Lead Child Protection Practitioner - Multi-Agency Safety Teams

Location

Barnet

Working pattern

Full-time – 36 hours per week

Working arrangements

Blended

30th Sep, 2026

Incentives

This role includes a Recruitment and Retention supplement of 10% (included within the advertised salary range).

About the role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for Lead Child Protection Practitioners to join Barnet Council's Multi-Agency Safety Teams
, leading high-quality practice for children and families who need us most.

In Barnet, the commitment is to creating a culture where practice excellence, strong relationships, and continuous learning underpin everything. A supportive environment is provided in which practitioners can thrive, delivering meaningful, lasting change for children and families. The successful candidate will be part of a specialist team culture that is inclusive, reflective, and focused on continuous improvement, where high support is matched with high challenge.

As a Lead Child Protection Practitioner (LCPP), the postholder will deliver a consistently high standard of child-centred, strengths-based and relationship-focused safeguarding practice to children, young people and families. Working in partnership with children, families and professionals internal and external to the council, the role leads on section 47 enquiries, investigations, child protection (CP) conferences, and family-led planning and practice, ensuring that all work is timely, analytical, and grounded in the lived experience of the child.

Working collaboratively with partners, the LCPP will champion approaches which keep children safe from harm, build resilience and support families to make sustainable change. The postholder will be supported by a strong workforce development programme, enabling growth as a practitioner while embedding Barnet's values and practice standards.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading on section 47 enquiries, investigations, and child protection conferences
• Delivering child-centred, strengths-based and relationship-focused safeguarding practice
• Championing family-led planning and practice, ensuring children and families are meaningfully involved
• Working collaboratively with multi-agency partners to keep children safe from harm and build family resilience
• Contributing to a reflective, inclusive team culture focused on continuous improvement

• 31 days annual leave, plus public and bank holidays
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme
• A vast range of lifestyle discounts from major retailers, supermarkets, energy suppliers and more
• Broad range of payroll benefits including cycle to work, eye care vouchers, travel and gym membership
• Excellent training and development opportunities
• Employee wellbeing training programmes including confidential employee assistance

About you

Barnet Council is looking for a passionate and experienced social work professional who is committed to delivering high-quality, equitable services that recognise and respond to diversity within the community. The successful candidate will lead with integrity, curiosity and compassion, in an environment where staff feel valued, supported and appropriately challenged.

The ideal candidate will:

• Hold a recognised social work qualification and be registered with Social Work England
• Demonstrate strong knowledge of legislation, policy, and safeguarding practice, with the ability to apply this confidently in complex situations
• Possess excellent communication skills, leading clear, analytical, and impactful multi‑agency meetings, investigations, assessments and plans
• Have a strong track record of improving outcomes for children and families and influencing multi‑agency partnerships
• Show commitment to relational,…