Lead Child Protection Practitioner

About The Role

Coventry Children's Services are seeking two experienced Lead Child Protection Practitioners to join their newly established Multi-Agency Child Protection Team.

This is a unique opportunity to join the service at a pivotal point in its development. As a newly created role arising from the national Families First Partnership Programme and wider Department for Education social care reforms, you will play a key part in shaping how child protection is delivered across Coventry's multi-agency safeguarding partnership.

This is not simply an opportunity to step into an existing position. The successful candidates will help define and develop the LCPP function, influence the evolving MACPT model, and contribute to innovative approaches that strengthen safeguarding practice and improve outcomes for children and families.

• Coventry (Hybrid Working)
• 41.42 (Umbrella)
• 37 Hours per Week
• Start Date:
  
  2 October 2026

The Lead Child Protection Practitioner is a senior specialist safeguarding role, providing expert leadership and oversight of child protection practice across partner agencies.

Working at the heart of Coventry's Multi-Agency Child Protection Team, you will promote high-quality, consistent and legally compliant safeguarding practice while driving robust, evidence-informed decision-making for children at risk of significant harm.

You will act as a recognised safeguarding expert, offering authoritative advice, challenge and support to practitioners and partners across social care, health, police and wider agencies.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide specialist leadership and oversight of child protection practice across the partnership.
• Chair strategy discussions and contribute to complex safeguarding decision-making.
• Oversee Section 47 enquiries and ensure statutory requirements are met.
• Promote high-quality, consistent and legally compliant safeguarding practice.
• Provide professional advice and guidance on complex child protection matters.
• Strengthen multi-agency collaboration and partnership working.
• Support timely, proportionate and defensible decision-making.
• Apply professional curiosity and constructive challenge to improve outcomes for children.
• Ensure assessments and interventions are informed by children's lived experiences, strengths and risks.
• Build workforce capability through coaching, support and professional leadership.
• Contribute to service development, evaluation and continuous improvement of the MACPT model.
• Support the implementation of the Families First Partnership Programme reforms.

About You

We are looking for an experienced safeguarding professional who combines strong technical expertise with the ability to influence and collaborate across organisational boundaries.

You will be confident in providing professional challenge, building trusted relationships with partners and translating complex safeguarding information into clear and effective decisions.

Most importantly, you will be motivated by the opportunity to help shape a new service model and leave a lasting legacy in the development of Coventry's multi-agency safeguarding arrangements.

Essential Requirements

• Qualified Social Worker.
• Registered with Social Work England.
• Significant experience within Children's Social Care and Child Protection.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance and child protection processes.
• Experience of complex safeguarding decision-making and multi-agency working.
• Excellent communication, influencing and partnership-building skills.
• Ability to provide professional leadership and challenge across agencies.

This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. As this role is eligible for an Enhanced DBS check, applicants are required to declare any cautions and convictions that are not protected under current filtering rules.

If you're an ambitious child protection professional looking to influence practice, shape service development and make a real impact on safeguarding arrangements across Coventry, we'd love to hear from you.