Job Description

Principal Officer (Child Protection Chair)

Location: Birmingham, West Midlands
Rate: 286.37 per day (Umbrella)
Contract: Temporary/Agency Contract
Sector: Children's Social Care

Are you an experienced social work professional with a strong background in child protection and conference chairing? We are recruiting for a Principal Officer (Child Protection Chair) to join a dedicated safeguarding service in Birmingham, West Midlands.

This is an excellent opportunity for a highly skilled practitioner to play a pivotal role in safeguarding some of the city's most vulnerable children and young people, ensuring that their voices remain central to decision-making and safety planning.

The Role

As a Principal Officer (Child Protection Chair), you will be responsible for chairing multi-agency Child Protection Conferences and leading effective decision-making processes that promote the safety, wellbeing, and positive outcomes of children and families.

Working within a supportive and collaborative team environment, you will engage with children, parents, carers, and professionals to ensure robust safeguarding plans are developed and reviewed in line with statutory requirements and best practice standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Chair Initial and Review Child Protection Conferences.
• Facilitate effective multi-agency discussions and decision-making.
• Ensure the child's voice, lived experience, and wishes are central to all planning.
• Promote strengths-based, relationship-focused, and trauma-informed practice.
• Provide professional challenge where required to ensure high-quality safeguarding interventions.
• Monitor and review child protection plans and outcomes.
• Support quality assurance and continuous improvement across safeguarding services.
• Work collaboratively with partner agencies to achieve positive outcomes for children and families.
• Maintain accurate records and ensure compliance with statutory guidance and procedures.

Requirements

Essential

• Qualified Social Worker with relevant professional registration.
• Extensive post-qualifying social work experience within children's services.
• Previous experience chairing Child Protection Conferences.
• Excellent understanding of child protection legislation, policies, and procedures.
• Strong analytical, decision-making, and report-writing skills.
• Ability to manage a complex workload and meet statutory timescales.
• Excellent communication and partnership-working abilities.

Desirable

• Previous management, supervisory, or leadership experience.
• Experience in quality assurance, audit, or practice improvement functions.

What's on Offer?

• Competitive rate of 286.37 per day Umbrella.
• Opportunity to work within a highly supportive and experienced safeguarding team.
• Meaningful role influencing outcomes for vulnerable children and young people.
• Collaborative multi-agency working environment.
• Valuable experience within a large and progressive children's services authority.

If you have the expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to safeguarding children and young people, we would like to hear from you.

Apply today to be considered for this rewarding opportunity in Birmingham, West Midlands. For more information contact Natasha Haddon.