CYP Now - Care Review ‘fails to understand’ IRO role, critics claim

The Care Review has “failed to fully understand" the role of independent reviewing officers (IROs), critics opposed to its recommendation to scrap the position have said.

IROs are able to keep plans on track, experts have said. Picture: Adobe Stock

In his final recommendations to the government, review chair Josh MacAlister suggests the creation of an independent child advocacy service which would see IRO roles and regulation 44 visitors for children in residential care replaced by one child advocate position.

Responding to the review Nagalro chair, Carole Littlechild said: Nagalro has always had a central concern about making sure that the voice of the child was heard. Nagalro is, therefore, concerned to see that the report proposes to dispense with the role of the IRO.”

She added that while the organisation would “welcome children in care having access to dedicated advocates who can act as advisers, facilitators and a spokesperson for their views,” she believes that MacAlister “has failed to fully understand the role of the IRO and is in danger of ‘throwing out the baby with the bathwater’”.

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