Senior Lead Child Protection Practitioner

Gateshead Council; Gateshead; Híbrido; GBP 50.000 - 53.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Pension scheme

Annual leave 28-32 days

Flexible hours

Hybrid work

Learning & development

Health & wellbeing

Cycle to work

Salary sacrifice car scheme

Discounts & salary sacrifice

Descripción de la vacante

Gateshead Council seeks an experienced Lead Child Protection Practitioner to shape safeguarding practice across Children’s Social Care and the safeguarding partnership. You will provide expert analysis, lead strategic discussions, and ensure timely protection for children at risk.

You will chair Initial Child Protection Conferences, oversee Plans and mentor practitioners and partners, driving high standards and meaningful family participation within a hybrid working environment.

Formación

• A recognised Social Work qualification and registration with Social Work England.
• Extensive experience of statutory children's social care and a proven track record of high-quality child protection practice.
• Significant post-qualifying experience within children's social care.
• Extensive experience of child protection investigations, risk assessment and safeguarding decision-making.
• The confidence to provide professional challenge and influence practice across a range of services and agencies.
• Experience of leading or chairing complex professional meetings.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to make defensible safeguarding decisions in complex situations.
• Experience of quality assurance, auditing, workforce development and service improvement.
• A full driving licence and access to a vehicle (or actively working towards this)

Responsabilidades

• Attend Strategy Discussions to provide expert safeguarding analysis & threshold advice.
• Facilitate Day 5 Reflective Reviews and Day 10 Decision-Making Checkpoints.
• Meet with children, parents and carers before Initial Child Protection Conferences.
• Chair Initial Child Protection Conferences with robust, child-centred decision-making.
• Provide oversight of Child Protection Plans to identify drift and delays.
• Offer professional challenge, coaching and support to practitioners and safeguarding partners.
• Contribute to quality assurance, workforce development and safeguarding learning across the partnership.

Conocimientos

Social work experience

Analytical ability

Lead meetings

Safeguarding knowledge

Stakeholder engagement

Educación

Social Work qualification & SWE registration

Descripción del empleo

Gateshead Council seeks an experienced Lead Child Protection Practitioner to shape safeguarding practice across Children’s Social Care and the safeguarding partnership. You will provide expert analysis, lead strategic discussions, and ensure timely protection for children at risk.

You will chair Initial Child Protection Conferences, oversee Plans and mentor practitioners and partners, driving high standards and meaningful family participation within a hybrid working environment.