Child Protection Chair

Salary: £46,808 – £51,817 (including local weighting) (Pro rata)
Hours: 22.20 hours per week
Contract: Fixed-term

Slough Children First is looking for a Child Protection Chair to join our Safeguarding & QA service. As a CP Chair you will be chairing CP conferences abiding the government guidance and local procedures. You will make sure that all children reviewed have an effective Child Protection Plan which clarifies the objectives to be met, by whom, within what timescales and the actions to be taken if they are not met

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 all children reviewed have an effective Child Protection Plan which clarifies the objectives to be met, by whom, within what timescales and the actions to be taken if they are not met.
• 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 assist in the collection of a range of statistical and other data. To provide and present reports as required.
•  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 progressing and drifts / 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

• 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)
• 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 Trust 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 in order 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 recognized Social Work qualification and registration with SWE to comply with the National Requirements (Essential)
• Relevant supervisory/child protection and/or child care specialist post qualifying qualification (Essential)
• SWE Registration and an evidenced commitment to ongoing professional development (Essential)
• A current valid driving licence and daily use of a car (Essential)
• The ability to work outside normal office hours when required (Essential)

Apply online

If you would like to apply for this post, please use the application form to submit your CV and apply online. Once submitted we will be in touch shortly to discuss your application. if you have any questions, please email recruitment@sloughchildrenfirst.co.uk. The deadline for submitted applications is 11pm on Sunday 18 July.

Good luck!