Child Protection Advisor - Westminster

Westminster City Council is seeking an experienced and passionate Safeguarding and Reviewing Chair to help deliver excellent outcomes for children, young people and families. This is a pivotal role providing independent oversight, challenge and quality assurance across child protection and children looked after services. You will work within a strong systemic practice framework, valuing relationships, collaboration and meaningful engagement with children and families, while ensuring compliance with statutory duties and safeguarding responsibilities.

The purpose of this role is to provide a consistent, high-quality and child-centred service through the chairing and management of statutory reviews for children who are Looked After and Child Protection Case Conferences. The role is grounded in the legislative and statutory framework including:

• Children Acts 1989 and 2004
• Adoption and Children Act 2002
• IRO Regulations
• Working Together to Safeguard Children
• Children and Social Work Act 2017
• London Child Protection Procedures

You will also act as a source of expert advice and consultation, supporting social workers, managers and partner agencies in complex safeguarding and care‑planning matters.

Key Responsibilities

• Chair Child Protection Case Conferences and statutory reviews for children in care, ensuring effective decision-making, timely reviews and full compliance with statutory timescales.
• Provide timely, high-quality written records and clear, measurable actions arising from reviews and conferences.
• Ensure practice is child-centred, promotes participation and fully reflects children’s wishes, feelings and lived experience.
• Support and embed a systemic practice approach, valuing relationships, reflection and dialogue to create meaningful change with families.
• Provide independent scrutiny of Care Plans, Child Protection Plans, PEPs and EHCPs, ensuring plans are outcome-focused, robust and promote permanence.
• Challenge poor practice constructively and escalate concerns as required through the established Issues Resolution Process, including referral to CAFCASS where necessary.
• Act as a Safeguarding Advisor, offering consultation and guidance to professionals, partner agencies and the public.
• Contribute to LADO responsibilities, including chairing strategy meetings and providing advice.
• Undertake quality assurance activity such as audits, midway reviews, threshold work and practice evaluations.
• Work effectively with multi‑agency partners to ensure joined‑up, SMART planning that improves safety and outcomes.
• Contribute to continuous service improvement, training and workforce development across Westminster and the wider safeguarding partnership.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, research and evidence-based practice in safeguarding and child protection.

About You

You will be an experienced social work professional with the confidence, authority and emotional intelligence to chair complex, multi‑agency discussions and provide independent challenge.

Essential Requirements

• DipSW (or equivalent professional social work qualification)
• Strong knowledge of child protection legislation, guidance and London Child Protection Procedures
• Experience of safeguarding practice with children and families
• Experience working with children who are Looked After or Care Leavers
• Excellent communication, facilitation and report‑writing skills
• Ability to challenge respectfully, escalate concerns and influence practice
• Ability to build effective relationships with families and partner agencies

Desirable

• Systemic Practice qualification
• Experience chairing Child Protection Conferences and Looked After Reviews
• Experience working within Signs of Safety or similar frameworks
• Experience of LADO processes
• Experience contributing to policy development or workforce training

Our Values

At Westminster City Council, everything we do is guided by our values: Putting communities first – including children and families in decisions that affect their lives; Respect – recognising and valuing diversity, culture and lived experience; Integrity – acting with honesty, openness and accountability; Working together – collaborating across services and with partners to deliver the best outcomes.

Safer Recruitment Statement

Westminster City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, satisfactory references and verification of qualifications and employment history. Any appointment will be conditional on these checks being completed satisfactorily.