Child Protection Chair

We are looking to recruit a part time Child Protection Chair to join our Quality Assurance service!

You will be a qualified social worker and be passionate about the child's voice, with experience supervising others and chairing complex multi-agency meetings.

You will have the responsibility of chairing Child Protection Conferences, engaging the family and partners and ensuring the process is followed in a fair, open and transparent way.

You will also participate in the monthly audit programme which supports out ongoing focus on practice and continual improvement.

If you're looking for a new challenge and want to be part of a team that is strongly committed to improving outcomes for children and families then come and join us.

Main Accountabilities

• To chair CP conferences in accordance with government guidance and local procedures.
• To ensure that children and young people participate appropriately in the meetings, and that their wishes and feelings are always fully considered and appropriately weighted, alongside the views of parents, carers, and the input of multi-agency professionals.
• To ensure that the plan resulting from a conference is SMART and clearly understood by those who will be implementing it.
• To ensure the plan resulting from conference is clearly understood by the child/family in terms of what change is needed to reduce risks.
• To implement and monitor agreed quality standards, performance indicators and outcomes, as agreed with responsible managers, ensuring that these meet local and national targets.
• To undertake audit to support ongoing quality assurance and application of practice standards.
• To provide consultation, support and advice to staff involved in Child Protection work. To record all such consultations with staff and to feed these into the line management process.
• To develop and maintain relationships within and across the Borough and with other agencies in Berkshire and across the region.
• To provide effective monitoring and challenge where a child's plan is not progressions and drift/delay is evident.
• To contribute to service planning and take an active part in inter-agency forums, including participating in the planning and delivery of relevant training and CP Reports.
• To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.

Person specification

Education, Training & Experience

• Extensive post qualification experience, including experience of supervising and supporting staff (Essential)
• Experience of chairing complex multi-agency meetings (Essential)
• Experience of assessing, analysing and working with safe practices and promoting the best interests of children and young people (Essential)
• A recognized Social Work qualification and registration with SWE to comply with the national requirements (Essential)
• SWE registration and an evidenced commitment to ongoing professional development (Essential)
• Supervision or management qualifications (Desirable)

General & Specific Knowledge

• Specialist knowledge of relevant legislation, regulation, practice, policy and research, particularly in respect of care and protection planning, complex risk assessments and decision making (Essential)
• Able to communicate with children and young people and ensure their views are clearly centred within the CLA review process (Essential)
• Demonstrate an understanding and commitment to the SCF's key policies and a personal commitment to equal opportunities. (Essential)
• The ability to produce and analyse information on performance and to use evidence to maximise outcomes for individuals. (Essential)
• Good verbal, written, numeracy, assessment, analytical and chairing skills (Essential)
• The ability to provide effective, professional challenge to address practice standards and achieve positive outcomes for our children looked after. (Essential)
• The ability to design and implement quality standards in a multi-agency setting (Essential)
• An understanding of case recording systems and their applications to care services (Essential)
• The ability to plan and deliver training at an appropriate level to a wide range of inter-agency staff (Essential)
• The ability to manage change, implement policies and develop services sensitive to the diverse communities of Slough (Essential)
• A current valid driving licence and daily use of a car (Essential)
• The ability to work outside normal office hours when required (Essential)