At Cafcass, we’re recruiting Children’s Social Workers who share our passion, commitment and ambition to facilitate positive outcomes for children involved in private and public law family court proceedings.
Our Social Workers — professionally known as Family Court Advisers (FCAs) — play a vital role. You might work within the Private Law team, the Public Law team, or a converged team covering both law types. Whatever the team you join, the underlying role is the same – to speak on behalf of children and young people to ensure their thoughts, wishes and feelings are understood and heard. As the only organisation that does this kind of work, FCAs can make recommendations leading to lasting change for children and families, which is why this responsibility we take seriously. We’re committed to creating a safe, healthy and supportive environment for our colleagues.
What You’ll Be Doing
* Complete high‑quality assessments, engaging directly with children to understand their experiences, wishes and feelings and ensuring these are clearly represented to the family court.
* Apply your expertise in risk assessment, analysis and mediation, advocating for solutions that place the child’s safety, wellbeing and long‑term interests at the centre of decision‑making.
* Work with adults, local authorities and a wide range of professionals to help resolve complex issues and influence better outcomes for children.
People We’re Looking For
Practitioners who are confident, curious, compassionate and committed to excellent social work practice.
To Join Us, You’ll Need
* A Social Work qualification is essential.
* Right to work in the UK (no sponsorship).
* Registered with Social Work England (or able to register quickly if practising outside England).
* Recent, relevant experience working directly with children and families.
* Desirable experience in family court proceedings, or knowledge of Private and/or Public Law.
* For applicants with limited post‑qualifying experience, relevant pre‑qualifying experience supporting children and families may be beneficial.
* Strong organisational skills, professional resilience and the ability to work independently while managing a varied caseload.
Where You’ll Work
Social Workers work flexibly across multiple settings – including the office in Reading or Oxford, home, courts, schools and other appropriate, safe locations. Shared learning, team meetings and group supervision are held remotely and in‑person to create space to connect with peers and managers. You’ll have regular 1:1 time with your manager, especially during induction, with a balance of remote and in‑person contact.
How We Support You
As the largest employer of Children’s Social Workers in England, we support your professional growth and wellbeing.
At Cafcass, You’ll Benefit From
* High‑quality equipment and technology to work efficiently and engage with families effectively.
* Access to specialist resources, guidance and training to strengthen your practice.
* A strong commitment to wellbeing, reflective supervision and healthy work‑life balance.
* An inclusive environment that values diversity, encourages learning and strives to improve outcomes for children, families and colleagues.
To learn more about how we support our practitioners, visit our website. Information will also be shared during the selection process.
Next Steps
We have an indicative timetable with dates subject to change.
Closing Date
22nd June 2026
Telephone Interviews
TBC
Final Interview
TBC
If you have any questions about the role or recruitment process, please contact Kiera.manuel@cafcass.gov.uk.
Before applying, we encourage you to read about our offer and pre‑employment checks. Any questions or concerns can be confidentially raised through your application.
Successful applicants will complete pre‑engagement checks, including a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. If any criminal offences are disclosed, we will conduct an individual assessment in line with the DBS code of practice and the Cafcass DBS policy.
We look forward to receiving your application!
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