Lead Child Protection Practitioner

About The Role

Lead Child Protection Practitioner

Job Title: Lead Child Protection Practitioner

Salary: HC10 £ 47,665 - £51,928 plus £5,000 market forces supplement (£52,665 - £56,928)

Welcome payment: £10,000 (see attached guidance)

Contract: Permanent

Hours: 37

Location: Hereford

Relocation package: up to £10,000 available

Closing date: 27/09/2026

Make a Difference Where It Matters Most

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Lead Practitioner to join our Multi-Agency Child Protection Team (MACPT). This is a key role at the heart of safeguarding, working with partners to ensure timely, effective, and child-centred responses to risk.

You will play a critical role in supporting high-quality practice, driving performance, and ensuring that children at risk of harm receive the right support at the right time.

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a dynamic and evolving service that places children at the centre of everything we do. You will have the opportunity to influence practice, shape service delivery, and make a real impact on the lives of vulnerable children and families.

We are proud of our restorative approach to social work - a way of working that is firmly embedded in our team culture and management style. Collaboration and reflection are at the heart of how we practice: senior managers are always available for guidance and support, especially when navigating complex cases.

Curious about what it’s really like to be a Social Worker with us?

Want to know what it really feels like to work with our passionate and dedicated Social Work teams? This short video gives you a glimpse into the heart of our service and shows why Herefordshire Council could be the perfect place for your next career move.

As a Lead Practitioner within the MACPT, you will:

• Provide practice leadership and oversight on complex child protection cases
• Support the 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
• Be a part of strategy discussions and meetings, ensuring clear risk analysis and planning
• Drive continuous improvement and contribute to service development

Herefordshire is on a journey, and we would like you to be part of our next chapter. This is an exciting opportunity to have a genuine impact on the local authority and help improve the lives of children and young people across our communities.

We are looking for a confident and skilled practitioner who:

• Registered with Social Work England and holding a recognised Social Work qualification (Degree in Social Work, DipSW, or CQSW).
• Has substantial experience in frontline child protection and safeguarding
• Has a minimum of 3 years’ experience in frontline child protection and safeguarding
• Demonstrates strong analytical, risk assessment, and decision‑making skills
• Has experience of multi‑agency working at a strategic and operational level
• Can support and challenge practice to ensure excellent outcomes for children
• Is passionate about developing others and embedding high standards of practice

A competitive salary, holiday entitlement, and access to our contributory pension and staff benefits scheme, which includes:

• Salary range of £47,665 - £51,928 per annum
• Market rate supplement: £5,000 per annum
• Welcome Payment: £10,000 (see attached guidance)
• Relocation packages: support of up to £10,000
• Professional development: protected time and budget to develop yourself and your career
• Enrolment in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Career progression
  : clear pathways to progress
• Annual Leave: 31 days’ annual leave (pro rata)…