Senior Lead Child Protection Practitioner (Senior LCPP)

Make a real difference for children at the point where effective safeguarding matters most.

The starting salary for this part-time position is £39,507.30 per annum based on a 25.2 hour working week (3.5days) pro rata to £56,439 per annum for full time working.

At Surrey County Council, we're ambitious for children and committed to ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive safely within their family and community. As we continue to strengthen our child protection arrangements, we're looking for an experienced and passionate safeguarding professional to join us as a Senior Lead Child Protection Practitioner (Senior LCPP) within our Quality Assurance Service, to be based in East of the county with the office base In Reigate.

This is more than a leadership role. It's an opportunity to influence practice across our partnership, champion the voice of the child, and help shape the quality of child protection planning for some of Surrey's most vulnerable children.

Our Offer to You

• We pay your Social Worker England Registration fee
• Access to bespoke learning programmes via our dedicated Children's Services Academy to empower and enrich your practice
• 28 days annual leave, rising to 31 days after 5 years' service (plus bank holidays)
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Up to 5 days of carer’s leave and 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• An Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources
• Wellbeing and lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, and shopping
• A chance to make a real difference to the lives of our residents
• Refer a friend payment of £1,000 as a thank you for finding the right Social Worker

About the Role

As a Senior LCPP, you'll work within the Multi-Agency Child Protection Team model, bringing expertise, curiosity and challenge to complex safeguarding situations. You'll work alongside social workers, managers and partner agencies, helping to ensure that children who are subject to child protection concerns receive timely, effective and meaningful support.

You'll be someone who can balance support with challenge, bringing professional confidence while building positive and respectful relationships across the partnership.

In this role you will:

• Lead and strengthen child protection planning for allocated children and families.
• Chair and facilitate child protection meetings and professional consultations that support timely and effective decision-making.
• Provide expert safeguarding advice, consultation and professional challenge to practitioners, managers and partner agencies.
• Support workforce development through coaching, mentoring, reflective discussion and practice leadership.
• Identify learning, emerging themes and areas for improvement, contributing to quality assurance and service development.
• Ensure children and families remain at the centre of planning and decision-making at every stage.

Joining Surrey means becoming part of an organisation that values innovation, learning and continuous improvement. You'll work alongside skilled and committed colleagues who share a determination to achieve the best possible outcomes for children and families.

If you're an experienced safeguarding professional looking for an opportunity to lead, influence and make a lasting impact on practice, we'd love to hear from you.

Together, we can ensure that children receive the protection, support and advocacy they need to be safe, heard and able to flourish.

Your Application

In order to be considered for shortlisting, your application will clearly evidence the following skills, experience and align with our behaviours:

• A recognised social work qualification and registration with Social Work England.
• Significant experience of child protection and safeguarding practice, at manager level.
• A strong understanding of statutory guidance, legislation and multi-agency safeguarding responsibilities.
• Experience of quality assurance, professional challenge and practice improvement.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, analytical and relationship-building skills.
• The ability to remain calm, analytical and child-focused in complex situations.
• A commitment to supporting and developing others through reflective practice and coaching.

Most importantly, you'll be someone who believes that effective safeguarding is built through collaboration, professional curiosity and a relentless focus on improving children's lives.

To apply, please submit your CV and respond to the application questions below:

1. What professional experience can you bring to this role?

2. What does professional curiosity mean to you and why is it important in safeguarding children and young people?

3. How do you remain calm and work with others who may not agree with your view?

4. What qualities do you believe make an effective leader, and how would you demonstrate these in the role of a SLCPP?

An enhanced DBS ‘Disclosure and Barring Service’ check for regulated activity (formerly known as CRB) and the Children’s and Adults’ Barred List checks will be required for this role.

Surrey has both urban and rural areas and you will be expected to have a valid driving licence to drive in the UK and access to a vehicle and be willing to travel across a wide geographical area.

Reasonable adjustments where needed will be made for successful applicants who have a disability or long-term health condition to enable them to fulfil the requirements of the job.

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description & Our Life at Surrey handbook to get an insight into working at Surrey.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on the 1st November 2026 with interviews provisionally planned for the 11th or 16th November 2026 in person, at our Woodhatch office in Reigate.

If shortlisted, you will be asked to deliver a 10-minute presentation as part of the assessment process for this role. The topic to be shared with you if your application is shortlisted.

Contact Us

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role, including flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment.

For an informal discussion please contact Jocelyn Reynolds or Suzanne Hinkson-Marks by e-mail at jocelyn.reynolds@surreycc.gov.uk or suzanne.hinksonmarks@surreycc.gov.uk.

Local Government Organisation (LGR)

Surrey County Council is undergoing Local Government Reorganisation, moving from a two-tier system to new unitary councils in April 2027. Your role will transfer with current terms and conditions to East Surrey Council, supporting local devolution and greater powers for our communities.

Join our dynamic team and shape the future of local government. Make a lasting impact with innovative solutions and improved services for our community. Help us build a brighter future for our residents! Please see more information here: Information for applicants on Local Government Reorganisation - Surrey County Council

Our Commitment

We are a disability confident employer which means if you have shared a disability on your application form and have evidenced you meet the minimum criteria, we guarantee you an interview.

Your skills and experience truly matter to us. From application to your first day, we’re committed to supporting you with any adjustments you need, we value inclusion and warmly welcome you to join and help build a workplace where everyone belongs.