Chair

About the Panel

No child should ever suffer harm, abuse or neglect, and reducing this is the primary focus of the independent Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel.

Set up by the UK Government in 2018, the Panel reviews all cases when children die or are seriously harmed, and abuse or neglect is known or suspected. The aim is to see what lessons can be drawn from these tragic incidents to prevent them from happening again elsewhere.

About the role

The independent Child Safeguarding Practice Review Panel is looking for a part-time chair.

The Chair is responsible for leading and managing the Panel. They must set the strategic vision for the Panel and ensure the Panel’s work is effective in improving the safeguarding of children. It is also vital they influence policy and practice change effectively to maximise the Panel’s impact on child safeguarding.

It is a varied role, which includes working with Ministers and senior government officials, supervising fieldwork, undertaking analysis and disseminating learning to those working in child safeguarding.

We are looking for individuals with experience working strategically at a senior level and operationally in child protection. However, the successful candidate will be appointed to fill this role as an individual acting in the public interest and not as a representative of their particular profession, employer or interest group.

The Chair will be required to attend fortnightly Panel meetings, either virtually or in-person in London. They must also be available to attend ad hoc meetings with key stakeholders, as well as working with a Secretariat.

Key Responsibilities:

• To provide strategic leadership for the Panel, leading the development and implementation of a strategic vision for the Panel, ensuring a focus on Panel’s impact.
• To be ultimately responsible and accountable for the Panel’s work and conduct of its functions. This includes taking urgent decisions on behalf of the whole Panel when required.
• To lead continuous improvement reviews of Panel work and membership to ensure its ongoing effectiveness. This includes leading long-term planning for Panel membership.
• To ensure the Panel demonstrates the highest standards of integrity at all times, including ensuring the identification and management of any conflicts of interest which might arise.
• Chairing Panel meetings effectively so that objectives are met, ensuring that all members views are taken into account. This includes creating a culture of openness, debate and collaboration that maximises use of all members skills and experience.
• To represent the Panel to the public, media, and children’s social care and safeguarding sector.
• To build and maintain positive relationships with Multi-Agency Safeguarding Partners at both national and local level.

Essential Criteria

• The ability to provide strong strategic leadership to the Panel and guide the work of the independent secretariat, demonstrated by a significant record of achievement in senior leadership roles in a complex organisation.
• The ability to chair high level meetings, manage team dynamics and motivate team members effectively so that objectives are met and clear decisions made.
• The ability to think strategically and exercise sound independent judgement on complex and sensitive issues.
• The ability to analyse and interpret detailed information from a range of agencies into serious cases involving children and families.
• Being a skilled communicator and influencer, who can use those skills to handle high-profile, sensitive issues and gain and keep the respect and confidence of others, including the child safeguarding sector, Ministers, and the public, to influence policy and practice change.
• A strong understanding of multi-agency safeguarding arrangements.