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Job Advertisement: Child Protection & Quality Assurance - Hertfordshire
Job Title: Child Protection & Quality Assurance
Location: Hertford
Directorate: Children's Services
Salary: 50,848 - 56,246 + Market Enhanced Payment (8,110 - 8,137) - Pay Increase pending
Contract Type: Fixed Term (until 31st May 2025)
Hours: 37 hours per week (full-time, with consideration for part-time)
Closing Date: 14th October 2024
Job Number: HCC26362
Are you an experienced social worker looking to make a tangible difference in the lives of vulnerable children and families? We are seeking a dedicated professional to join our Child Protection & Quality Assurance Team. You will work within Hertfordshire Children's Services, supporting families and ensuring the safety and well-being of children through effective child protection planning and quality assurance processes.
About the Team
The Child Protection Conference Team plays a pivotal role in organising and chairing child protection conferences, ensuring that children at risk are safeguarded. We provide quality assurance and critical oversight, supporting social work teams and operational staff to make well-informed decisions. Using Motivational Interviewing, trauma-informed, and relationship-based approaches, we aim to keep families together where safe to do so, while collaborating with multi-agency partners to address harm and improve outcomes for children.
Key Responsibilities:
- Chair multi-agency Child Protection Conferences, making balanced, evidence-based decisions on child protection thresholds.
- Develop and record SMART plans to reduce harm and address the unmet needs of children and their families.
- Provide quality assurance and specialist consultation across the service, including auditing and moderating cases.
- Offer guidance to social workers on Child in Need (CIN) plans or cases where thresholds are unclear.
- Support colleagues in Children Looked After (CLA) services by chairing emergency planning meetings and disruption/learning meetings.
- Contribute to the development and delivery of training on Child Protection Conferences.
About You:
Essential Requirements:
- Recognised Social Work Qualification (Degree in Social Work, CQSW, DipSW, CSS).
- Registration as a Social Worker with Social Work England.
- At least 5 years post-qualification experience in frontline child and family teams, with experience in supervising social work practice.
- Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation and experience chairing complex, multi-agency meetings.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a proven ability to manage complex caseloads and meet deadlines.
Desirable Skills:
- Ability to provide specialist advice, analyse risk, and work collaboratively with multi-agency partners.
- Experience in developing and delivering training.
- Motivated to work autonomously as part of a supportive team.
What We Offer:
- Competitive salary and market-enhanced payments.
- Opportunity to work in a stable, collaborative team committed to making a difference.
- Ongoing professional development and training opportunities.
Join us in ensuring the best outcomes for children in Hertfordshire. Apply now to be part of a dynamic team shaping the future of child protection.
Closing Date: 14th October 2024
Contract End Date: 31st May 2025
Apply now and help us continue making a difference for families in Hertfordshire!
Contact Phil Puaca at Ackerman Pierce on (phone number removed),
