Lead Child Protection Practitioner

Directorate: Family Services Contract Type: Permanent Hours: 36 weekly Salary: £64,062 - £70,059 Location: Colindale Closing Date: Midnight 11th Oct 2026 Important Information for Current Barnet Council Employees Where possible, employees who have access to Oracle are encouraged to apply via the Opportunity Marketplace (Internal Career Site). This helps to ensure applications are correctly identified as internal and avoids potential delays during the recruitment process. About Barnet Council Barnet is a borough with much to be proud of. Our excellent schools, vibrant town centres, vast green spaces and diverse communities all help make it a great place to live and work. As a council we want to build on these strengths as we move into the future. We are growing and developing as an organisation to meet the challenges facing our borough and we are committed to working with partner organisations and residents to make Barnet even better. As an organisation, our staff are committed to Our Values: Learning to Improve, Caring, Inclusive, Collaborative – which drive everything we do. About the role An exciting opportunity has arisen for Lead Child Protection Practitioners to join our Multi-Agency Safety Teams , leading high-quality practice for children and families who need us most. 'In addition to a comprehensive suite of employee benefits, this salary includes a Recruitment and Retention supplement of 10%. The salary therefore equates to £64,062 - £70,059' In Barnet, we are committed to creating a culture where practice excellence, strong relationships, and continuous learning underpin everything we do. We provide a supportive environment in which practitioners can thrive, delivering meaningful, lasting change for children and families. As a Lead Child Protection Practitioner (LCPP) you will deliver a consistently high standard of child-centred, strengths-based and relationship-focused safeguarding practice to children, young people and families. You will be part of a specialist team culture that is inclusive, reflective, and focused on continuous improvement, where high support is matched with high challenge. You will work in partnership with children, families and professionals internal and external to the council, leading on section 47 enquiries, investigations, child protection (CP) conferences, family-led planning and practice , ensuring that all work is timely, analytical, and grounded in the lived experience of the child. Working collaboratively with partners, you will champion approaches which keep children safe from harm, build resilience and support families to make sustainable change. You will be supported by a strong workforce development programme, enabling you to grow as a practitioner while embedding Barnet’s values and practice standards. Please click here to download the Job description for this role. (Right-click and select “Open in new tab” so you can keep the job description open while completing your application) About you You will bring: •           Strong knowledge of legislation, policy, and safeguarding practice, with the ability to apply this confidently in complex situations. •           Excellent communication skills, leading clear, analytical, and impactful multi-agency meetings, investigations, assessments and plans. •           A strong track record of improving outcomes for children and families and influencing multi-agency partnerships. •           A commitment to relational, strengths-based and restorative practice, ensuring children and families are meaningfully involved. •           The ability to lead with integrity, curiosity and compassion, in an environment where staff feel valued, supported and appropriately challenged. •           A passion for delivering high-quality, equitable services that recognise and respond to diversity within our communities You must hold a recognised social work qualification and be registered with Social Work England. What we offer 31 days annual leave, plus publi