Agency Family Court Adviser - Work to First Hearing, Cafcass | Derby
Pay: £34.50 per hour
Hours: 37 per week
Caritas Recruitment, on behalf of Cafcass, is seeking four experienced Children's Social Workers to join as Agency Family Court Advisers (FCA) within the Derby Private and Public Law teams.
Key Information
Location: Derby
Number of roles: 4
Rate: £34.50 per hour (standard)
Interview: Conducted via Teams
Advert live date: Wednesday 24th September
Advert close date: Thursday 25th September (may close earlier, around midday, if there is a high volume of applications)
The Role
As a Family Court Adviser, you will:
Undertake assessments and work directly with children to ensure their wishes and feelings are heard and represented in court.
Apply expertise in risk assessment and mediation to support safe, child-focused outcomes.
Advocate for arrangements that prioritise the welfare and best interests of the child.
Manage a demanding caseload with resilience, independence, and strong organisational skills.
Public and Private Law Work
Private Law: If, after the first court hearing, there is no agreement about children or concerns remain about their welfare, the court may request a Section 7 report to help the judge reach a safe decision. Responsibility for this work sits with the WAFH team.
Public Law: Where a local authority has applied to court due to concerns that a child is at risk of significant harm, FCAs (often referred to as Children's Guardians) act as independent professionals promoting the child's welfare and ensuring decisions made are in their best interests.
In some areas, FCAs manage both public and private law cases; in others, teams specialise. All WAFH teams undertake a combination of face-to-face visiting and remote working (video/phone calls).
Requirements
Qualified Social Worker registered with Social Work England.
Ideally 3+ years' experience in children & families social work.
Experience of Family Court proceedings, with knowledge of Public Law.
Ability to manage competing priorities effectively and work with independence.
This is a rewarding opportunity to make a meaningful difference to children and families while working with a highly respected national organisation.
💡 Referral Bonus: Know someone perfect for this role? Successful referrals will receive £300!
Interested? Contact Gemma Bridgman at Caritas Recruitment:
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📞 (phone number removed)
If you are a Qualified Social Worker, Supervising Social Worker, Senior Social Worker, Children's Social Worker, Advanced Social Worker, Senior Practitioner, Foster Care Social Worker, IFA Social Worker, Social Work Assistant Team Manager / Deputy Team Manager, Practice Lead, Social Work Team Manager, IRO (Independent Reviewing Officer), LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) or CP Chair (Child Protection Conference Chair), please get in touch to discuss opportunities!
Caritas Recruitment is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy