Lead Child Protection Practitioner

Bradford Children and Families Trust; Long Lee; Hybrid; GBP 53,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Enhanced annual leave

Local Government pension

Parental leave

Health & wellbeing support

Job summary

Bradford Children and Families Trust invites applications for Lead Child Protection Practitioner to provide expert leadership within the MACPT, coordinating strategy discussions and multi-agency decision-making to safeguard children. The role demands senior practice in child protection and collaboration across police, health, education, and social care.

You will drive family-led decision making, provide mentoring, and ensure robust quality assurance of assessments and plans, in a restorative,

Qualifications

• Recognised Social Work qualification and current registration with Social Work England.
• Substantial post-qualifying experience in statutory children's social care, including a minimum of three years' experience in child protection and safeguarding practice at a senior level.
• Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service.
• Extensive knowledge of child protection legislation, safeguarding frameworks and best practice.
• Significant experience of leading complex child protection enquiries, managing high-risk safeguarding situations and undertaking multi-agency decision-making.
• Experience of chairing complex meetings, including strategy discussions and child protection forums.
• To be able to communicate with confidence, provide constructive challenge and present clear analysis to support decision making.
• To build effective relationships with children and families.
• A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for business purposes.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coordinate and chair strategy discussions, providing professional leadership to respond to child protection concerns.
• Lead section 47 enquiries to identify and respond actual or likely significant harm, ensuring that enquiries are planned, coordinated and analysed effectively with partners so that timely, evidence informed decisions are made to safeguard children.
• Chair child protection conferences and determine likelihood of significant harm.
• Analyse multi-agency information to support safe and evidence-based decision making.
• Provide consultation, guidance, mentoring and professional support to colleagues across the service.
• Be committed to family-led decision making and involve families at the earliest opportunity.
• Use research, reflection, audit findings and learning to improve practice, promote innovation and achieve better outcomes for children and families.
• Quality assure assessments, risk analyses, records, recommendations and plans.
• Identify strengths, themes and areas for improvement across practice.
• Build trusting and effective relationships with children, families, colleagues and partner agencies

Skills

Strategy discussions

Section 47 enquiries

CP conferences

Multi-agency analysis

Mentoring

Family-led decisions

Restorative practice

Research & audit

Relationship building

Communication

Education

Social Work degree

SW England registration

Job description

# Lead Child Protection Practitioner## Job IntroductionWorking for the Bradford Children and Families Trust offers the opportunity to work with some great people who are passionate about delivering change in a city whose culture offers as much diversity as it’s geography. You can make a real difference to families and children and be an active part in delivering the service Bradford families should receive.We are fully committed to equal opportunities, and we welcome applications from all backgrounds.**About the Role**This is an exciting opportunity to be a part of the Multi-Agency Child Protection Team (MACPT), a specialist safeguarding service at the heart of Bradfords child protection arrangements. As a Lead Child Protection Practitioner (LCPP) you will work within the Multi- Agency Child Protection Team (MACPT), providing expert leadership and oversight in identifying, assessing and responding to all forms of significant harm to children, including intra-familial abuse, extra-familial harm and harm experienced online.Working as part of a co-located multi-agency team comprising professionals from social care, police, health, education and other safeguarding partners, the LCPP plays a pivotal role in child protection decision-making, contributing to joint investigations and ensuring timely, proportionate and effective responses to risk.Our strategic vision and values are upheld across the Trust, fostering a reliable and supportive environment for both staff and the children in our care.Our approach is rooted in restorative and relational practice, fostering trust, mutual respect, and meaningful relationships with children, families, and professionals.**You’ll also:*** Lead, coordinate and chair strategy discussions, providing professional leadership to respond to child protection concerns.* Lead section 47 enquiries to identify and respond actual or likely significant harm, ensuring that enquiries are planned, coordinated and analysed effectively with partners so that timely, evidence informed decisions are made to safeguard children.* Chair child protection conferences and determine likelihood of significant harm.* Analyse multi-agency information to support safe and evidence-based decision making.* Provide consultation, guidance, mentoring and professional support to colleagues across the service.* Be committed to family-led decision making and involve families at the earliest opportunity.* Use research, reflection, audit findings and learning to improve practice, promote innovation and achieve better outcomes for children and families.* Quality assure assessments, risk analyses, records, recommendations and plans.* Identify strengths, themes and areas for improvement across practice.* Build trusting and effective relationships with children, families, colleagues and partner agencies**To be successful in this role you will need:*** A recognised Social Work qualification and current registration with Social Work England.* Substantial post-qualifying experience within statutory children's social care, including a minimum of three years' experience in child protection and safeguarding practice at a senior level.* To be able to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service.* Extensive knowledge of child protection legislation, safeguarding frameworks and best practice.* Significant experience of leading complex child protection enquiries, managing high-risk safeguarding situations and undertaking multi-agency decision-making.* Experience of chairing complex meetings, including strategy discussions and child protection forums.* To be able to communicate with confidence, provide constructive challenge and present clear analysis to support decision making.* To build effective relationships with children and families.* Experience of working collaboratively with police, health, education and other partners.* A commitment to restorative, relational, strengths-based and inclusive practice.* A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for business purposes.**You’ll also be joining an organisation that truly values its people, offering a range of benefits designed to support your wellbeing, growth, and work-life balance, including:*** Enhanced annual leave allowance, please refer to the benefits booklet* Excellent Local Government pension* Family-friendly policies and enhanced parental leave* Health & wellbeing support, including Occupational Health and counselling* Professional development and career progression opportunitiesFor full details of our benefits, please see the attached ‘Our Benefits’ brochure.Bradford Children and Families Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment.If shortlisted, you will be required to disclose relevant information regarding criminal history prior to interview.A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check including a check against the Children’s barred list, will be carried out on preferred candidates.**To arrange an informal discussion, please contact**Nazia Khatoon [e-mail] Rothery [e-mail]**Closing Date:****22 November 2026****Interviews:****Will take place week beginning 30 November 2026**### Attached documents* Lead Child Protection Practitioner JD.pdf* Staff Benefits booklet Sept 2026.pdfApply+− OpenStreetMap contributors### Lead Child Protection Practitioner* **Salary** Grade PO6, SCPs 40 - 43 - £53,051- £56,293* **Job Reference** RE316* **Contract Type** Full Time / Permanent* **Closing Date** 22 November, 2026* **Job Category** Safeguarding, Review, QA, & Practice* **Location** Bradford and Keighley, United Kingdom* **Posted on** 27 October, 2026