Plymouth City Council
Lead Child Protection Practitioner
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Lead Child Protection Practitioner
Multi-Agency Child Protection Team | Plymouth
Are you an experienced safeguarding professional ready to lead high-quality child protection practice and influence system-wide improvement?
Plymouth City Council is seeking a skilled and committed Lead Child Protection Practitioner to join our Multi-Agency Child Protection Team (MACPT)—a pivotal role at the heart of safeguarding children and strengthening multi-agency collaboration.
Please note, this role is not eligible for visa sponsorship and we can only consider applicants with existing right to work in the UK.
The Role
You will provide expert leadership and oversight of child protection practice, ensuring that decisions are timely, robust and focused on keeping children safe. Working across agencies, you will support consistent, high-quality practice and drive improvement across the system.
Key Responsibilities
- Chair and lead multi-agency strategy meetings and Child Protection Conferences (initial and review)
- Oversee Section 47 enquiries, ensuring timely and effective safeguarding decisions
- Provide expert advice and guidance on thresholds, risk and safeguarding practice
- Quality assure core groups and child protection plans, ensuring they deliver real change
- Work directly with families to prepare for conferences and support planning
- Promote the use of Family Group Conferencing as part of planning
- Escalate concerns where risk increases or plans are not progressing
- Contribute to service development, policy and best practice within the Family First Partnership
- Support workforce development through coaching, mentoring and reflective practice
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About You
You will bring:
- A recognised Social Work qualification and Social Work England registration
- Substantial experience in frontline child protection and safeguarding
- Strong experience of chairing complex multi-agency meetings
- Excellent analytical, communication and decision-making skills
- The ability to work confidently in high-risk, high-pressure environments
- A commitment to restorative, strengths-based practice
Why Join Plymouth?
- A central role in a forward-thinking, multi-agency safeguarding partnership
- Opportunity to shape and improve child protection practice across the city
- Be part of the Family First Partnership, driving integrated support for children and families
- Work with committed professionals across social care, police, health and education
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Make a difference where it matters most—leading strong safeguarding practice to protect children and support families across Plymouth.
We are a flexible employer and provide a variety of working arrangements tailored to the needs of each role.
The Disclosure & Barring Service Check requirement for this post is: Enhanced Check + DBS Children’s & Adult's Barred List.
For more information or an informal discussion regarding this role, please contact Poppy Carroll via email, poppy.carroll@plymouth.gov.uk. or Anna Russell via e-mail, anna.russell@plymouth.gov.uk.
Closing date:- 22 July 2026
Plymouth City Council is an equal opportunities employer. All applicants will be considered for employment regardless of age, care experience, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, race, religion/belief, sex or sexual orientation.
As part of our commitment to promoting equality we offer guaranteed interviews to those who meet the essential criteria and are considered disabled, care experienced or are an Armed Forces Service Leaver within the last two years.
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