City of York Council
Lead Child Protection Practitioner
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Are you looking to join a Children’s Service where ambition, partnership and purpose come together to create exceptional outcomes for children?
City of York are excited to go live with our Families First Implementation and are now seeking a Lead Child Protection Practitioner who is ready to play a central role in this journey—someone who brings expertise, confidence and professional curiosity, and who thrives in a system where multi-agency partnership working is not just encouraged, but essential.
In York, safeguarding is a collective endeavour: social workers, police, health, education and community partners working together with clarity and purpose to understand risk, share information, and take decisive, timely action to protect children. This role sits at the heart of that collaboration, leading and influencing the most complex child protection work, ensuring that decisions are informed, proportionate and always centred on the child’s lived experience.
Our practice is grounded in Signs of Safety—a strengths-based, relationship-focused model that balances rigorous analysis of harm and risk with a deep commitment to working alongside families to build lasting safety. Here, child protection is not just about process; it is about skilled conversations, clear thinking, and purposeful intervention that brings about real change. As a Lead Child Protection Practitioner, you will champion this approach—supporting practitioners and partners to think critically, challenge constructively, and remain relentlessly focused on what needs to happen to keep children safe.
This is a role for someone who is confident in leading complex decision-making—chairing strategy discussions and child protection conferences, guiding Section 47 enquiries, and ensuring the highest standards of analysis and planning. You will be a visible practice leader, offering expert advice, providing constructive challenge, and shaping practice across the system so that children are protected effectively and without delay. Your leadership will ensure that every plan is purposeful, every intervention is timely, and every child’s voice is heard and acted upon.
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In York, you will find an environment where high challenge is matched with high support. We invest in our people, prioritise reflective supervision, and provide opportunities to influence practice beyond your immediate role. You will be part of a service that values learning, innovation and professional growth—one where your expertise is recognised and your contribution has real impact.
If you are passionate about child protection, committed to partnership working, and driven to make the right decisions for children in complex and challenging situations, then this is your opportunity to join an Outstanding authority and help shape the next phase of our journey.
This role forms part of the implementation of the Families First reforms, which will come into effect on 1 October 2026. Should you be successful in securing an offer of employment, your start date will be on or after this date, subject to the completion of all required pre-employment checks, including DBS clearance.
This role is suitable as a job share opportunity.
As this role is public facing, applicants will need to demonstrate, at interview, their competency to converse and provide advice and guidance to members of the public, in spoken English to CEFR level C1: Can express themselves fluently and spontaneously, almost effortlessly. Only a conceptually difficult subject can hinder a natural, smooth flow of language.
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Hybrid working arrangements are available for this role.
City of York Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. We require the successful candidate to undertake an enhanced Criminal Record check via the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Please note, we do not have a sponsorship licence to sponsor individuals for visas to work in the UK, therefore we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.
The Council is committed to investing in the talent and wellbeing of our staff and can offer a generous annual leave allowance, access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, comprehensive Health & Wellbeing initiatives and a reward package which recognises your contribution. We can offer flexible working practices, community engagement and volunteer activities and, as part of our commitment to you, promote continuous Learning & Development. In addition we also offer a growing range of discounts, rewards and savings.
For further information or an informal discussion please contact Sian Alderson at sian.alderson@york.gov.uk or Jess Markwart jess.markwart@york.gov.uk
Closing date: 19 July 2026 at 12 midnight
Interview date: 27 July 2026
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