Safeguarding and Reviewing Team
Who we are:
The Child Protection (CP) Chairs and Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs) work within Merthyr Tydfil’s Safeguarding and Review Service. We are all qualified and experienced Social Workers with a specialist role in reviewing and safeguarding children’s plans.
Although there are two job titles, the role is the same. The title reflects the type of meeting being chaired:
- Child Protection (CP) Chairs - chair Child Protection Conferences
- Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs) - chair Children Looked After (CLA) Reviews
Our role is independent from the Social Work teams working directly with children and families. This independence allows us to provide oversight, challenge and reassurance that children’s needs are being properly considered, and that plans are meeting their individual outcomes and are working as they should.
How are we independent?
Being independent means that:
- We are not the child’s Social Worker.
- We do not manage the case day to day.
- We have a separate management line from operational Social Work teams.
This allows us to:
- Focus on the child’s safety, well-being and lived experience.
- Ask questions and provide challenge where needed.
- Help prevent delay or drift in planning for children.
Our role is to make sure decisions are made in the best interests of the child, where their voices are heard and that the best possible outcome can be achieved, whilst also ensuring there are appropriate safeguards in place.
Our role in Child Protection Conferences:
A Child Protection Conference is held when there are concerns that a child is or may be at significant risk of harm.
The Child Protection (CP) Chair:
- Chairs the conference in a calm, respectful and non‑judgemental way.
- Makes sure everyone understands why the meeting is taking place.
- Ensures that the child’s voice is heard, directly or in other ways.
- Helps professionals and families focus on both barriers, risks and strengths.
- Supports clear and realistic plans to keep children safe.
- Reviews progress at future conferences.
The conference is not about blame. It is about keeping children safe and supporting families.
What is the Child Protection Register?
The Child Protection Register is confidential and is a list of children in the local authority deemed to be at significant risk of harm.
Certain professionals can seek information about whether a child’s name is on the register. It also places a duty on professionals working with a child to share information with the child’s social worker if there are any significant events or changes to a child’s circumstances.
What is a Child Protection Plan?
A Child Protection Plan is a plan produced by you as parent/carers, the social worker and the network involved in your child/children’ life. It lays out actions that are needed to keep your child/children safe and reduce the risks to them. It will be reviewed and adapted monthly at the core group.
What is a Core Group?
Whilst your child/children’s (or the child/children you care for) names are on the Child Protection Register, monthly meetings will be held with you and key professionals to ensure the Child Protection Plan is progressing and any new information/issues are discussed.
Our role in Children Looked After Reviews (CLAR):
When a child is looked after by the Local Authority, an Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) is appointed.
The IRO:
- Chairs the child’s statutory review meetings.
- Makes sure the Care and Support Plan is meeting the child’s needs.
- Advocates on behalf the child, ensuring their voice is heard, they listened to and they are aware of their rights.
- Ensures the child understands what is happening and why (age appropriate).
- Helps children, families and carers take part in reviews.
- Monitors progress between reviews to make sure plans are moving forward and are not drifting.
- Ensures the Local Authority fulfils its role as a corporate parent.
The IRO helps ensure there is a clear plan for the child’s future and that everyone involved is working together.
Listening to children and young people:
Children and young people are at the centre of everything we do.
We:
- Make sure children’s wishes, feelings and experiences are heard
- Offer different ways for children to share their views, including:
- Attending meetings (where appropriate)
- Meeting with the Chair beforehand
- Writing, drawing or using an advocate
- Support children to understand decisions that affect them.
Children and young people can ask to speak with their IRO or Chair, and they can be supported by an independent advocate if they wish.
Supporting parents and carers:
We understand that child protection conferences and reviews can feel stressful or overwhelming.
IROs and Child Protection Chairs aim to:
- Treat parents and carers with respect and dignity
- Use clear, plain language
- Help everyone understand the process and next steps
- Make meetings as safe and accessible as possible
Parents and carers are encouraged to take part and share their views, as long as this is safe and in the child’s best interests.
What we do not do:
To avoid confusion, it may help to know that IROs and Child Protection Chairs:
- Do not investigate concerns
- Do not replace the child’s social worker
- Do not make day‑to‑day decisions for families
- Do not decide blame or guilt
Our role is about oversight, review and safeguarding.
Concerns or questions:
If you have questions about:
- An upcoming review or conference
- The role of the IRO or Child Protection Chair
- How children or families can be supported to take part
You can speak to your allocated social worker, who can help you make contact with the Safeguarding and Review Service.