Concerns about the independence of IROs have persisted since 2008, when reviewing officers were charged with monitoring the performance of local authorities in relation to looked-after children.
The National Association for Independent Reviewing Officers (Nairo) is in the process of drafting a protocol for the profession, in a bid to strengthen the independence of the IRO role.
It suggests that IROs should be employed outside children's services teams if possible and that officers should have access to independent arbitration if they believe challenges to poor performance are being suppressed.
The protocol also proposes that IROs are routinely and confidentially involved in Ofsted inspections of children's services.
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