About the role

The Child Protection Conference Chair is a statutory role responsible for independently chairing Initial and Review Child Protection Conferences. The post holder ensures that assessments are rigorous, risks are clearly identified and that plans are proportionate, SMART and focused on improving outcomes for children. The role also includes providing professional challenge, monitoring drift and escalating concerns in line with statutory guidance and local procedures.

The key responsibilities include:

• Independently chair Initial and Review Child Protection Conferences in line with statutory requirements, ensuring meetings are well‑managed, child‑focused and outcome‑driven.
• Ensure that children, young people and families are enabled to participate meaningfully in conferences, and that the child’s voice and lived experience are central to all decision making.
• Analyse risk, protective factors and professional assessments to support clear, evidence‑based decisions regarding child protection planning.
• Maintain professional independence, providing appropriate challenge to practitioners and managers where practice, analysis or progress is insufficient.
• Identify and address any drift, delay, or risk in the child protection process from the point of S47 through to safety planning and child protection planning 
• Promote effective multi‑agency working, ensuring partner agencies contribute appropriately and are held accountable for their responsibilities within child protection plans.
• Contribute to quality assurance activity, audits, reviews and reflective learning to support continuous improvement in safeguarding practice.
• Maintain up‑to‑date knowledge of legislation, statutory guidance and best practice relating to child protection and safeguarding, applying this consistently in the role.

Please see Appendix A (page 10) in the recruitment pack for a full copy of the Job Description and Person Specification

Provisional interview date: 5th May 2026 at Magdalen House, Trinity Road, Bootle L20