One of the roles we are recruiting to is the new role of Lead Child Protection Practitioner (LCPP) the details are below. The role requires you to hold a social work qualification, have a current registration with Social Work England and have substantial post qualifying experience in Child Protection Social Work. Please read on if this is you!
Main duties of the job
The role we are recruiting to
As an LCPP, youll bring clarity, structure and professional leadership to some of the most important moments in a childs safeguarding journey. Youll chair Child Protection strategy meetings, Initial and Review conferences, coordinate multiagency planning and ensure that every assessment, plan and decision is grounded in strong analysis and a clear understanding of risk. This role is ideal for someone skilled at bringing people together, managing challenge confidently, and keeping childrens needs firmly at the centre. Its a highimpact role where your expertise shapes safer outcomes for children every day.
About us
Lincolnshire County Council, is one of the largest employers in the county. We are an organisation that embraces diversity, innovation and progress. We value our people and want to ensure that we can support you in joining and growing with us.
We will view you as an integral member of our community and recognise that your well-being is paramount. To show our appreciation, weve crafted a competitive package designed to not only acknowledge your hard work but also foster a healthy work-life balance.
From health benefits and retirement plans, we strive to provide a package that supports well-being and financial stability and that meets the diverse needs of our workforce.
We want everyone who works with us to feel included and celebrate their uniqueness. We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity, eliminating unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation, and promoting good relations for both employee and for the people of Lincolnshire.
People often say every day is a learning day and at LCC a culture of learning is something we really believe in. We recognise the importance of supporting your learning and development and can offer a variety of different learning opportunities depending on what is right for you and the organisation. This could be through your everyday tasks, through hands-on experience, structured programs, formal qualifications, coaching, or informal learning opportunities.
Job responsibilities
To independently chair and manage Children in Care Review Meetings, Child Protection Conferences/Strategy Meetings, LADO Initial Evaluation Meetings within statutory and procedural timescales as monitored through National Performance Indicators and local policy. To chair other meetings as appropriate and agreed by the Line Manager.
Be the LADO for Allegations which involves taking responsibility for ensuring that all agencies operate procedures for dealing with allegations in accordance with Working Together 2006/18. Work with partners to publicise policies so staff affected have access to high quality information on process.
To ensure that Chair's reports from Children in Care Reviews, and the records of Child Protection Strategy Meetings/Conferences and LADO meetings are accurate, of a good standard and distributed within the required timescales.
To ensure that strategy meetings conferences and reviews make explicit decisions relating to the care needs of children as required by current legislation, national guidance as well as the Directorate's standards, LCC/LSCP policies and procedures, indicating by whom these should be actioned and setting appropriate timescales.
To ensure that participation of children and their carers in child protection activity and child in care reviewing processes, as appropriate and in line with national performance indicators and guidance. To consult with children and carers regarding their views and wishes, to facilitate their participation in meetings, where this is appropriate and to ensure representation of their views in meetings where they cannot attend or do not wish to attend. This should be completed in a manner which is anti-discriminatory and facilitates all other participants being able to contribute fully to the review including ensuring that the needs of children and parents with disabilities, and issues around communication, language and culture are met, for example through advocacy and interpreting services.
To be responsible for developing and instigating processes to improve the role and effectiveness of child protection activity, child in care planning and LADO processes, for example through the implementation of quality assurance systems in respect of Children in Care and children subject to child protection plans and investigations relating to allegations against adults who work with children. This will include: convening quality assurance meetings with team managers to discuss concerns, formulate effective solutions and make explicit decisions around the development of policies and procedures, and to escalate any unresolved issues to senior managers. Where appropriate to refer child protection cases to the Interagency Case Review Panel, Children in Care cases through the Dispute Resolution Process and LADO issues through the LSCP. To contribute to monitoring processes, reporting on necessary policy and organisational improvements, and make specific recommendations. To ensure compliance and the meeting of performance indicators.
To promote the development of good practice in relation to strategy meetings, conferences, reviews, Care Plans and Child Protection Plans and investigations by providing feedback to practitioners and Practice Managers where the quality of practice gives cause for concern and where statutory responsibilities are not being fulfilled and remain unresolved. To communicate these to the Reviewing Manager, Operational Managers and to escalate more serious or unresolved concerns through the agreed Directorate, National protocols and OFSTED where appropriate. To highlight good practice and create a learning environment in which good practice is shared and developed.
To manage any complaints that arise from conferences/reviews. To ensure that service users are aware of the complaints process and have all the necessary information and help if required (for example an advocate) to access the process.
To provide expert advice in respect of "Child Protection", " Children in Care" and "LADO" matters to practitioners, managers and members within the Council and other agencies. To identify and recommend areas for targeted training and development in practice teams in relation to the child protection, care planning processes and employers in relation to allegations against adults who work with children. To ensure these training and development needs are identified within annual reports to senior managers, members and the LSCP. To play an active role in the training around identified needs.
To maintain an up to date knowledge base of the law, research and social care practice in relation to child protection, Children in Care, LADO and be responsible for continuous professional development.
To ensure that Pathway Plans for Care Leavers are being formulated and implemented in accordance with current legislation. To ensure that Personal Education Plans are in place. To liaise with those who have responsibility for auditing these processes. To contribute to the monitoring of contracts and service level agreements with statutory organisations and the voluntary sector.
To quality assure reports/assessments/plans etc. which are presented at conferences and reviews and inform the care/child protection plan. To ensure that all aspects of a child's welfare and development are given due consideration in conferences and reviews.
To robustly monitor the effectiveness of multi-agency arrangements, and bring any deficiencies to the attention of the agencies concerned, and where appropriate the LSCP. To contribute to the development of appropriate plans including the Quality Assurance annual plan and the LSCP Business plan.
Required to undertake a quality assurance role and be involved in workforce development including induction and training where appropriate. Required to manage difficult people and situations addressing the emotional impact of the meeting and circumstances for those present, for example providing minute takers with a de-brief where necessary and advising staff of available counselling services if required.
Required to develop a range of solutions, to resolve issues of likely negative outcomes for Looked After Children and children subject to child protection plans, which may not have been previously tried. The post holder will identify and formulate necessary improvements to policy, procedure and practice which combat service deficiencies and reflect emerging legislation.
Within meetings required to demonstrate tact, diplomacy and initiative for example when chairing emotive child protection conferences and to implement a range of mechanisms for communication and participation, including the appropriate exclusion of people from meetings when required. Within meetings the ability to assess, summarise and analyse large quantities of information and make decisions on evidenced based practice.
To undertake the functions of Regulation 44 Children Homes Regulations 2015, regarding the inspection of care homes.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Qualified Social Worker with at least 5 years post qualification experience
* Thorough knowledge and understanding of a number of disciplines including Children and Family work, knowledge of National and Directorate policies and procedures relating to children and families, including Looked After Children, child protection and their statutory base. Allegations against adults who work with children.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
#J-18808-Ljbffr