Job Description:

1. Independent Chair of Child Protection Conferences

   📍 Location: London, Greater London
   💷 Pay Rate: Competitive Hourly Rate (Umbrella) (insert rate if applicable)
   🕒 Contract: Full-Time | Agency

   Provide Independent Challenge. Improve Safeguarding Outcomes. Protect Children.

   Are you an experienced safeguarding professional with significant expertise in child protection, quality assurance and multi-agency practice? Do you have the skills to provide independent oversight, professional challenge and expert guidance to improve outcomes for children and families?

   We are seeking an Independent Chair of Child Protection Conferences to join a Local Authority service in London, Greater London. This senior consultancy role provides independent leadership, quality assurance and challenge across child protection practice, ensuring children remain at the centre of decision-making.

   The Role

   As Chair of Child Protection Conferences, you will provide independent chairing of Child Protection Conferences and Young Person Safety Plans, making evidence-based decisions regarding safeguarding arrangements and whether children should remain subject to a Child Protection Plan.

   You will work independently from operational line management, providing expert advice, constructive challenge and consultation to social workers, managers and partner agencies to ensure statutory duties are met and practice standards remain high.

   Key Responsibilities

   • Chair child protection conferences in line with national, local and Pan-London Child Protection Procedures.
   • Make informed decisions regarding Child Protection Plans and safeguarding arrangements.
   • Provide expert consultation, advice and challenge on complex child protection cases.
   • Maintain independence from operational services while promoting effective safeguarding practice.
   • Monitor and track child protection plans, ensuring progress and timely action.
   • Identify and escalate concerns regarding drift, delay or poor practice.
   • Conduct audits and quality assurance reviews of children’s social care practice.
   • Review case files, analyse performance information, gather service user feedback and make recommendations for improvement.
   • Work collaboratively with Team Managers, Service Managers and partner agencies.
   • Support the effective use of dispute resolution processes to improve outcomes.
   • Promote meaningful participation of children and families in conferences and safeguarding planning.
   • Ensure children’s voices, experiences and views are central to decision-making.
   • Provide guidance on safeguarding practice, legislation and professional standards.
   • Contribute to policy development, training, working groups and service improvement initiatives.
   • Support Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) functions when required, including allegations against professionals and volunteers working with children.

   About You

   You will have:

   • Significant senior-level experience within statutory Children’s Social Care.
   • Extensive knowledge of child protection procedures, safeguarding legislation and practice frameworks.
   • Experience chairing Child Protection Conferences or similar safeguarding forums.
   • Strong understanding of risk assessment, analysis and evidence-based decision-making.
   • Experience providing professional challenge and quality assurance oversight.
   • Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills.
   • Ability to work independently while building effective relationships with professionals and families.
   • Experience auditing social work practice and identifying areas for improvement.
   • A strong commitment to anti-discriminatory practice, equality and inclusion.
   • Ability to maintain professional independence and challenge practice where required.

   What’s on Offer

   ✅ Senior safeguarding leadership role
   ✅ Opportunity to influence quality and improve outcomes for children
   ✅ Independent consultancy position within Children’s Services
   ✅ Involvement in practice improvement and service development
   ✅ Collaborative multi-agency working environment

   Apply Today

   If you are an experienced safeguarding leader with a passion for improving child protection practice and ensuring children’s voices are heard, we would love to hear from you.

   Apply now to take on this influential role as an Independent Chair of Child Protection Conferences in London, Greater London, and help drive improved safeguarding outcomes for children and families.

   For more information, contact Natasha Haddon.