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- Tasks: Lead child protection practice and collaborate with a multi-agency network to support families.
- Company: Join Walsall Council, the only Outstanding local authority in the Black Country.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, manageable workloads, flexible working, and comprehensive training opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives and shape the future of child protection.
- Qualifications: Extensive social work experience and a passion for safeguarding children.
- Other info: Enjoy a supportive environment with a focus on wellbeing and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 51356 - 54495 £ per year.
Children are at the heart of Walsall local authority. They receive support, help and services that reduce risks for them and meet their needs. (Ofsted, 2025) Do you want to join our OUTSTANDING local authority and shape the future of child protection practice? If so, we have a current opportunity for an experienced social worker to work as a Lead Child Protection Practitioner within our Safeguarding and Review Service as a 12 month fixed term contract.
Children and families are at the heart of our practice in Walsall as identified within our recent Ofsted inspection: "When children need help or protection, they receive a timely and effective response. Workers engage parents sensitively, so they understand the concerns about their children and the role of children’s social care. There is robust management oversight of the work, ensuring that work is timely and thresholds are appropriate."
Walsall is implementing the Families First Programme, based on the National Children’s Social Care Review and Stable Homes Built on Love. To do this we are creating a combined, multi-agency locality Family Help Service, with locality social workers supported by you as a Lead Child Protection Practitioner.
About the job: The Lead Child Protection Practitioner role will lead alongside the multi-agency network around a family to ensure child protection practice is of the highest standard and supported by the right expertise, careful, rigorous thinking, care and respect. You will work alongside allocated social workers and other professionals to undertake Child Protection Enquiries and oversee Child Protection Plans.
About you: Your background will include extensive post qualifying social work experience within a local authority or equivalent. You will utilise your practice knowledge and experience to influence the direction of child protection right across Walsall.
Our Offer: To provide the right conditions for you, we are committed to manageable workloads, high support from managers, essential paperwork only, enabling technologies. Within Walsall we offer a comprehensive training and development programme which contributed to our OUTSTANDING Ofsted grading in May 2025. There is a comprehensive training offer for workers in Walsall. There is an impressive offer to workers in gaining a social work qualification and for newly qualified social workers developing their knowledge of frontline practice. The general training offer is wide ranging and gives workers the opportunity to learn incrementally about their role. Wellbeing is at the heart of our work. We offer specialised clinical supervision, a 9-day fortnight to support work/life balance, flexible working and specialist employee assistance and therapeutic support when it is needed. We know we need to make social work a career people want to stay in.
Salary Scale: £51,356 to £54,495
Contact and Application Information: Would you like to talk to a social worker about the realities of working in Walsall? Contact: Email: Marissa.Blunt@walsall.gov.uk View: Job Description and Employee Specification Closing Date: 10th April 2026 Interviews to be held: 16th April 2026
This post is covered by the Government’s Code of Practice on the English Language Fluency Duty for public sector workers. The post holder will be required to communicate verbally with customers and provide advice and/or information in accurate spoken English. Walsall Council takes seriously the responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all the children, young people and vulnerable adults entrusted to our care and it is our expectation that all staff will share this commitment.
We will ensure continuous development and improvement of robust recruitment processes and procedures that promote a culture of safeguarding amongst our workforce. Completion of an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check is a requirement for working with children, young people and vulnerable adults. Note: Applicants appointed to posts that require an enhanced DBS clearance must declare any periods of time that they have lived, studied or worked abroad and be prepared to provide an Overseas Criminal Records Certificate (OCRC) or a Statement of Good Conduct (SOGC) relating to anytime they were overseas.
Important note: When completing your online application form, you will be asked to enter supporting information. You must enter a detailed supporting information statement describing how your skills, abilities and experience meet the specific criteria included in the employee specification. If you do not include a supporting information statement, you will not be shortlisted. Please also ensure that you complete the work history and qualifications sections of your application form. Please do not add a CV as we do not accept them. Please see our Information for Applicants leaflet for further information.
At Walsall Council, we appreciate that AI can be a useful tool for ideas or guidance. However, we encourage you to make sure your application reflects your own voice and experiences. Over-reliance on AI can make responses feel less personal, and we really want to understand what makes you unique. Your experiences, skills, and perspective are what set you apart, so please ensure your application as a whole – particularly your ‘Supporting Information’ – reflects your own voice.
We kindly request that recruitment agencies do not contact us regarding this job vacancy. We are not accepting agency applications or referrals at this time. Walsall Council’s Children’s Services are the only Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ local authority in the Black Country. During a visit in May 2025, Inspectors described Walsall Council as a place where children were at the heart of. The council’s journey of continuous improvement started in 2017 and has since transformed into a service with a clear vision, clear priorities and a clear plan, all informed by the views of our staff and children. Staff are at the core of delivering great outcomes for children and young people in Walsall, which is underpinned by our Walsall Right 4 Children vision. The latest Ofsted inspection demonstrated that staff in children’s services are proud to work for Walsall Council and feel supported to do great work.
Lead Child Protection Practitioner Ref: CH11225 in Walsall employer: Walsall Council
Contact Detail:
Walsall Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Child Protection Practitioner Ref: CH11225 in Walsall
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Walsall Council on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and any insider tips they might have for the interview process.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for your interview by brushing up on child protection practices and the Families First Programme. Show us you’re not just passionate but also knowledgeable about the role and how you can contribute to our outstanding service.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common interview questions, especially those related to safeguarding and multi-agency collaboration. We want to see how you think on your feet and handle real-life scenarios.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at Walsall Council.
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Child Protection Practitioner Ref: CH11225 in Walsall
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Personal and Authentic: When you're writing your application, make sure it reflects your own voice and experiences. We want to know what makes you unique, so don’t shy away from sharing your personal journey in social work.
Nail the Supporting Information: This is your chance to shine! Make sure you provide a detailed supporting information statement that clearly shows how your skills and experience meet the criteria in the employee specification. If you skip this, you might not get shortlisted!
Stick to the Application Format: Remember, we don’t accept CVs, so focus on filling out the online application form completely. Pay special attention to the work history and qualifications sections – they’re super important for us to understand your background.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us without any hiccups. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need right there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Walsall Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in child protection practices and the Families First Programme. Brush up on recent Ofsted reports and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with Walsall's vision for safeguarding children.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past work that demonstrate your ability to lead and influence child protection practices. Think about times when you’ve successfully engaged with families or managed complex cases, as these will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Engage with the Values
Walsall Council places children at the heart of their practice. Be ready to articulate how your personal values align with this mission. Share your passion for child welfare and how you can contribute to creating a supportive environment for both children and families.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare insightful questions about the role and the team dynamics. This shows your genuine interest in the position and helps you gauge if it’s the right fit for you. Consider asking about the support systems in place for staff and how they ensure manageable workloads.