Independent Reviewing Officers (IROs)

Your IRO leads your care review meetings. These meetings are an opportunity to talk about how things are going, what is working well, what might need to change, and what support you need in the future.

The IRO has to make sure that minutes are produced following your review meetings.

These minutes are called the review record. This includes the views of all those who attend and any decisions made.

These are your meetings and your future. Your IRO will want to know:

How you are feeling.
Whether you are happy where you are living.
If you are getting the support you need.
What is important to you.
What you would like to happen in the future.

Before your review meeting, your Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO), they can explain:

Why the meeting is taking place.
Who will be attending.
What will be discussed.
How you can share your views and wishes.
What support is available if you feel nervous about speaking in the meeting.

You may find it helpful to think about:

What is going well in your life.
Anything that is worrying you.
Whether you are happy where you live.
How things are going at school, college, work or training.
Your health and wellbeing.
Whether you are getting the support you need.
Your goals and plans for the future.

Your IRO will encourage you to attend your review meetings. These are your reviews, and it is very important that you make sure that the IRO knows how you feel and what you want to happen. If you really don't want to come to your meeting, you can still tell everyone what you think and feel by writing a letter or by filling in a consultation form sent to you by your Social Worker.

If you want to attend the meeting but you do not want to speak during the meeting, there are other ways to share your views. You could:

Meet with your IRO beforehand.
Write down your thoughts.
Complete a consultation form.
Ask an advocate or trusted adult to support you.
Send your views in another way that works for you.

Remember, this is your review. Your IRO is there to make sure your voice is heard, your views are taken seriously, and that decisions are made in your best interests.

Don't worry if you're not sure what to say. Your IRO, Social Worker or Personal Advisor can help you prepare, and there are lots of ways to share your views. What matters is that people understand what is important to you and what support you need.

Your IRO leads your care review meetings. These meetings are an opportunity to talk about how things are going, what is working well, what might need to change, and what support you need in the future.

The IRO has to make sure that minutes are produced following your review meetings.

These minutes are called the review record. This includes the views of all those who attend and any decisions made.

These are your meetings and your future. Your IRO will want to know:

How you are feeling.
Whether you are happy where you are living.
If you are getting the support you need.
What is important to you.
What you would like to happen in the future.

Before your review meeting, your Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO), they can explain:

Why the meeting is taking place.
Who will be attending.
What will be discussed.
How you can share your views and wishes.
What support is available if you feel nervous about speaking in the meeting.

You may find it helpful to think about:

What is going well in your life.
Anything that is worrying you.
Whether you are happy where you live.
How things are going at school, college, work or training.
Your health and wellbeing.
Whether you are getting the support you need.
Your goals and plans for the future.

Your IRO will encourage you to attend your review meetings. These are your reviews, and it is very important that you make sure that the IRO knows how you feel and what you want to happen. If you really don't want to come to your meeting, you can still tell everyone what you think and feel by writing a letter or by filling in a consultation form sent to you by your Social Worker.

If you want to attend the meeting but you do not want to speak during the meeting, there are other ways to share your views. You could:

Meet with your IRO beforehand.
Write down your thoughts.
Complete a consultation form.
Ask an advocate or trusted adult to support you.
Send your views in another way that works for you.

Remember, this is your review. Your IRO is there to make sure your voice is heard, your views are taken seriously, and that decisions are made in your best interests.

Don't worry if you're not sure what to say. Your IRO, Social Worker or Personal Advisor can help you prepare, and there are lots of ways to share your views. What matters is that people understand what is important to you and what support you need.

An important part of the IRO's role is to make sure decisions made at your review are carried out and that your care plan is working well for you. They check that the right support is in place and that people are doing what they have agreed to do.

If your IRO is worried that you are not getting the help you need, they can raise concerns with managers and other senior leaders to make sure your situation is looked at properly.

An important part of the IRO's role is to make sure decisions made at your review are carried out and that your care plan is working well for you. They check that the right support is in place and that people are doing what they have agreed to do.

If your IRO is worried that you are not getting the help you need, they can raise concerns with managers and other senior leaders to make sure your situation is looked at properly.

The IRO 'Handbook', explained in the Young People's Guide says that the IRO must also:

Ensure that plans made for you are based on a full and proper assessment of your needs
Ensure that you understand any changes to your care plan/pathway plan
Make sure that you are always given your say and that people at the review listen
Make sure that you know how you can get hold of a advocate
Act as a safeguard against you staying in care longer than necessary, or not getting the services you need
Make sure that the local authority acts as a good parent to you

The IRO 'Handbook', explained in the Young People's Guide says that the IRO must also:

Ensure that plans made for you are based on a full and proper assessment of your needs
Ensure that you understand any changes to your care plan/pathway plan
Make sure that you are always given your say and that people at the review listen
Make sure that you know how you can get hold of a advocate
Act as a safeguard against you staying in care longer than necessary, or not getting the services you need
Make sure that the local authority acts as a good parent to you

Your IRO should make sure you know about your rights and how to get support from an advocate if you would like one. An advocate is someone independent who can help you understand your rights, speak up, and make sure your voice is heard.

See our section on advocacy

Your IRO is there to help make sure your voice is heard, your plans are working for you, and that Hampshire County Council acts as a good corporate parent. If there is something you are worried about, or something you want to change, you can speak to your IRO about it.

Support making a complaint

Your IRO will make sure that you know about your right to complain and provide you with help to get an advocate if you need one.

See our section on complaints

Your IRO should make sure you know about your rights and how to get support from an advocate if you would like one. An advocate is someone independent who can help you understand your rights, speak up, and make sure your voice is heard.

See our section on advocacy

Your IRO is there to help make sure your voice is heard, your plans are working for you, and that Hampshire County Council acts as a good corporate parent. If there is something you are worried about, or something you want to change, you can speak to your IRO about it.

Support making a complaint

Your IRO will make sure that you know about your right to complain and provide you with help to get an advocate if you need one.

See our section on complaints

If the IRO has concerns that the local authority is not doing well enough for you or that review decisions are not being carried out, they will resolve this by speaking with your Social Worker and their Team Manager.

Alternatively they can use something called the formal resolution protocol to ensure that concerns are raised with someone more senior.

Most local authorities do their very best to get it right for children in care and so this should be enough to resolve the issue, but if not the IRO can raise the matter with CAFCASS (The Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service). CAFCASS can take your case to court if they feel that your local authority is not doing what is best for you, or doing enough to respect your human rights.

If the IRO has concerns that the local authority is not doing well enough for you or that review decisions are not being carried out, they will resolve this by speaking with your Social Worker and their Team Manager.

Alternatively they can use something called the formal resolution protocol to ensure that concerns are raised with someone more senior.

Most local authorities do their very best to get it right for children in care and so this should be enough to resolve the issue, but if not the IRO can raise the matter with CAFCASS (The Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service). CAFCASS can take your case to court if they feel that your local authority is not doing what is best for you, or doing enough to respect your human rights.