Lead Child Protection Practitioner, Multi-Agency Safeguarding

Southampton City Council; Southampton; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 59,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent local government pension

Death in service benefit

Generous holiday

Flexible working options

Coaching and mentoring

Health and wellbeing support

Job summary

Southampton City Council’s Southampton Children’s Services is transforming safeguarding with MACPT. The Lead Child Protection Practitioner acts as decision‑maker, guiding safeguarding work across agencies and shaping practice.

You will lead strategy discussions, analyse multi‑agency information, chair conferences, and produce high‑quality assessments, working with Family Help to keep children at the centre.

Qualifications

• Experienced registered social worker with significant recent front-line child protection experience.
• Values relational practice with families, partners and colleagues.
• Extensive experience leading child protection investigations and statutory safeguarding work.
• Confident making autonomous decisions in complex, high-risk situations.
• Able to engage children, parents and wider family networks with confidence and empathy.
• Strong understanding of legislation, Working Together and safeguarding research.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategy discussions and oversee and support Section 47 enquiries.
• Analyse complex multi-agency information and make evidence-based decisions.
• Chair Initial and Review Child Protection Conferences.
• Produce high-quality assessments and reports that stand up to scrutiny in child protection and court arenas.
• Work alongside Family Help practitioners to keep children at the centre of planning and intervention.
• Influence and strengthen multi-agency safeguarding practice across the partnership.
• Be part of a highly skilled team redefining child protection practice within Southampton.

Job description

Southampton City Council’s Southampton Children’s Services is transforming safeguarding with MACPT. The Lead Child Protection Practitioner acts as decision‑maker, guiding safeguarding work across agencies and shaping practice.

You will lead strategy discussions, analyse multi‑agency information, chair conferences, and produce high‑quality assessments, working with Family Help to keep children at the centre.