Position reference: 50145835, 50145836
Directorate: Children's Services | Service: Children & Family Social Care
Salary: £51,356 - £54,495
Working Arrangements: Agile Working , Minimum 3 days in the office
This is a full-time role. We are committed to supporting work–life balance, and requests for flexible working, including job share, will be considered in line with the needs of the service. Given the requirement for continuity of support to service users, any flexible working arrangements would need to ensure consistency in case management.
Hours per week: 2 x 37
Contract type: Permanent
We are happy to talk flexible working arrangements with you, please get in touch.
See our range of Employee Rewards: Employee rewards and benefits
Closing date: 12/06/2026 at 23:59
The successful candidate will be required to speak English to an appropriate standard.
This post requires an Enhanced DBS Check
If you are currently living overseas or have lived overseas in the last five years please be aware, if you are the preferred candidate for the post, you will be required to apply for an overseas criminal records check from the country/countries you have resided in. If you experience difficulty in obtaining an overseas criminal record check please email dbs@barnsley.gov.uk
When applying, please ensure you are prepared to start work with all the necessary legal documents, such as a valid visa, relevant to the type of work you will be undertaking. Please be aware that our organisation does not possess a Home Office license and, as a result, is unable to provide sponsorship for anyone seeking a visa as a skilled or temporary migrant worker.
Pensions Regulations have provisions to reduce pension payments in certain circumstances of those who return to work within local government service. If you are in receipt of a pension upon commencing employment with the authority, this may affect your pension entitlements and you should therefore seek advice from the relevant Pensions Authority.
At Barnsley Council you can start a career that makes a real difference to people’s lives, helping our council and residents to be the best they can be.
We’re an award-winning council and one of the biggest employers in the borough, supporting around 243,000 people. We put people at the heart of everything we do, and that includes our employees. As part of the team, we offer lots of benefits and rewards to support you to thrive and grow, like flexible working, employee discounts, support for your health and wellbeing, and opportunities for training and development to grow your career and develop your skills.
There’s so much happening in our thriving borough, and now’s the perfect time to join our excellent children's services team as we work to make Barnsley the place of possibilities.
- We’re an award-winning team and one of the biggest employers in the borough supporting around 243,000 people.
- Working at Barnsley Council means being part of a team that makes a real difference to people’s lives, where you can develop the skills you need to make change happen.
- If you join the team you’ll receive great pay alongside an excellent pension scheme. With flexible working we’ll also support your work/life balance, helping you to adjust your hours and take time off when you need it.
- We’ll help you to develop your career and grow your skills with opportunities for training and development.
- There’s so much happening in our thriving borough and your talent and skills will help us make Barnsley the place of possibilities.
- Key to our success is working with our residents, partners, businesses and organisations and building these partnerships to bring about change in Barnsley.
About the Post:
Do you want to shape the future of child protection practice?
At Barnsley Council, we’re committed to doing the right thing for children — with courage, compassion and professional curiosity. We are developing our Stronger Together Practice framework as we begin to embed our Families First Programme. We’re looking for exceptionally skilled and experienced social workers to join us as Lead Child Protection Practitioners, playing a pivotal role in our Multi Agency Child Protection Team, protecting children at risk of significant harm and strengthening practice across our systems and partnerships.
Aligned to the Families First social care reforms, this role has a focus on leading and strengthening multi-agency safeguarding and improving outcomes for children and families through evidence-informed, practice-led leadership.
There is no case holding or direct line management within this leadership role, making it perfect for practitioners who want to stay close to practice while influencing outcomes, decision‑making and standards at pace.
About the Role
As a Lead Child Protection Practitioner (LCPP), you will provide expert social work leadership, interventions and decision making in all statutory child protection activity. This will include chairing, leading, and decision making in strategy discussions, leading and co working Section 47 investigations including joint investigations, chairing core groups and attending CP conferences. You will act as a mentor, offering expert child protection guidance, advice , support and interventions and will work alongside Family Help Practitioners, Team Managers and partner agencies to ensure that plans are robust, risks are clearly understood, and children are safeguarded.
You’ll be a visible and trusted expert — offering consultation, reflective discussion, professional challenge and decisive leadership where it matters most.
Key aspects of the role include:
- Chairing strategy discussions, safety planning and multi‑agency risk meetings
- Leading and supporting complex Section 47 enquiries
- Providing expert oversight of risk assessment, analysis and decision‑making
- Strengthening multi‑agency safeguarding responses, holding partners to account where necessary
- Undertaking targeted quality assurance activity, identifying learning and driving improvement
- Supporting workforce development, including coaching, mentoring and training delivery
- Contributing to organisational learning, LCSPR activity and continuous improvement
About You
You’ll be an experienced, confident and passionate registered social worker with:
- Extensive experience in children’s social care and child protection
- Advanced skills in risk assessment, analysis and defensible decision‑making
- A strong grasp of statutory guidance, research and evidence‑informed practice
- The ability to lead, influence and challenge across professional boundaries
- A commitment to child‑centred, reflective and relational practice
- Confidence working in high‑pressure environments with complexity and uncertainty
- Experience of working alongside partners to deliver interventions that safeguard children
You will bring professional credibility, curiosity and integrity and a genuine commitment to improving outcomes for children and families.
Why Join Barnsley?
At Barnsley Council, we believe great practice happens when people feel valued, supported and trusted.
We offer:
- A clear and ambitious practice model rooted in evidence and learning
- Strong leadership support and a culture of reflection and improvement
- A genuine commitment to staff wellbeing and supervision
- A robust training and development offer via our Practice Development Hub
- Flexible working options and a supportive, enabling environment
Barnsley is a place where expert practice is recognised, nurtured and enabled, where children’s lived experiences are at the heart of everything we do. If you are passionate about excellent child protection practice and want a role where your expertise can make a real difference we would love to hear from you.
Interviews are to take place on Thursday 18th June 2026
If you want to discuss the role, please contact Louise Danks PSW on louisedanks1@barnsley.gov.uk
Please use the documents below to help support you with your application form.
Job Profile: Lead Child Protection Practitioner Job Profile
Vacancy Exposure Profile: Exposure Profile LOW
Help with your application form
Please ensure you view the job profile for this role, as you will need to demonstrate in your application form how you meet the required criteria.
We welcome the opportunity to have a chat about the role and are happy to address any questions you may have about flexible working arrangements, including as a result of caring responsibilities.
We're committed to creating a workplace where differences are valued and everyone truly feels able to be themselves. If you have any support needs during the recruitment process, please let us know.
CV's are not accepted for this role.
At Barnsley Council, we believe in second chances and value diversity. Our recruitment process is inclusive, and we welcome applicants with past convictions. We're committed to fairness and do not discriminate. Join us in building a future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. #InclusiveHiring #SecondChances"
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