Senior Child Protection Conference Chair
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
About this job
Barking and Dagenham Council is seeking an experienced and highly skilled Senior Child Protection Conference Chair to provide leadership and operational oversight within our Child Protection Conferencing Service during a defined period of service demand and transformation.
This role is offered on an initial 12 month fixed term or secondment basis, reflecting similar service pressures and transformation requirements that underpin our current use of interim and agency Child Protection Conference Chairs.
The post will support service stability, performance and quality during a period of sustained child protection demand and ongoing implementation of the Family First Practice Programme and the transition towards a Multi Agency Child Protection Team model.
Grade: PO8 Salary: £62,766 per annum Service: CARES Academy Reports to: Service Manager, Independent Reviewing and Child Protection Conferencing Service Contract: Fixed term or secondment for an initial 12 month period
Special requirements for this post
As Senior Child Protection Conference Chair, you will combine operational leadership with hands on chairing responsibility.
You will:
- Provide direct management and professional supervision for a minimum of six Child Protection Conference Chairs, ensuring high quality, timely and child centred practice.
- Be accountable for the day to day oversight of Child Protection Conferencing activity, including Initial, Review and Risk Outside the Home conferences.
- Chair a small allocation of complex Initial and Review Child Protection Conferences, ensuring statutory timescales are met and that children’s lived experience meaningfully informs decision making.
- Quality assure Child Protection Plans and safeguarding practice, providing clear learning loops to practitioners, managers and senior leaders.
- Provide specialist consultation, professional challenge and escalation where plans are not progressing or children’s safety is not improving.
- Support service performance, workforce stability and practice development during a period of change, including alignment to Family First Practice Programme and the emerging MACPT approach.
- Contribute to audit activity, service improvement planning and inspection readiness, including Ofsted focused visits and multi agency scrutiny.
- Deputise for the Service Manager where required and represent the service in internal and partnership forums.
About you
You will be a confident and credible safeguarding leader with:
- Significant experience as a Child Protection Conference Chair and a strong understanding of statutory child protection decision making.
- Proven experience of managing and supervising Child Protection Chairs and leading practice improvement.
- A sound working knowledge of relevant legislation and guidance, including the Children Act 1989, Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026, London Safeguarding Children Procedures and local practice standards.
- A good understanding of the National Reforms.
- The ability to work relationally with children, families and partner agencies while providing robust professional challenge.
- Strong analytical and quality assurance skills, with experience of using audit and performance information to drive improvement.
- A values led approach aligned to the CARES practice framework, with a clear focus on outcomes for children.
About us
Barking and Dagenham is an ambitious and improving local authority, with a strong focus on safeguarding, quality and workforce development.
Our work is underpinned by the CARES Academy, bringing together learning, quality assurance, leadership and practice development across children’s services.
You will join a supportive and experienced leadership group, working closely with Child Protection Conference Chairs, Independent Reviewing Officers, Quality Assurance Leads, the LADO and wider safeguarding partners.
We are committed to reflective practice, continuous improvement and ensuring that excellence is our standard.
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact: Frank McSheffrey, Head of Service – CARES Academy, Safeguarding and Quality Assurance. frank.mcsheffrey@lbbd.gov.uk
Additional Information
A recognised social work qualification, current Social Work England registration and an Enhanced DBS check are required.