Child Protection Conference Chair

Child Protection Conference Chair

Salary: £46,142 - £50,388, plus a retention allowance of £5,000 per annum until 30/06/2028.

Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week.

Contract: Fixed-term contract until 18/09/2028

Closing date: ` 13/09/2026

Role Purpose

You’ll be responsible for coordinating the review of child protection plans and leading child protection conferences.

You will hold both initial and review conferences, supporting children who are at risk of harm and ensuring their needs and participation are recognised throughout the process. You will maintain strong levels of communication with participants, ensuring effective understanding and allowing reviews to operate to a high and fair standard. You will ensure outcomes are accurate recorded and that decisions made are acted upon.

You will also use your expertise as part of Somerset’s Senior Management Group, providing clarity and expertise towards to the delivery of our County Plan and New Operating Model. You will be required to advise members and directors on policy matters, operational planning and service delivery. You will also driving and delivering any improvements suggested, challenging any blocks that arise.

More importantly, your work, whether as a chair or as a subject matter expert, will be crucial towards securing positive outcomes for vulnerable children across our county.

Key responsibilities

• Chair meetings with parents / carers, children and young people, ensuring an accurate record of outcomes and decisions that are child focussed.
• Advise the Council on their obligations and duties relating to the specialism of child protection.
• Help shape or recommend Council policy within the specialism of child protection.
• Create, monitor and review frameworks of performance measures and quality standards.
• Drive and operate partnership and cooperative working with other agencies and bodies to ensure effective delivery of child protection services.

What you’ll bring

• Significant experience of partnership working and of working successfully with Members and Directors.
• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of relevant statutory frameworks and policies.
• Strong understanding and experience of developing and applying performance management frameworks.
• Experience of developing and delivering representational and communicative activities that effectively deliver key information, both internally and to clients.
• Relevant degree or professional qualification.
• Promotes the need for change and acts as a role model.
• Demonstrates a duty of care.

About the team

As part of our team, you will play a key role in driving continuous improvement across services, promoting high standards of practice, and fostering a positive culture of learning and development. We are looking for someone who is committed to reflective practice, values collaboration, and can support and challenge others to achieve the best outcomes for children and families.

This Child Protection Conference Chair role requires a confident and experienced leader who can make sound professional judgements, build effective relationships with partners, and maintain a strong focus on safeguarding and quality assurance. You will be expected to champion best practice, support service improvement, and contribute to a culture where learning, accountability, and professional curiosity are at the heart of everything we do.

Applicants must be qualified and registered social workers and have a minimum of three years’ management experience.

This role requires an Enhanced DBS check due to safeguarding responsibilities.

Why Join Us?

At Somerset Council, we're a progressive organisation committed to improving lives and shaping better services for our communities. Based in one of England's most beautiful counties, it's a great place to build your career and enjoy an excellent quality of life.

• Generous annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase additional leave.
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), one of the UK's most generous and secure pension schemes.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements to support work-life balance, where service needs allow.
• Health and wellbeing support, including access to confidential employee assistance services.
• Paid volunteering opportunities, helping you make a difference both inside and outside of work.

Find out more about working at Somerset Council:

https://www.somerset.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers/working-at-somerset-council/

Additional information

• 33 days of annual leave (additional to bank holidays)
• This is a fixed-term post until 18/09/2028.
• This is an office-based role as you will be required to chair Child Protection conferences.
• This role requires an enhanced DBS check due to safeguarding responsibilities.
• Interviews are planned to take place in County Hall, Taunton, on 23/09/2026.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. We are only able to proceed with candidates who already have the right to work in the UK without the need for VISA sponsorship.

For an informal chat about the role, you can contact Stacey Davis – Service Manager, Safeguarding Care and Quality Assurance, via email at stacey.davis@somerset.gov.uk.

We believe diversity makes us stronger and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences, whose unique perspectives help us better serve the people of Somerset.

You can find a copy of the job description here: *Insert Link*

Role Purpose

You’ll be responsible for coordinating the review of child protection plans and leading child protection conferences.

You will hold both initial and review conferences, supporting children who are at risk of harm and ensuring their needs and participation are recognised throughout the process. You will maintain strong levels of communication with participants, ensuring effective understanding and allowing reviews to operate to a high and fair standard. You will ensure outcomes are accurate recorded and that decisions made are acted upon.

You will also use your expertise as part of Somerset’s Senior Management Group, providing clarity and expertise towards to the delivery of our County Plan and New Operating Model. You will be required to advise members and directors on policy matters, operational planning and service delivery. You will also driving and delivering any improvements suggested, challenging any blocks that arise.

More importantly, your work, whether as a chair or as a subject matter expert, will be crucial towards securing positive outcomes for vulnerable children across our county.

Key responsibilities

• Chair meetings with parents / carers, children and young people, ensuring an accurate record of outcomes and decisions that are child focussed.
• Advise the Council on their obligations and duties relating to the specialism of child protection.
• Help shape or recommend Council policy within the specialism of child protection.
• Create, monitor and review frameworks of performance measures and quality standards.
• Drive and operate partnership and cooperative working with other agencies and bodies to ensure effective delivery of child protection services.

What you’ll bring

• Significant experience of partnership working and of working successfully with Members and Directors.
• Demonstrable knowledge and understanding of relevant statutory frameworks and policies.
• Strong understanding and experience of developing and applying performance management frameworks.
• Experience of developing and delivering representational and communicative activities that effectively deliver key information, both internally and to clients.
• Relevant degree or professional qualification.
• Promotes the need for change and acts as a role model.
• Demonstrates a duty of care.

About the team

As part of our team, you will play a key role in driving continuous improvement across services, promoting high standards of practice, and fostering a positive culture of learning and development. We are looking for someone who is committed to reflective practice, values collaboration, and can support and challenge others to achieve the best outcomes for children and families.

This Child Protection Conference Chair role requires a confident and experienced leader who can make sound professional judgements, build effective relationships with partners, and maintain a strong focus on safeguarding and quality assurance. You will be expected to champion best practice, support service improvement, and contribute to a culture where learning, accountability, and professional curiosity are at the heart of everything we do.

Applicants must be qualified and registered social workers and have a minimum of three years’ management experience.

This role requires an Enhanced DBS check due to safeguarding responsibilities.

Why Join Us?

At Somerset Council, we're a progressive organisation committed to improving lives and shaping better services for our communities. Based in one of England's most beautiful counties, it's a great place to build your career and enjoy an excellent quality of life.

• Generous annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase additional leave.
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), one of the UK's most generous and secure pension schemes.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements to support work-life balance, where service needs allow.
• Health and wellbeing support, including access to confidential employee assistance services.
• Paid volunteering opportunities, helping you make a difference both inside and outside of work.

Find out more about working at Somerset Council:

https://www.somerset.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers/working-at-somerset-council/

Additional information

• 33 days of annual leave (additional to bank holidays)
• This is a fixed-term post until 18/09/2028.
• This is an office-based role as you will be required to chair Child Protection conferences.
• This role requires an enhanced DBS check due to safeguarding responsibilities.
• Interviews are planned to take place in County Hall, Taunton, on 23/09/2026.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. We are only able to proceed with candidates who already have the right to work in the UK without the need for VISA sponsorship.

For an informal chat about the role, you can contact Stacey Davis – Service Manager, Safeguarding Care and Quality Assurance, via email at stacey.davis@somerset.gov.uk.

We believe diversity makes us stronger and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences, whose unique perspectives help us better serve the people of Somerset.

You can find a copy of the job description here:  NOM0258 Service Manager LADOISRO Specialist.pdf