At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead child protection initiatives and ensure effective safeguarding practices for children in North Somerset.
- Company: Join North Somerset Council, a leader in child protection and family support.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team dedicated to innovative child protection practices.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while shaping the future of child protection.
- Qualifications: Must be a qualified social worker with experience in safeguarding and multi-agency collaboration.
The predicted salary is between 57679 - 63637 £ per year.
We are seeking dedicated Lead Child Protection Practitioners to join our Multi Agency Child Protection Team. Be at the forefront of safeguarding innovation and shape the future of child protection practice in North Somerset through our newly established Lead Child Protection Practitioner roles. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and highly skilled social work practitioner to take a leading role in strengthening child protection practice and knowledge across North Somerset.
The Lead Child Protection Practitioner will provide expert oversight, challenge and support across child protection processes, ensuring that children experiencing harm or at risk of significant harm receive timely, effective and coordinated interventions. Working alongside Team Managers and multi-agency partners, you will drive and deliver excellent practice, be responsible for decision making and drive quality improvement in Family Support and social work practice. You will play a key role in embedding Family Help reforms, strengthening multi-agency working and ensuring plans are focused on creating meaningful and lasting change for children and their families. This role combines direct practice leadership with strategic influence and offers an excellent opportunity for experienced practitioners looking to develop specialist expertise while remaining closely connected to frontline practice.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead on decision making and chair safeguarding Strategy discussions for North Somerset.
- Provide oversight of Section 47 enquiries in North Somerset and decision-making regarding child protection planning.
- Lead and champion family-led planning approaches, ensuring children and families are actively involved in assessment, decision-making and support planning, with interventions that build on strengths, utilise family networks and deliver sustainable improvements in children's safety and wellbeing.
- Provide expert advice, consultation and challenge on complex child protection.
- Chair Child Protection conferences and drive the quality and effectiveness of child protection planning and review processes.
- Promote high-quality assessments, analysis and planning that reflect children's lived experiences.
- Strengthen multi-agency collaboration across safeguarding partnerships.
- Lead learning from audits, reviews, complaints and safeguarding practice findings.
- Coach and mentor social workers to develop practice excellence.
- Support consistency and quality across conferences, strategy discussions and child protection pathways.
- Contribute to service development, performance improvement and implementation of Family First reforms.
- Champion relational, restorative and trauma-informed practice.
Essential Requirements
- Hold a recognised social work qualification.
- Be registered with Social Work England.
- Have significant experience of working with children and families within safeguarding services.
- Demonstrate expertise in child protection practice, assessment and planning.
- Have experience of complex decision making and working within multi-agency safeguarding environments.
- Be able to provide constructive challenge and professional leadership in a supervisory capacity.
- Have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Demonstrate experience and competence at working as part of a multi-agency group.
- Demonstrate a strong understanding of trauma-informed and relationship-based practice.
- Be committed to delivering family-led interventions that build on strengths and improve outcomes and drive creative planning to keep children with their families where safe.
Desirable Criteria
- Practice Educator qualification or equivalent.
- Experience of quality assurance, audit activity or practice development work.
- Knowledge of national child protection reforms and Family Help developments.
- Knowledge of Safeguarding children partnership function.
- Experience of coaching and mentoring practitioners.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme.
Lead Child Protection Practitioner in England employer: North Somerset Council
North Somerset Council is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a collaborative and inclusive work culture that prioritises the voices of children, young people, and families. With a strong commitment to employee development and growth opportunities, staff are empowered to make a meaningful impact in safeguarding practices while enjoying the benefits of a supportive community in a vibrant location. Join us to be part of a team that values your contributions and champions positive change.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Child Protection Practitioner in England
✨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 North Somerset 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 North Somerset 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 North Somerset 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 North Somerset 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 in England
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 North Somerset Council:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to North Somerset 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 North Somerset 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.
