Job Advertisement: Principal Officer (Agency Position)
Location: Birmingham Children’s Trust
Hourly Rate: £47.60 per hour
Position Type: Agency Contract

For more information or to apply, please contact Emily Cooper at 07902 371315 or email ecooper@sheldon-phillips.com.
 

About Us:
Birmingham Children’s Trust is committed to improving the lives of children and families in Birmingham by ensuring that all children are protected from harm, supported to thrive, and given every opportunity to achieve their potential. As a Principal Officer within our dynamic, collaborative team, you will play a pivotal role in driving forward best practices and supporting the delivery of high-quality child protection services.
 

Role Overview:
We are seeking an experienced Principal Officer to chair Child Protection Conferences and other relevant meetings, ensuring they are conducted within set timescales and employing the Strengthening Families Framework. This is a crucial position, responsible for safeguarding vulnerable children and providing leadership in the child protection process.
 

Key Responsibilities:

• Chairing Child Protection Conferences: Lead child protection conferences and related meetings, ensuring adherence to set timescales and using the Strengthening Families Framework to guide decision-making.
• Child Protection Plans: Ensure that children at risk of significant harm have an appropriate Child Protection Plan, including a contingency plan, and that plans are progressed and regularly reviewed.
• Documentation & Communication: Ensure timely distribution of plans and minutes, and make regular case recordings on the child's file. Notify families promptly of child protection planning and review conferences.
• Child & Family Engagement: Enable children and young people to have a clear voice in the conference and review process, tailoring approaches to their age, understanding, and needs.
• Monitoring & Collaboration: Work closely with multi-disciplinary colleagues to monitor the progress of Child Protection Plans, ensuring collaboration and timely action.
• Practice Improvement: Resolve practice issues and ensure that planning for children with Child Protection Plans is consistent and effective. Support colleagues through mentoring and supervision, and contribute to best practice development.
• Professional Support & Guidance: Provide guidance and expertise to colleagues, supporting complex cases, and modelling fair and professional conduct when challenging practice.
• Accountability & Professional Development: Take responsibility for your own work, demonstrating accountability, and fostering positive working relationships. Participate in supervision, appraisal, and ongoing professional development.
• Equality, Diversity & Inclusion: Champion equal rights and accessibility in your work, ensuring compliance with Birmingham Children's Trust’s Equal Opportunities Policy.
   

About You:
You will have extensive experience in child protection and be skilled in working within complex, multi-agency settings. Your leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills will be critical in ensuring that plans are progressed and children’s voices are heard throughout the process. You will be confident in chairing meetings and addressing issues of practice, whilst maintaining a professional, fair, and collaborative approach.
 

Essential Criteria:

• Proven experience in child protection and multi-disciplinary work.
• Strong leadership and decision-making skills.
• Expertise in chairing meetings, particularly child protection conferences.
• Knowledge of the Strengthening Families Framework and safeguarding best practices.
• Ability to engage children and families, ensuring their participation in the process.
• Commitment to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion in practice.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to challenge and build positive working relationships.
• Social Work England (SWE) registration is required.
• A willingness to undertake professional supervision and development.
   

Supervision & Support:
You will report to the Head of Service or Assistant Head of Service and receive regular professional supervision to support your ongoing development and performance.
 

How to Apply:

If you are ready to make a significant impact in child protection and have the skills and experience required for this crucial role, we want to hear from you. 

For more information or to apply, please contact Emily Cooper at 07902 371315 or email ecooper@sheldon-phillips.com.