Norfolk County Council
Child Protection Expert
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Child Protection Expert | 10889 | Secondment Opportunity / Temporary Fixed Term
Contract for 12 Months | 37 hours per week | £50,166 to £54,277 per annum | Grade L | Norwich
Join an Outstanding Children's Service and Help Children Flourish
Are you an experienced social worker who is passionate about protecting children, developing others and driving excellent practice?
Would you like to be part of a service recognised nationally for delivering exceptional outcomes for children and families?
At Norfolk County Council, our Children's Services were judged Outstanding in all areas by Ofsted in 2026, with inspectors recognising the positive difference our practitioners make every day. Ofsted praised our child-centred approach, inspirational leadership and strong partnership working.
The inspection recognised how Norfolk's Family Help approach provides seamless support to children and families, ensuring effective safeguarding interventions, reducing risk, strengthening family networks and helping children to flourish.
This is an exciting opportunity to join one of the country's leading Children's Services teams and play a key role in shaping the future of safeguarding practice across Norfolk.
About the Role
The Child Protection Expert is a key member of the wider management team within Family Help, Protection and Care. This specialist role provides professional leadership, oversight and expertise to front-line practitioners.
As the recognised lead practitioner for Child Protection matters within your locality, you will provide expert guidance, professional challenge, support and case oversight to social workers and managers. Working closely with safeguarding partners and the Court Proceedings Expert, you will drive excellent safeguarding practice and help ensure children receive the right support at the right time.
A key focus of the role is developing effective child protection trajectory planning, strengthening practitioner confidence and supporting newly qualified social workers to build expertise in managing complex safeguarding concerns and reducing risk.
You will be responsible for:
- Leading on child protection practice across locality teams.
- Chairing strategy discussions and supporting complex safeguarding decision-making.
- Providing expert consultation, supervision and case oversight.
- Driving high-quality child protection planning and risk reduction.
- Supporting newly qualified and experienced practitioners to develop confidence and expertise.
- Undertaking audits and quality assurance activity to improve outcomes.
- Building strong partnerships with safeguarding leads across the multi-agency network.
- Influencing service development and championing best practice.
- Ensuring statutory responsibilities, departmental procedures and practice standards are consistently met.
Most importantly, you will help ensure children are safe, families are supported and practitioners have the guidance they need to achieve lasting change.
Our Practice Vision – Vital Signs for Children
Everything we do is guided by our Vital Signs for Children practice framework.
Our approach is:
- Relationship Based – building consistent and trusted relationships with families.
- Strengths Oriented – recognising and building on family strengths to create positive change.
- Outcome Focused – doing whatever it takes to achieve the best outcomes for children and families.
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We believe children flourish when they have:
- Family and Friends
- Access to Learning
- Opportunities to Lead a Good Life
- Being Understood
- Building Resilience
- Respect for their Individuality
- Feeling Safe and Secure
- Being Healthy
About You
We are looking for an exceptional social work professional who can inspire confidence, influence others and lead through expertise.
You will bring:
- Significant experience working with children and families.
- Detailed knowledge of safeguarding legislation and child protection practice.
- Excellent professional judgement and decision-making skills.
- The ability to motivate, coach and develop practitioners.
- Experience of working effectively in multi-agency environments.
- A commitment to restorative and relationship-based practice.
- Strong leadership, communication and influencing skills.
- A passion for improving outcomes for children and young people.
- A strong commitment to equality, diversity and anti-discriminatory practice.
Essential Requirements
- Social Work qualification (BA, Master's, Diploma in Social Work, CQSW or equivalent).
- Registration with Social Work England.
- Minimum of four years' experience working with children and families.
- Detailed knowledge of relevant legislation, policies and safeguarding procedures.
- Ability to work effectively within multi-disciplinary and multi-agency environments.
- Commitment to undertaking Restorative Practice training if not already completed.
Desirable Requirements
- Front-line management experience in a multi-disciplinary environment.
- Coaching and mentoring qualification.
- Management qualification.
- Training in systemic practice.
- Training in therapeutic approaches.
Why Norfolk?
In Norfolk, you'll find:
✅ An Outstanding Ofsted-rated Children's Service.
✅ A strong culture of learning, support and professional development.
✅ Inspirational leadership and a clear vision for children and families.
✅ Opportunities to influence practice across a large and ambitious service.
✅ A collaborative workforce committed to helping children flourish.
✅ The chance to make a real and lasting difference every day.
As a Child Protection Expert, your leadership and expertise will directly contribute to stronger outcomes for children, improved family resilience, effective safeguarding interventions and the continued delivery of outstanding services across Norfolk.
Want to Find Out More?
We welcome informal conversations about this exciting opportunity.
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact: Michelle Dunsire, Head of Service, Protection - michelle.dunsire@norfolk.gov.uk
Our team would be delighted to discuss the role, our Outstanding Children's Services and how you can contribute to helping Norfolk's children and families flourish.
Safeguarding
Norfolk County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. This role is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, including a Children's Barred List check.
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We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
Ready to Make a Difference?
If you are an experienced social worker ready to lead, influence and develop outstanding child protection practice, we would love to hear from you.
Join a service rated Outstanding in all areas by Ofsted, where children receive consistently strong support and where your expertise can make a lasting difference to children, young people and families across Norfolk.
Before you apply, we recommend reading the full Job Description and Person Specification to help you demonstrate you meet the criteria.
Apply today and help every child in Norfolk flourish, feel safe and achieve their full potential.
Benefits of Working for Norfolk County Council
- Competitive salary
- Generous holiday entitlement
- Health and Wellbeing services including fast-track physiotherapy and a free counselling service
- Flexible working opportunities including flexi-time, part time, remote and hybrid working – dependant on your job role and business need.
- Financial benefits such as:
- 'Norfolk Rewards' our employee discounts programme which helps you save money on almost anything, from everyday groceries and clothes, to holidays, new technology, gym membership, trips to the cinema and days out. https://norfolk.rewardgateway.co.uk/Authentication/Start
- A Blue Light card https://www.bluelightcard.co.uk/
- Relocation expenses (where applicable)
- An advance of your expenses if you travel for work
- Local Government Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution, life assurance, death in service payments and dependants’ pensions.
- Tax efficient ways of getting extra pension and new bikes
- Access to our tax efficient car lease scheme for greener travel enabling you to lease a brand new, ultra-low emission vehicle (subject to eligibility)
- A payment if you refer someone you know to a hard to fill job
You can also find information on our Terms and Conditions here.
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