Lead Child Protection Practitioner

Posted 3rd Jul, 2025
Location
Hillingdon
Salary/rate
£56,646 – £60,819
Hours
Full-time
Working arrangements
Blended
Contract type
Permanent
Closing date
21st Jul, 2025
About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to become one of Hillingdon’s first Lead Child Protection Practitioners within our newly launched Multi-Agency Child Protection Team (MACPT)

You’ll work at the heart of a cutting-edge, collaborative service alongside professionals from the police, health, and education to deliver swift, expert responses to complex safeguarding concerns.

As the council’s lead voice on child protection within MACPT, you'll have the autonomy and authority to:

  • Lead and coordinate Section 47 enquiries
  • Chair strategy discussions and child protection conferences
  • Make expert, independent decisions to protect children from harm
  • Drive innovation in how child protection is delivered across the borough

This is a unique chance to shape a new model of safeguarding in Hillingdon.

About you

We’re seeking skilled and passionate safeguarding professionals who are ready to step into a specialist, management-level role focused on practice leadership (not line management).

You will be:

  • A qualified and registered Social Worker
  • Experienced – with at least 3 years in frontline statutory child protection
  • Confident in leading investigations, chairing multi-agency meetings, and navigating high-risk cases
  • A clear communicator, able to collaborate with multiple partners under pressure
  • Knowledgeable in child protection legislation, statutory guidance, and safeguarding best practice
  • Analytical, assertive, and always acting in the best interests of the child
About Hillingdon

On joining our Children’s Social Care team, you’ll be welcomed and made to feel ‘at home’, benefitting from the right tools, skills, and resources. From day one you’ll meet with colleagues across the council who will provide expert guidance and support to succeed and develop your career at Hillingdon - giving you that ‘Hillingdon feeling’.

Our commitment to continuous improvement is also reflected in our dedication to lead, coach, and invest into our people. Whether you’re just about to embark on a career within social care, or aspire to progress into senior roles, we offer clear development pathways to help you achieve your career ambitions.

With access to a wide range of training and learning opportunities (PAMs, AIMs, CGP2, etc.), every day is a ‘learning day’. Partnering with local Universities to offer the ‘Practice Educators programme’ we’re keen to not only enhance the quality of our social care provision, but also supercharge your career! 

In addition to a comprehensive career development plan, we offer a range of benefits which include:

  • Local government average salary pension scheme

  • From 26 to 34 days annual leave (rising to 37, dependant on length of service)

  • Free on-site parking when working at our civic centre offices

  • Career breaks

  • Hybrid working and flexible working hours

  • Season ticket loan

  • Access to a credit union

  • Access to a wide range of trainings, courses, and other types of professional development

  • Discount on a variety of adult education courses run by the council

  • Payment of professional fees where these are required

  • Discounts at council-owned leisure centres and swimming pools at Hillingdon (Uxbridge), Queensmead (South Ruislip), Highgrove (Ruislip) and Botwell Green (Hayes)

  • Cycle purchase scheme

  • Car sharing scheme

  • 30% discount on green fees at council-owned golf courses

If you'd like to arrange an informal chat about this role, please send us an email to recruitment@hillingdon.gov.uk, highlighting your name, contact details, and the name of this role.