Come and join us in shaping brighter futures for children, young people and families across Dorset. Our outstanding Children's Services are looking for dedicated professionals who are passionate about making a meaningful difference.
We are seeking a skilled, qualified and experienced social worker who has already had experience as an Assistant Team Manager or Team Manager to become our Lead Child Protection Practitioner within the Multi‑Agency Child Protection Team (MACPT).
This is a pivotal role for someone dedicated to safeguarding children, strengthening multiagency practice, and ensuring children's voices meaningfully influence decisions that affect them.
As a Lead Child Protection Practitioner, you will hold strategic oversight of child protection activity, ensuring statutory duties under the Children Act 1989, 2004, Working Together 2023, and Families First Partnership Guidance 2025 are met. You will work closely with partners across Dorset, supporting, challenging, and improving operational practice to secure the best outcomes for children.
This is an exciting time to join us as we continue to embed Family Led decision making, trauma-informed practice and restorative, strengths-based approaches across our services.
About The Role
In this influential position, you will:
* be a key member of the Multiagency Child Protection Team
* chair strategy meetings and child protection conferences
* oversee and make decisions regarding Section 47 enquiries
* lead the oversight of multi-agency and single agency investigations (as required)
* attend daily S47 outcome meetings and weekly child protection line of sight meetings
* chair Significant Extra Familiar Harm meetings and participate in Extra Familiar Risk and Harm Panels
* work collaboratively with the Family Help Service and wider partners to ensure robust child protection responses
* ensure families are supported to participate fully, including being offered Family Group Conferences
* provide high quality professional advice, consultation and challenge to practitioners and partners
* carry out preconference consultations with colleagues, partner and offer home visits to parents
* carry out midway monitoring of children under Child Protection plans
* quality assures the safety, effectiveness and impact of child protection plans
* maintain accurate electronic records, contribute to audits, file reviews and service learning, and support workforce development through training and workshops
* contribute to multiagency safeguarding improvements through the MACP Operational Board
This role requires someone who can always keep a clear focus on the child and make sure the child is at the centre of all analysis, planning, and decision‑making. For the full details of the role, please see the attached job description.
About You
You will be a registered Social Worker with:
* Substantial post qualifying experience in children's social care, including assistant or team manager experience
* Significant expertise in child protection practice, risk assessment, multiagency working and statutory safeguarding frameworks
* Confident chairing skills and the ability to manage complex and challenging discussions
* Strong analytical, organisational and communication abilities
* A trauma-informed, reflective and strengths-based approach
* The ability to both support and constructively challenge colleagues and partners
* A commitment to our organisational values: Respect, Together, Accountability, Openness and Curiosity
* You will be linked to a locality and be expected to be present in your locality office a minimum of 3 days a week and be able to meet the travel requirements of this role. You will require an Enhanced DBS check
What We Offer
Working for Dorset Council means being part of an organisation that:
* puts children and families at the heart of everything we do
* supports professional development, reflective practice and career progression
* values diversity and is committed to being an inclusive employer
* offers a comprehensive benefits package, flexible working arrangements and access to high quality training
* is a proud Disability Confident Employer, offering an interview to all applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria
* you will join supportive colleagues who are committed to improving safeguarding practice and outcomes for all Dorset's children