That the Independent Reviewing Service (IRO) Annual Report 2024 - 2025 be endorsed and published in accordance with the legislative requirements.

To ensure that the Council upholds its responsibility as Corporate Parents and complies with legislation.

There were no alternative options considered.

This decision will come into force and may be implemented on 1 December 2025 unless the call-in procedure is triggered (as set out in the Standing Orders in relation to Overview and Scrutiny).

The IRO Annual Report sets out an overview of the activity of the Independent Reviewing Officer Service, the staffing structure, developments within the service and the key improvement objectives for the service moving forward.

Furthermore, the Annual Report evaluates the effectiveness and impact of the Independent Reviewing Service; Independent Reviewing Officers play a key role in ensuring that care plans for children were progressed with a central focus on their needs, their ascertainable wishes and feelings and what intervention and support was required to help children achieve their goals.

At the meeting, Councillor Bye proposed and Councillor Tyerman seconded a motion that was agreed unanimously by the Cabinet, as set out above.

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