Children’s Lead Practitioner

Are you empathetic, resilient and assertive with an innovative attitude and passionate about making a difference?

We have an exciting opportunity to join the Lighthouse Safeguarding Unit (LSU) Southern Hub in the newly created Police Triage – Children’s Lead Practitioner role. This role will be responsible for triaging and assessing the needs of a child and their family following a safeguarding concern being raised within the police.

This is a pivotal role which will work closely alongside operational staff from both the LSU and Children’s Social Care based within the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub. This role will feed into evaluations of current practice for multi-agency working in order to develop practices that support continued improved outcomes for vulnerable children and families. 

You do not need a policing background to apply for this role. We are looking for people with skills and experience in safeguarding, child protection and multi-agency working.

Please note that you may be exposed to material of a distressing nature in this role.

In this role, your main responsibilities will be:

• Review police incidents where a safeguarding concern has been raised regarding the needs and safety of a child, applying knowledge of child protection legislation and guidance to ensure that information is shared appropriately.
• Assess and collate information to determine the level of need for the child and their family and referring on to agencies as appropriate.
• Quality assure the information provided in referrals to partner agencies and provide feedback where required.
• Develop increased knowledge and understanding of police processes and working practices across Children’s Social Services and partners.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with partner agencies, supporting the continuous improvement of information sharing.
• Contribute to relevant strategic reports and reviews.
• Support the tactical implementation and review of recommendations from SCR, SAR, DHR, OFSTED and HMIC inspections.
• Keep up to date with changes to legislation and working practices relevant to child safeguarding.

Skills, experience and qualifications required:

• Relevant professional experience of working within a children's safeguarding environment.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, including good verbal and written communication.
• Thorough understanding of legislation relevant to the safeguarding of children, as well as an understanding of work practices and threshold application in this field.
• Ability to work in a team and demonstrate effective decision-making skills, with the ability to remain objective, impartial and professional.
• Ability to manage demand, prioritise and multi-task. 
• Experience of working collaboratively with and influencing statutory partner agencies. 
• Excellent IT skills including the ability to use and update a wide range of computer systems.

About us:

Diversity is a strength and individuality an asset.

We recognise the benefit different life experience and perspectives can bring.

We are on a journey to become the most inclusive police force in the country. 

What we can offer you:

A package of financial, lifestyle and health benefits to support whatever stage of life you're in. Including:

• Flexible working
• Continuous professional development
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Employee Assistance scheme offering help through counselling services, legal advice, fitness advice, personal coaching and health assessment
• Staff discount scheme for savings on shopping, days out, sporting events, holidays
• Reflective supervision provided by Children's Social Care.

You will need to be confident communicating with professionals from a range of stakeholder agencies and also able to manage and prioritise your own workload.  This is an exciting time to join Avon and Somerset Police and we will support you in your growth and professional development.

This is a full time position, working 37 hours per week in a combination of office base working at our safeguarding hub at Express Park, Bridgwater, and home working.  Our team works between 8am - 5pm, Monday – Friday.

If an internal applicant is successful, they will need to have approval from the Senior Leadership Team as to whether their substantive post can remain open and the Hiring Manager will engage with the SLT to support these conversations where appropriate.  

To be eligible to apply for this role you must have a 5 year ‘checkable history’ in the UK – ideally this means that you would have been resident in the UK for the last 5 years. 

Does this sound like the role for you? If so, please click the apply button below.