Deputy Head of Communications – Cafcass
We are seeking an experienced and strategic communications professional to join us as Deputy Head of Communications, providing senior leadership for the Cafcass communications team, closely working with the Head of Communications and senior leadership. As Deputy Head of Communications, you will play a pivotal role in shaping, delivering and evaluating creative and effective communication strategies that support our organisational priorities. You will lead Cafcass's media function and be a trusted adviser who works pragmatically with senior leaders and key stakeholders to develop media strategies. You will also act as our senior digital communications lead, driving the continued development of Cafcass's social media channels, digital platforms and online presence. Your expertise will ensure that our digital communication is strategic, responsive and insight‑led, supporting engagement with children, families, partners and colleagues. You will work closely with our suppliers including our media monitoring service and our website developers ensuring effective contract management and value for money.
Leadership and Team Development – In this role, you will provide confident, supportive and empowering line management to members of the communications team. You will promote a culture of accountability, excellence and continuous learning, ensuring colleagues are supported to grow, innovate and deliver high‑quality work. Your leadership approach will balance professional challenge with coaching and development, modelling the values and behaviours expected across Cafcass.
Location
This is a national role within a flexible, predominantly remote‑working team. Travel to our Central London office will be required for key meetings, events and project delivery. London weighting or expenses will apply depending on your contracted location.
16th & 17th April Final Interview (in person) Grays Inn Road, London: 22nd April. Vacancy Contact – Priya.Kadara@cafcass.gov.uk
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. Watch our video to find out we don't just listen to children's voices but 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 if you join us, 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, whatever team you join, wherever you are in the country and at whatever stage you are at 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.
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. Colleagues can also have a health and wellbeing cash plan, for which Cafcass pays the basic premium (you can upgrade to include family members), which allows them to claim back some costs of routine health expenses, including dental check‑ups, eye tests, physiotherapy sessions and more. Overall, we foster a holistic approach to supporting our colleagues, benefitting physical, mental and financial health. This is led by a dedicated in‑house team, the benefits of which include meaning support is targeted and specific to what colleagues need. Our team can also offer support and guidance when it comes to specific health conditions, such as neuro‑diverse conditions, cancer and the menopause. Our wellbeing offer is further strengthened by an external Employee Assistance Provider (EAP) which provides a free confidential support service 24 hours a day. This means access to clinical and professional expertise which gives you a chance to talk about all kinds of work and personal issues.
If this wasn't enough, we are especially proud that over 125 colleagues have completed training and receive ongoing support to act as Health and Wellbeing Champions. Furthermore, we have nearly 100 people that have trained to be Mental Health Allies.
Diversity and Inclusion
We represent children and families from diverse backgrounds and having a diverse workforce helps us to fulfil this responsibility authentically. It also helps us to grow, evolve and innovate, so we particularly welcome applications from individuals from diverse backgrounds as we strive to ensure our workforce reflects the diversity of the children and families we work with. We are proud to be a disability confident leader, we invite you to join our team, we are committed to actively attract and recruit individuals with disabilities including "non‑visible" disabilities and mental health conditions. Our inclusive and accessible recruitment process means we aim to accommodate reasonable adjustments as needed. This commitment highlights our dedication to employing, training, retaining, and developing the careers of our colleagues with disabilities. Our Diversity Networks provide a safe space for colleagues with shared aspects of identity and lived experience – supported by allies across the organisation. The networks help ensure we provide an inclusive working environment and a service which promotes the diversity and uniqueness of children and families from all backgrounds.
Our current networks include:
* Kaleidoscope Network – Colleagues from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds
* Mental Health Network – Colleagues who experience, or have an interest in, Mental Health issues
* Pride Network – Colleagues who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans‑LGBT+
* Neurodiversity Network – Colleagues who are neuro‑divergent, or support someone who is
Responsibilities
As Deputy Head of Communications, you will be responsible for:
* Shaping, delivering and evaluating creative and effective communication strategies that support our organisational priorities.
* Leading the media function, advising senior leaders, influencing decision‑making and building constructive relationships with partners across sectors.
* Driving the development of digital platforms, social media channels and online presence, and managing relationships with external suppliers.
* Ensuring effective contract management and value for money for media monitoring and website development services.
* Providing line management, coaching and development for the communications team, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous learning.
Qualifications
* Degree‑level education or equivalent professional experience in communications, media, PR or a related field.
* Significant experience leading communications teams in complex, fast‑paced, politically aware environments, thriving across multiple projects with a variety of stakeholders.
* A strong track record of advising senior leaders and influencing decision‑making at an organisational level.
* Expertise in developing and delivering integrated communication strategies, managing channels and producing engaging content for diverse audiences.
* Excellent judgement and communication skills, with the ability to write clearly, concisely and with impact.
* A strong understanding of the public sector context, including political sensitivity and awareness of risk.
* Robust project management and analytical skills, using audience insight and evaluation to inform continuous improvement.
* Experience in media relations, including proactive and reactive press handling, and an ability to build constructive relationships with partners across sectors.
* Experience developing and enhancing digital platforms, working closely with external suppliers to ensure optimum impact.
* A commitment to inclusive, sensitive and non‑discriminatory practice, demonstrating professional integrity in all interactions.
Benefits
In addition to our unique, holistic approach to supporting your health and wellbeing, we also provide:
* Flexible, predominantly remote‑working opportunities with national coverage.
* London weighting or expenses based on contracted location.
* Health and wellbeing cash plans with basic premium coverage and optional family coverage.
* Employee Assistance Provider (EAP) offering 24/7 confidential support.
* Continuing professional development programmes for health and wellbeing champions and mental health allies.
* Additional days off specifically dedicated to health and wellbeing.
* Access to a wide range of benefits tailored to financial, mental, physical and personal development needs.
This list is just a selection of main benefits and we have a range of policies and processes that allow us to support our colleagues – and their families – and we look forward to providing you with further information about these in due course.
#J-18808-Ljbffr