Lead Child Protection Practitioner

AWD online; Derbyshire Dales; On-site; GBP 51,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Generous annual leave

Employee discounts

Occupational health services

Cycle to work scheme

Job summary

AWD online is looking for a Lead Child Protection Practitioner to make a significant impact on safeguarding practices. This full-time role in Matlock, Derbyshire, requires substantial experience in statutory child protection and a current Social Work England registration.

The successful candidate will chair meetings, lead discussions, and promote children's voices while working within a multi-agency framework.

Qualifications

• Current Social Work England registration is essential.
• Experience chairing meetings sensitively and managing conflict.
• Strong analytical skills for complex cases required.

Responsibilities

• Chair complex child protection conferences.
• Lead multi-agency strategy discussions.
• Exercise local authority child protection decisions.
• Promote children's wishes and feelings effectively.

Skills

Statutory Decision-Making

Analytical Skills

Multidisciplinary Communication

Conflict Management

Child Protection Principles

Education

BA (Hons) Social Work

Tools

Microsoft Word

Outlook

Case Management Systems

Job description

Lead Child Protection Practitioner

Make a direct impact on safeguarding practice in a senior statutory role focused on complex child protection decisions, multi‑agency leadership and better outcomes for children and families. Applicants must be Social Work England registered with frontline statutory child protection experience.

If you’ve also worked in the following roles, we’d also like to hear from you: Child Protection Chair, Child Protection Conference Chair, Independent Reviewing Officer, Advanced Social Work Practitioner, Senior Social Worker, Practice Supervisor, Social Work Team Manager, Child Protection Social Worker

SALARY: £50,801 - £54,684 per annum + Benefits

LOCATION: Matlock, Derbyshire, East Midlands

JOB TYPE: Full-Time, Fixed Term Contract – Covering for secondment March 2028

WORKING HOURS: 37 Hours per Week

JOB OVERVIEW

This is an opportunity to shape safeguarding practice in an integrated multi-agency setting. The Lead Child Protection Practitioner will combine statutory decision‑making with relationship‑based practice and a strong focus on children’s voices.

Working with Family Help Lead Practitioners and locality teams, the Lead Child Protection Practitioner will coordinate child protection activity and strengthen timely, evidence‑based responses.

The Lead Child Protection Practitioner will provide practice leadership, reflective consultation and authoritative challenge across the partnership.

DUTIES

Your duties as the Lead Child Protection Practitioner include:

• Child Protection Conferences: Chair complex conferences in line with legislation and guidance, enabling meaningful participation by children and young people

• Multi-Agency Strategy Discussions: Lead discussions, document outcomes and plan and monitor Section 47 investigations across familial and extra-familial harm

• Statutory Decision-Making: Exercise local authority child protection decisions using multi-agency intelligence, professional expertise and contextual analysis

• Child and Family Participation: Promote children’s wishes and feelings and work with parents, carers, family networks and professionals

• Protection Planning and Records: Ensure plans are informed, current and effective, include family-led safety planning, and records are completed within required timescales

• Practice Leadership and Quality Assurance: Provide reflective consultation, guidance and challenge; scrutinise plans and contribute to audit and performance activity

• Inclusive and Contextual Safeguarding: Apply culturally competent, anti-discriminatory practice across exploitation, online risk and contextual safeguarding

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

ESSENTIAL

• BA (Hons) Social Work or equivalent relevant qualification

• Current Social Work England registration

• Substantial frontline statutory child protection experience across enquiries, assessments, reviews, conferences, decision-making and supervision

• Experience communicating with children, young people, families and professionals, including involving them in meetings and decisions

• Experience chairing meetings sensitively, managing conflict and applying childcare legislation and child protection principles

• Strong analytical, planning and critical reflection skills for complex/high‑risk cases, including supporting others to develop these skills

• Management-level experience including supervision, plus experience leading social work teams as a Team Manager or Practice Supervisor

• Ability to communicate with diverse audiences, write reports, analyse data and work effectively in a multidisciplinary environment

• Ability to quality assure frontline practice, manage relationships and apply child protection legal frameworks, guidance and research

• Ability to guide, challenge and influence others while maintaining professional boundaries

• ICT skills including Word, Outlook and case record management systems

• Ability to manage priorities, work under pressure, monitor performance and address issues

• Ability to undertake regular travel across North and South Derbyshire and work flexible hours as required

DESIRABLE

• Experience undertaking audits and quality assurance activities and communicating findings

• Driving licence

• Post-qualifying training, including advanced child protection practice or specialist child protection training

BENEFITS

• Local Government Pension Scheme

• Generous annual leave entitlement

• Employee discounts

• Occupational health and wellbeing services

• In-house counselling and physiotherapy support

• Cycle to work scheme

• Free parking at most sites

This role requires a DBS Check