At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead safeguarding efforts to protect children at risk and support professionals in decision-making.
- Company: Join Camden Council, a forward-thinking organisation committed to social change.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, competitive salary, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values inclusion and community impact.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while shaping the future of safeguarding practices.
- Qualifications: Social Work qualification and at least three years' experience in child protection.
The predicted salary is between 50537 - 50537 € per year.
Starting salary: £50,537
Job Level: Level 4 Zone 2
Work Location: 5 Pancras Square
Hours per week: 36
Contract type: 7 x Permanent
Closing date: Thursday 4th June 2026 at 23:55
Interview Date: TBC
Alternative flexible working options available / open to discussion
Anonymised Application – in keeping with Camden’s commitment to inclusion the recruitment to this role is anonymised and supports the objective of reducing the impact of unconscious bias.
About us
Camden is listening to everyone, including you. We’re giving a platform to people inside and outside our community. Because we’re not just home to the UK’s fast-growing economy. We’re home to the most important conversations happening today. And we’re making radical social change a reality, so that nobody gets left behind.
The role
By providing expert statutory safeguarding leadership, the Lead Child Protection Practitioner plays a critical role in ensuring that children at risk of significant harm are identified, protected, and supported through robust, timely, and child-centred decision-making. This non-caseholding role strengthens practice across Family Help, MASH, and the wider multi-agency system by chairing key safeguarding forums, exercising statutory authority, and embedding consistently high standards of child protection practice.
What You’ll Be Doing / How You’ll Be Involved
- You will have at least 3 years’ post qualifying experience, operating with delegated statutory authority under the Children Act 1989 and Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023.
- The role includes chairing and leading Strategy Discussions, Section 47 enquiries, and Child Protection Conferences, ensuring that decisions are evidence-based, proportionate, timely, and firmly rooted in the lived experience of the child.
- Working closely with Family Help teams, the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH), and partner agencies, you will provide expert consultation, advice, and professional challenge on complex safeguarding concerns, including intra-familial and extra-familial harm.
- You will support consistent application of thresholds, robust analysis of risk, and defensible decision-making across the system.
- You will offer expert guidance in relation to multi-agency safeguarding processes, ensuring that statutory responsibilities are discharged effectively and that agencies remain focused on the child’s safety, wellbeing, and outcomes.
- You will contribute to learning, quality assurance, and workforce development, using themes from safeguarding activity to strengthen practice and inform service improvement.
About You
You are passionate about safeguarding children and supporting professionals to make confident, lawful, and ethical decisions. You understand the complexity of harm, including neglect, abuse, exploitation, and extra-familial risk, and you bring a nuanced, evidence-informed approach to risk analysis and planning.
You are confident working across organisational boundaries, influencing practice without line management responsibility, and supporting a culture of learning, reflection, and accountability.
You model professional integrity, inclusive practice, and resilience, and are able to hold difficult conversations in a way that promotes improvement and keeps children safe.
Qualifications
- Social Work qualification (degree or equivalent)
- Registered with Social Work England
- Evidence of post-qualifying development in child protection or safeguarding
Experience
- At least three years’ post-qualifying experience in statutory child protection
- Chairing Strategy Discussions, Section 47 enquiries, and Child Protection Conferences
- Acting as a safeguarding expert on complex cases
- Working closely with MASH and multi-agency safeguarding arrangements
- Providing professional consultation, advice, and challenge to practitioners
- Contributing to quality assurance, audit, and learning activity
Working for Camden
We’re ready to welcome your ideas, your views, and your rebellious spirit. Help us redefine how we’re supporting people, and we’ll redefine what a career can be. At Camden, you’ll receive a host of benefits as well as joining a flexible working employer.
Additional information
To apply for this job please follow the "Apply" link. In the ‘Why you?’ section of the application you will be required to demonstrate how you meet the role criteria noted in the Job Profile under the “About You” section.
Inclusion and Diversity
We want Camden Council to be a great place to work and to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and those of Other Ethnicities, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equalities and justice remains at the heart of everything we do.
Asking for Adjustments
Camden is committed to making our recruitment practices barrier-free and as accessible as possible for everyone. This includes making adjustments or changes for disabled people, neurodiverse people or people with long-term health conditions. If you would like us to do anything differently during the application, interview or assessment process, including providing information in an alternative format, please contact us on 020 7974 6655, at resourcing@camden.gov.uk or post to 5 Pancras Square, London, N1C 4AG.
Lead Child Protection Practitioner employer: LONDON BOROUGH OF CAMDEN
Camden Council is an exceptional employer that champions inclusivity and social change, making it a rewarding place to work for those passionate about safeguarding children. With a commitment to professional development, flexible working options, and a supportive culture that values diverse perspectives, employees are empowered to make a meaningful impact in the community. Located in the heart of London, Camden offers a vibrant work environment where innovative ideas are welcomed and collaboration across agencies is encouraged.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Child Protection Practitioner
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the child protection field. Attend relevant events or webinars, and don’t be shy about introducing yourself. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Camden’s values and recent initiatives in child protection. Think about how your experience aligns with their mission. Practise answering common interview questions, especially around safeguarding and multi-agency collaboration.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your expertise! During interviews, share specific examples of your past work in child protection. Highlight your experience with Strategy Discussions and Section 47 enquiries. This will demonstrate your capability and confidence in handling complex cases.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining Camden and making a difference in child protection. Good luck!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Child Protection Practitioner
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When you're writing your application, let your passion for safeguarding children shine through. We want to see how much you care about making a difference and supporting professionals in their roles.
Be Specific:Use specific examples from your experience that demonstrate your skills and knowledge in child protection. We love seeing how you've tackled complex cases or led discussions, so don't hold back!
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to tailor your application to the role. Highlight how your experience aligns with the job description and the criteria listed under 'About You'. This shows us that you've done your homework and are genuinely interested.
Apply Through Our Website:Remember to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, it helps us keep everything organised and makes the process smoother for everyone.
How to prepare for a job interview at LONDON BOROUGH OF CAMDEN
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the key legislation and frameworks related to child protection, especially the Children Act 1989 and Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you’re not just familiar with the theory but can apply it in practice.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past roles where you've successfully chaired Strategy Discussions or led Child Protection Conferences. Highlight how your decisions were evidence-based and child-centred, as this aligns perfectly with what Camden is looking for.
✨Demonstrate Collaborative Skills
Since the role involves working closely with various teams and agencies, be ready to discuss how you’ve effectively collaborated in multi-agency settings. Share instances where you’ve influenced practice or provided professional challenge without direct authority.
✨Emphasise Your Passion
Camden values a genuine passion for safeguarding children. Be prepared to articulate why this work matters to you personally and how you stay motivated in challenging situations. This will help convey your commitment to making a real difference.
