How you'll make a difference:
In South Gloucestershire, we are proud that our children’s social care service is rated Good by Ofsted. We are equally committed to continuing to learn, develop and improve, so that children, young people and families receive the right support at the right time.
As a Lead Child Protection Practitioner within the Multi-Agency Child Protection Team (MACPT), you will provide specialist child protection expertise, leadership and oversight when there are concerns that a child may be suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm.
You will support practitioners and safeguarding partners to make timely, evidence-based and defensible decisions, helping ensure child protection processes are clear, proportionate, relational and consistent across agencies.
What you will be doing:
You will not case-hold children and families. Instead, you will strengthen practice by guiding, advising, coordinating and decision-making within the child protection process, working alongside Family Help Lead Practitioners, Social Care colleagues and safeguarding partners.
Working within the MACPT, you will chair Strategy Discussions and Child Protection Conferences, oversee Section 47 enquiries and support purposeful Child Protection Plans that are centred on the child’s lived experience.
As a Lead Child Protection Practitioner, you will have the opportunity to influence high-quality child protection practice across South Gloucestershire, strengthen multi-agency decision making and help ensure children and families experience clear, purposeful and proportionate safeguarding processes.
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Provide specialist child protection expertise within the MACPT, supporting clear, consistent and defensible safeguarding decisions.
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Facilitate and chair Strategy Discussions and Child Protection Conferences, ensuring the right information is shared and the right partners are involved.
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Work with safeguarding partners to apply significant harm and Section 47 thresholds consistently, including decisions on single or joint agency enquiries.
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Build professional confidence across Family Help, social care, police, health, education and wider safeguarding partners.
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Contribute to reflective practice, audit, learning and practice improvement across the MACPT and wider safeguarding system.
What we need from you:
- We require you to be a qualified Social Worker with current Social Work England registration and substantial post-qualifying statutory child protection experience.
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You will have expert knowledge of child protection law, statutory guidance and local procedures, with confidence applying significant harm and Section 47 thresholds consistently.
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You will have proven ability to lead and chair complex multi-agency safeguarding meetings, including Strategy Discussions and Child Protection Conferences.
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You will be skilled in overseeing the child protection process, analysing complex risk and evidence, balancing professional views and making clear, defensible decisions.
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You will bring strong collaborative multi-agency working skills, supporting effective information sharing, coordinated partner contributions and a shared understanding of risk.
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You will be committed to child and family participation while managing complex workloads, urgent safeguarding decisions, statutory timescales and accurate records.
You will need to bring clarity, confidence and professional curiosity to a high-volume and complex safeguarding environment, supporting consistent thresholds, reducing drift and helping partners work together effectively in the best interests of children and families.
What you need to know:
- Although this post is advertised as a full-time position, we encourage and welcome applications from experienced practitioners who may be seeking part time, job share or flexible working arrangements.
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Please note that due to the nature of this role, it is a requirement of employment that an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is obtained.
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You will be expected to travel throughout the authority and surrounding area, so you must have a full, valid driving licence with regular access to a vehicle insured for business use or have an alternative suitable means of travel.
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The role involves regular attendance at multi-agency meetings, including Strategy Discussions and Child Protection Conferences, and may include visits to children and families where necessary to inform decision making or support safe participation in Child Protection processes.
Interviews are currently anticipated to be held week commencing the 24th August.
How a career at South Gloucestershire Council is different:
- As part of our benefits package, you will receive generous annual leave (pro rata), employee wellbeing support and you will have access to a range of staff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities.
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We recognise that our diverse team of skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed on the basis of their merits and abilities.
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We invest in the careers of our people, and we are recognised for the quality, breadth and depth of our training and development offer, which helps our people make the greatest long-term difference in their work.
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We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the safety and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Ensuring all our staff are given right skills, knowledge and support to recognise and respond effectively to potential abuse or neglect.
Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here.
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We're building and shaping communities which people are proud of.
- We’re providing essential services across our communities to ensure they are safe and well maintained.
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We've achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference.
We’re making a difference, be part of it!
To view the full job description, please refer to the Lead Child Protection Practitioner (MACPT) role profile
