About Cafcass
We are Cafcass – the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service – and we represent children in family court cases in England. Independently advising the family courts about what is safe for children and in their best interests, we speak up for over 140,000 children every year when the family court makes critical decisions about their futures, ensuring their needs, wishes and feelings are heard.
Role Overview
Working in the Private and Public Law team, Children’s Social Workers (Family Court Advisers) are involved in a combination of cases where families need assistance to agree on the best arrangements for the welfare and safety of the child(ren) or where the local authority has serious concerns and requests the involvement of Cafcass.
Responsibilities
* Conduct assessments and directly engage with children to understand and represent their views and wishes to the court.
* Use expertise in robust risk assessment and mediation to advocate for arrangements that prioritise the best interest of the children.
* Review and respond to pre‑engagement checks, including a Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS). If a criminal offence is declared, an individual assessment will be conducted.
* Participate in the application process and address any queries about checks confidentially.
Qualifications and Experience
* Relevant Social Work qualification is essential.
* Registered with Social Work England (Cafcass will reimburse the annual cost).
* Demonstrable experience of working with children and families in a social work setting.
* Experience in Family Court proceedings and an understanding of Private and/or Public Law is an advantage.
* Organised, resilient and able to work independently while managing workload effectively.
Location & Working Arrangements
This role has a contractual base in our Middlesbrough office, covering North and South Durham with a touch‑down office in Durham. Our teams work flexibly and remotely; proximity to the office is not critical. You will work flexibly and independently using outstanding technology (touchscreen laptops, iPhone) with full IT support and access to the Cafcass Library with over 27,000 resources. You will also have opportunities to develop whatever team you join, wherever you are.
Diversity & Inclusion
We are proud to be a disability confident leader and actively attract and recruit individuals with disabilities, including non‑visible and mental health conditions. Our inclusive and accessible recruitment process accommodates reasonable adjustments. Diversity networks provide a safe space for colleagues with shared identity and lived experience.
Benefits & Wellbeing
The wellbeing of our colleagues is a priority. We provide:
* Four dedicated additional days per year to focus on health and wellbeing.
* Health and wellbeing cash plan with basic premium paid by Cafcass (upgrade available).
* Coverage for routine health expenses including dental, eye tests, physiotherapy, etc.
* External Employee Assistance Provider (EAP) with confidential support 24/7.
* Training and ongoing support for Health and Wellbeing Champions and Mental Health Allies.
Salary
The advertised salary reflects the 2024/25 pay award. Salaries will be updated for the 2025/26 award to reflect this.
Additional Networks & Resources
* Mental Health network – for colleagues with interest or experience in mental health issues.
* Pride Network – for LGBT+ colleagues.
* Neurodiversity Network – for neurodivergent colleagues or those supporting someone who is.
* Together with Children and Families – our relationship‑based practice framework that informs all aspects of work.
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