Lead Child Protection Practitioner

Job Title

Lead Child Protection Practitioner

Salary: HC10 £ 46,142 – £50,269 per annum
Market forces supplement: £5,000 per annum
Welcome payment: £10,000
Contract: Permanent
Hours: 37 per week
Location: Hereford
Relocation package: up to £10,000
Closing date: 02/08/2026

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Lead Practitioner to join our Multi-Agency Child Protection Team (MACPT). This key role works with partners to ensure timely, effective, and child‑centred responses to risk, driving high‑quality practice and supporting children at risk of harm.

• Provide practice leadership and oversight on complex child protection cases.
• Support decision‑making and quality assurance of Section 47 enquiries.
• Work closely with partners including police, health, and education to ensure robust multi‑agency safeguarding responses.
• Offer coaching, mentoring, and reflective supervision support to social workers.
• Participate in strategy discussions and meetings, ensuring clear risk analysis and planning.
• Drive continuous improvement and contribute to service development.

• Registered with Social Work England and holding a recognised Social Work qualification (degree, DipSW, or CQSW).
• Substantial experience in frontline child protection and safeguarding, with a minimum of 3 years.
• Strong analytical, risk assessment, and decision‑making skills.
• Experience of multi‑agency working at a strategic and operational level.
• Ability to support and challenge practice to achieve excellent outcomes for children.
• Passion for developing others and embedding high standards of practice.

• Competitive salary and market‑rate supplement.
• Welcome payment of £10,000.
• Relocation package support up to £10,000.
• Professional development with protected time and budget.
• Enrolment in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Clear career progression pathways.
• 31 days of annual leave (pro‑rata) plus bank holidays, with opportunity to purchase additional days.
• Flexible working options, including job‑sharing, part‑time hours, and agile working.
• Employee Assistance Programme providing 24/7 support and counselling.
• Payment of professional membership fees (based on role requirements).
• Retail, leisure, holiday and health benefits through a range of partner discounts.

To support applicants with reasonable adjustments, please contact e

We encourage our employees to feel empowered and to use their voices to embrace diversity, promote inclusivity and shape our organisation. We have diverse employee network groups to support different identities, experiences and cultures. We actively encourage applications from disabled individuals, members of the Armed Forces, and Herefordshire care leavers as part of our commitment to the Disability Confident scheme, Armed Forces Covenant and support for care leavers.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All staff, visitors and volunteers share this commitment. The role will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced check and further pre‑employment checks.

Upload an up‑to‑date CV and complete the application form demonstrating your experience, skills and abilities for the role. Include reference to the job description and person specification or role profile. Following a shortlist, the recruitment team will contact you via email to arrange your interview and/or assessment.

Currently we cannot offer overseas visa sponsorship for this role. UK‑based applicants with a minimum of two years’ UK‑based experience in the relevant team or discipline may be provided Skilled Worker visa sponsorship upon successful selection.