Social Care & Health Qualified - CSW - Child Protection Chair

Child Protection Conference Chair

Location: London Borough of Havering, Romford Job Reference: (phone number removed) Service: Child Protection Reviewing Service Grade: G10 Pay Rate: £45.20 per hour (Umbrella) Contract: 3 Months Hours: 36 hours per week Caseload: Approximately 80–90 children Working Arrangement: Office-based, with some home-working opportunities

About the Role

We are currently recruiting an experienced and qualified Social Worker / Child Protection Conference Chair to join the Child Protection Reviewing Service at the London Borough of Havering.

This is an excellent opportunity for a suitably qualified social work professional with substantial child protection experience to provide independent leadership, oversight and scrutiny of multi-agency safeguarding arrangements.

The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring that children at risk of significant harm are safeguarded effectively, with their lived experiences, wishes and feelings at the centre of all decision-making.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide independent, authoritative and effective chairing of Initial and Review Child Protection Conferences.

• Ensure multi-agency safeguarding arrangements promote the safety, welfare and best interests of children.

• Provide independent scrutiny and constructive challenge to the quality and effectiveness of child protection practice and planning.

• Ensure children's lived experiences, wishes and feelings remain central to assessments, decision-making and safeguarding plans.

• Ensure conferences are conducted fairly, proportionately and in accordance with statutory guidance, London Safeguarding Procedures, local policies and evidence-informed practice.

• Promote effective partnership working between social care, health, education, police and other relevant agencies.

• Ensure clear, robust and outcome-focused child protection plans are developed and reviewed.

Working Arrangements

• All Child Protection Case Conferences are conducted face-to-face.

• Child Protection Chairs typically undertake one conference per day.

• The role is predominantly office-based due to the nature of conference chairing.

• When not chairing conferences, there will be opportunities to work from home.

• The successful candidate must collect their ICT equipment in person on their first day of employment.

• All ICT equipment must be returned in person upon leaving the assignment.

Essential Requirements

• Must hold a recognised Social Work qualification.

• Must have current registration with Social Work England.

• Significant experience within children's social care and child protection services.

• Strong knowledge of statutory child protection frameworks and safeguarding legislation.

• Experience of chairing or overseeing Initial and Review Child Protection Conferences would be highly desirable.

• Excellent communication, analytical and decision-making skills.

• Ability to provide independent professional challenge and promote effective multi-agency safeguarding practice.

• A strong commitment to ensuring children's voices, wishes and feelings are heard and acted upon.

• UK passport or a full right to work in the UK.

Assignment Details

DetailInformationJob TitleChild Protection Conference ChairJob Reference(phone number removed)LocationHavering, RomfordService AreaChild Protection Reviewing ServiceGradeG10Pay Rate£45.20 per hour UmbrellaWorking Hours36 hours per weekContract Length3 monthsCaseloadApproximately 80–90 childrenWorking PatternMainly office-based, with some home working

For more information please contact Shivashni Govender at LinsCare