Description
Join Lambeth Children's Services as a Lead Child Protection Practitioner (MACPT). This is a fixed-term or secondment opportunity for 12 months, working full-time in a hybrid model. You will be part of an ambitious Children's Social Care service improving outcomes for children and families.
The Lead Child Protection Practitioner role involves leading complex safeguarding decision-making, providing expert leadership across Section 47 child protection enquiries, strategy discussions, child protection conferences, and multi-agency safeguarding activity. You will work alongside partners from police, health, education, and wider children's services to ensure children and young people are protected from significant harm.
Key responsibilities include:
- Leading and coordinating Section 47 child protection enquiries
- Chairing strategy meetings, child protection conferences, and other complex multi-agency safeguarding discussions
- Providing expert consultation, guidance, and professional challenge to social workers, managers, and partner agencies
- Supporting timely, evidence-informed, and defensible decision-making
- Contributing to protection and safety planning
- Promoting high standards of recording, analysis, information-sharing, and quality assurance
To be considered, you should have:
- A recognised social work qualification and current Social Work England registration
- Significant recent experience in front-line statutory child protection practice
- Detailed knowledge of child protection legislation, statutory guidance, and relevant multi-agency safeguarding processes
- Experience of chairing or leading complex child protection meetings
- Strong risk analysis, professional curiosity, and the ability to hold complexity
- The ability to work collaboratively with families and partners while providing clear professional challenge
The salary for this role is £54,360 pa rising to £57,495 pa incl. LW.
This post requires an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory health and work record, and the ability to travel for business purposes.