At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a new Multi-Agency Child Protection Team and make impactful decisions for children at risk.
- Company: Join Haringey Council, a vibrant community-focused organisation celebrating creativity and diversity.
- Benefits: Enjoy up to 31 days leave, hybrid working, health support, and a generous pension scheme.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team dedicated to safeguarding children and promoting community well-being.
- Why this job: Shape child protection practices and collaborate with passionate professionals to make a real difference.
- Qualifications: Must have a recognised social work qualification and substantial experience in child protection.
The predicted salary is between 56058 - 59298 £ per year.
Contract Terms
- Starting salary: PO6 (£56,058 – £59,298)
- Work location: 48 Station Road, Wood Green
- Working Hours: Full Time, 36 per week
- Contract type: Permanent
- Closing date: Sunday, 8th November 2026
- Interviews: 18-20th November 2026
About Haringey
Haringey is a fantastic place to live and work – the world in one borough. A place brimming with creativity, personality, radicalism, and community. It is a place where we stand up for each other. A place that is proudly distinctive. We’ll be celebrating all this and more as the “rebel borough” when we are the 2027 London Borough of Culture. Our history champions change-makers and everyday rebels; revelling in our differences, battling discrimination, championing equality, and doing things our own way. Haringey’s people are a huge asset, with knowledge, expertise, and passion. Our staff members embody our organisational values: Caring, Creative, Courageous, Collaborative and Community-focused. These values keep us looking forward, ambitious for the future, and continuously striving to do our very best for all of our residents.
About The Role
Haringey is building a Multi-Agency Child Protection Team, and we are looking for experienced child protection practitioners to lead it. As a Lead Child Protection Practitioner, you will make and guide the key decisions for children at risk of significant harm, working side by side with colleagues from police, health and education in the same team. This is a rare chance to shape a new model at the start, not to inherit one. You will help us test, learn and improve as we grow the team across the borough.
What You Will Do
- Lead strategy discussions, bringing partners together to agree whether a section 47 enquiry is needed and how it will be carried out.
- Oversee section 47 enquiries and make decisions with partner agencies about children who need protection.
- Chair initial and review child protection conferences, making sure plans are clear, specific and developed with families.
- Keep oversight of children in your cluster who are subject to child protection processes, including harm outside the home.
- Give consultation, guidance and constructive challenge to social workers, team managers and Family Help colleagues.
- Work closely with police, health and education colleagues in the team and with wider specialists, including domestic abuse, housing and CAMHS.
- Help us measure what difference the team makes, looking at the quality and timeliness of decisions, families’ experience and the impact for partners.
- Contribute to practice guidance, learning and induction as the model develops.
About The Team
The MACPT brings social work, police, health and education expertise together in one team, based at 48 Station Road. The team leads strategy discussions and section 47 enquiries, chairs child protection conferences and oversees child protection plans. MASH remains the front door for referrals. We are introducing the team in phases, one cluster at a time, and learning from each phase as we go.
About You
You will be an experienced child protection practitioner who is confident making difficult decisions, who can bring a room of professionals together and who treats families with respect.
Essential
- A recognised social work qualification and current registration with Social Work England.
- Substantial post-qualifying experience in statutory child protection, including section 47 enquiries and child protection conferences.
- Experience of chairing or leading multi-agency meetings where complex safeguarding decisions are made.
- Sound knowledge of the Children Act 1989, Working Together to Safeguard Children and the London Child Protection Procedures.
- The ability to analyse risk, challenge respectfully and record clearly, and to explain decisions to families and partners.
- A commitment to working in partnership with families and to our Dignity for All approach.
Desirable
- Experience as a child protection chair or advisor, independent reviewing officer, senior practitioner or team manager.
- Experience of Signs of Safety, or a real interest in working this way.
- Experience of extra-familial harm and contextual safeguarding.
- Experience of working in a co-located, multi-agency team.
Working for Haringey
At Haringey Council we are committed to creating a workplace culture where all our people feel valued, included, and able to be their best at work, and we recognise the benefits of a diverse workforce so welcome applications from all ethnicities and communities so that we continue to make a difference to our residents and community. Our benefits package includes a leave entitlement up to 31 days + bank holidays, potential hybrid working opportunities, health and wellbeing support, a generous local government pension scheme and a range of discount schemes across leisure and culture that provide both financial and money-saving discounts.
We reserve the right to end this advert before the noted deadline if we receive sufficient applications.
Lead Child Protection Practitioner employer: Haringey Council
Haringey Council is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises community engagement and professional development. As a Curriculum Leader at Haringey Learns, you will benefit from a hybrid working model, access to continuous training opportunities, and the chance to make a meaningful impact on adult education in a vibrant London location.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Child Protection Practitioner
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Haringey Council.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Haringey Council!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Haringey Council, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Haringey Council or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Child Protection Practitioner
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Haringey Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Haringey Council! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Haringey Council
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
