Lead Child Protection Practitioner

The Methodist Church in Britain; Chester; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible remote working

Modern, refurbished offices

Free parking at office locations

Competitive salary and rewards

Job summary

Cheshire West and Chester Council is seeking a Lead Practitioner for the Families First Partnership Programme. The role oversees child protection decision-making and provides expert guidance across the multi-agency system, with potential direct practice alongside Family Help Lead Practitioners.

SWE registration and substantial children’s social care experience are essential. The post emphasizes trauma-informed practice, ensuring children are safeguarded at the right time, and high support and

Qualifications

• Qualified social worker with SWE registration.
• Substantial experience in children's social care.
• Ability to work collaboratively across multi-agency partners.

Responsibilities

• Take responsibility for oversight of child protection decision-making and processes.
• Provide expert support, guidance and decision-making across the multi-agency system.
• Ensure children are safeguarded in the right way at the right time.
• Provide high support and high challenge to the wider children and families workforce and partners.
• Work collaboratively with multi-agency partners and the children and families service.
• Undertake direct practice with children alongside Family Help Lead Practitioners where needed.
• Enable practice through a trauma-informed approach that works with whole families.
• Empower people by ensuring children's voices shape the response and service delivery.
• Equip staff to consider the circumstances affecting children and families.
• Deliver progress by working with other agencies to review and develop family working, including family networks and local sufficiency.

Skills

Collaborative work

Children's social care

Trauma-informed

Multi-agency

Education

Recognised Social Work qualification

Job description

This lead practitioner post sits in the Families First Partnership Programme at Cheshire West and Chester Council, linking family help, safeguarding and multi-agency child protection teams. The post holder oversees child protection decision-making and processes, gives expert guidance across the multi-agency system and offers high support and challenge to the wider children and families workforce. Some direct practice with children alongside family help lead practitioners is possible. Social Work England registration and substantial children's social care experience are essential.

What the job involves

• Take responsibility for oversight of child protection decision-making and processes
• Provide expert support, guidance and decision-making across the multi-agency system
• Ensure children are safeguarded in the right way at the right time
• Provide high support and high challenge to the wider children and families workforce and partners
• Work collaboratively with multi-agency partners and the children and families service
• Undertake direct practice with children alongside Family Help Lead Practitioners where needed
• Enable practice through a trauma-informed approach that works with whole families
• Empower people by ensuring children's voices shape the response and service delivery
• Equip staff to consider the circumstances affecting children and families
• Deliver progress by working with other agencies to review and develop family working, including family networks and local sufficiency

Qualifications

• Recognised social work qualification

Registration & licences

• Social Work England registration

Experience

• Substantial experience in children's social care

Skills & knowledge

• Able to practise as a collaborative multi-agency practitioner

What’s offered

• Flexible remote working
• Modern, recently refurbished offices
• Free parking at all office locations
• Competitive salary and working rewards
• Up to 16 days' flexi leave per year, in addition to annual leave
• Social Work England registration paid for by the council
• High-quality supervision and a strong reflective practice framework
• Training, development and clear progression opportunities