Working in the Private and Public Law teams, Children's Social Workers (or as we will professionally call you – Family Court Advisers) are involved in a combination of cases where families require assistance to agree on the best arrangements for the welfare and safety of the child(ren) involved, or where the local authority has serious concerns and requests the involvement of Cafcass in the case. Children's Social Workers key responsibilities include:
* Conducting assessments and directly engaging with children to understand and represent their views and wishes to the court.
* Using expertise in robust risk assessment and mediation to advocate for arrangements that prioritise the best interests of the children. Whilst the role has a contractual base in our Portsmouth office, our teams work flexibly and remotely, so your proximity to the office is not always a critical consideration. This will allow you to work in a way that suits you best.
We provide the resources, equipment and support so that individually and collectively, we can be the voice of children and young people when the family court makes critical decisions about their futures. We also provide extensive wellbeing support for colleagues, as well as excellent benefits, all of which we hope encourage you to work within our dedicated team.
Next steps / Timelines
* Closing date: Sunday 19th April 2026
* Telephone interviews: Wednesday 22nd April 2026
* Final interview: Tuesday 28th April and Friday 1st May 2026
Vacancy Contact – Kiera.Manuel@cafcass.gov.uk
Selection Process
In anticipation of your successful application, we encourage you to review our process. You may raise any questions or concerns about these checks during your application; the information will remain confidential. Successful applicants will undergo various pre‑engagement checks, including a Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS). In line with our policy, if a criminal offence is declared, an individual assessment will be conducted. For further details regarding this assessment, please refer to the …
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 130,000 children every year when the family court makes critical decisions about their futures, ensuring their needs, wishes and feelings are heard. Watch our video to find out we don’t just listen to children’s voices – we can be their voice.
If our purpose resonates with you and you share our ambitions for children – exceptional experiences for every child, everywhere and every time – then you will work alongside like‑minded people in a diverse, inclusive, and supportive organisation. You will be trusted to work flexibly and independently using outstanding technology (e.g. touchscreen laptops, iPhone, all with first‑class support, including IT trainers) with access to substantial resources (e.g. Cafcass Library has over 27,000 resources on social work, child protection and related topics). You will also have opportunities to develop, wherever you are in the country and at whatever stage you are in your career. Whether you join us in one of our social work roles that work directly with children and families or our corporate and business services teams who provide technology, support and expertise, you will have the chance to make a difference for children and families.
Benefits & Wellbeing
The wellbeing of our colleagues is something we are truly passionate about, as demonstrated by everyone having four dedicated additional days per year when they are encouraged to spend time focusing on their health and wellbeing.
* Health and wellbeing cash plan (Cafcass pays the basic premium, optional upgrade to include family members)
* Support for routine health expenses including dental check‑ups, eye tests, physiotherapy sessions and more
* External Employee Assistance Provider (EAP) offering a free confidential support service 24 hours a day
* Health and Wellbeing Champions training (over 125 colleagues trained and ongoing support)
* Nearly 100 colleagues trained to be Mental Health Allies
We also provide a holistic approach to supporting our colleagues, benefiting physical, mental and financial health.
Diversity
We represent children and families from diverse backgrounds and we believe a diverse workforce helps us authentically fulfil this responsibility. We are proudly a disability confident leader and we actively attract and recruit individuals with disabilities, including non‑visible disabilities and mental health conditions. Our inclusive recruitment process accommodates reasonable adjustments as needed. We have Diversity Networks for Kaleidoscope (Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds), Mental Health, Pride and Neurodiversity.
Requirements
* Relevant Social Work qualification is essential
* Registered with Social Work England regulator
* Ideally, a minimum of 3 years’ experience working with children and families in a social work capacity
* Experience in Family Court proceedings and understanding of Private and/or Public Law would be an advantage
* Organised, resilient, able to work independently and manage workload effectively
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