Role:Lead Child Protection Practitioner – Multi-Agency Child Protection Team
Location:Redbridge
Type: Permanent
Salary: £56,607 – £59,646 per annum
Purpose of the Role:
The Lead Child Protection Practitioner will play a pivotal role within the Multi-Agency Child Protection Team (MACPT), providing specialist expertise and leadership in child protection matters. Operating as an independent, centralised service, the MACPT oversees all cases involving child protection concerns, including intra- and extra-familial harm, ensuring robust assessments, effective interventions, and timely decision-making to safeguard children at risk of significant harm.
The role requires a highly experienced and confident practitioner who can independently make critical decisions in complex situations, represent Children’s Services in multi-agency forums, and deliver expert assessments that stand up to scrutiny in legal and professional contexts.
Main responsibilities:
* Lead and participate in child protection investigations under Section 47 of the Children Act 1989, assessing whether children have suffered or are at risk of significant harm.
* Act as the local authority decision-maker in strategy discussions and multi-agency forums to determine the need for statutory interventions.
* Provide high-quality, evidence-based reports and expert assessments for child protection conferences and legal proceedings, including family courts.
* Chair Initial Child Protection Conferences and make informed, decisive recommendations to protect children from harm.
* Work collaboratively with multi-agency partners, including police, health services, and Family Help, to analyse information and make informed decisions regarding child protection.
* Forensically examine multi-agency data and insights to inform risk assessments and planning.
* Represent Children’s Services within the Multi-Agency Child Protection Team to ensure statutory responsibilities are fulfilled.
* Actively engage with parents and family networks to promote understanding and constructive participation in child protection processes.
* Work alongside the Family Networks service to facilitate family network meetings, encouraging families to identify and implement solutions to reduce significant harm.
* Ensure parents and carers are supported to meaningfully contribute to enquiries and care planning.
* Take the lead in progressing cases to child protection conferences or escalating to legal proceedings where necessary.
* Support the transition of cases back to Family Help or other teams when the risk of significant harm has reduced, stepping away when appropriate.
* Maintain robust and up-to-date records of decisions, actions, and outcomes in accordance with statutory requirements
Requirements of the Lead Child Protection Practitioner:
* Degree or equivalent within Social Work
* Current Social Care England registration
* Previous UK Social Work experience working within Children’s Services
* Social Work experience with children and families
* Ability to manage complex cases and assist colleagues in carrying out statutory requirements as appropriate, such as managing duty systems
* Ability to undertake professional duties to comply with statutory responsibilities within the framework of the Council’s Policies and Procedures, Working Together 2023, London Procedures and the Children Act 1989.
* Sound knowledge of legislation and relevant guidance
Please note, this job is managed by Sanctuary Personnel on behalf of its client. If you apply, Sanctuary Personnel will receive your details and be in touch to progress your application.
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