module, a grade of 40% must be achieved on each assessment component.

On successful completion you will:

  • Critically analyse the role of the IRO with reference to current legislative, policy and guidance frameworks for looked after children in England.
  • Critically analyse effective approaches to risk assessment and management.
  • Critically analyse effective approaches to planning, delivering and evaluation of care and support for looked after children.
  • Critically reflect on and evaluate own practice in IRO role for looked after children to identify strengths and areas and strategies for effective professional development.

How to apply

This module will not be running during the 2023 academic year.

 

Contact us

For further information regarding module availability, study dates and costs please contact the School of Allied Health, Social Work and Wellbeing on [email protected].

If you have any queries regarding module content and your suitability to study please contact the Module Coordinator Nigel Kelleher on 01695 650 881 or email [email protected].

Pathways

This is a stand alone module that is not linked to any specific programme of further study. However, Edge Hill University is currently developing a post graduate qualification route (PG certificate and PG diploma) that may incorporate this module.