Child Protection Conference Chair

Posted 22nd Jan, 2025
Location
Lambeth
Salary/rate
£54,684 – £57,726
Hours
Full-time
Working arrangements
Blended
Contract type
Permanent
Closing date
9th Feb, 2025
About the role

We offer a competitive salary, including £4700 market force supplement

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Quality Assurance Service in Lambeth as Child Protection Conference Chair a as part of our improvement journey.  Ofsted have recently undertaken a focused visit and sited the significant improvements seen across both CIN and CP – specifically commenting upon the effectiveness of Child Protection Conference Chair’s raising practice alerts that are responded to effectively to keep children safe, holding midways and developing plans are focused and most step up/step downs are appropriate.  Lambeth are seeking highly talented and ambitious Child Protection Conference Chair’s to join our team and continue to support on our journey to excellence. 

Your expertise will support and empower families to actively participate in the process and helping children stay.

This will be an opportunity for you to influence our Signs of Safety conference offer to ensure it aligns with the One Lambeth Approach. We have the highest ambitions for our children every single day and a child first approach.  We are focusing on putting children and families at the heart of everything that we do.   This could be your opportunity to influence and advocate for positive safe outcomes for children, young people and families.  

About you

We are looking for a candidate who is focused on children’s outcomes and will proactively get involved in ensuring the right decisions are made at the right time for children on child protection plans and that best practice is being followed.  Also, ensuring to include families and children are supported to be part of developing their plan to reduce risk and keep children with families wherever possible.  

You will have a deep understanding of child protection legislation, family court processes and children’s rights.  Having strong skills in chairing multi-agency meetings that bring parents on board and resolve differences.  Your communication and written skills will be exemplary. Consideration can be given to flexible/part-time working arrangements.

If you're eager to be part of a journey that’s dedicated to reshaping child protection conference approach, we want to hear from you! Apply now and let’s make a difference together!

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Chair Respectful Child Protection conferences in person, identify risk and decide upon the need for a child to be subject to child protection plan, to ensure effective decision making about thresholds for child protection and child in need plans. 
  • Provide professional consultation, advice support and challenge to social work practitioners/ managers on critical child protection decisions, and on care planning for children in care (looked after per Children Act 1989). 
  • Develop SMART Plans with parents/carers which are outcome focused for children in need / in need of protection. 
  • Monitor progress of planning between reviews identify any barriers within the wider multi-agency system to the implementation of children’s plan

 

About Lambeth

Located in the heart of South London, Lambeth Borough is a vibrant community. Stretching from the dynamic neighbourhood of Streatham in the South to the iconic landmarks of Waterloo in the North, we are proud to be the 9th largest borough in London. Our diversity is our strength, with more than 130 languages spoken, making Lambeth the home of the Windrush generation, London's largest LGBTQ+ community, and a thriving Portuguese-speaking community.

With exceptional schools, lush green spaces including Brockwell Park, cultural gems like the Black Cultural Archives, and world-renowned institutions such as St Thomas's Hospital, Lambeth offers an enriching and dynamic environment. The Civic Centre is just a short walk from the main underground and train station.  

Lambeth – a borough with social and climate justice at its heart. By harnessing the power and pride of our people and partnerships, we will proactively tackle inequalities so that children and young people can have the best start in life and so everyone can feel safe and thrive in a place of opportunity.”

Lambeth 2030 (Borough Plan)

In Lambeth, we offer our social workers:

  • Fantastic, modern working environment in the award-winning Lambeth Town Hall and Civic Centre buildings
  • Competitive Salary, often including a generous market supplement (depending on the role)
  • Up to 35 days annual leave, dependent upon continuous service
  • 5 Minutes from London Underground and excellent transport links into the centre of London
  • Hybrid/Flexible working
  • Cycle to Work Scheme (including City Bike Hire scheme)
  • Attractive Local Government Pension Scheme
  • A permanent senior leadership team in QA
  • Manageable caseloads that enable connection with families