Location
Cheshire East
Joining Incentive
We are offering a £4,000 ‘Professional Joining Incentive’ if you successfully join one of our teams in this area. Further information about this incentive and its terms and conditions is available in the vacancy document.
Virtual Live Event
We are hosting a virtual live event on Tuesday 24 February at 5:00 PM – sign up via the provided link to learn more about being a Children’s Social Worker at Cafcass.
Overview
At Cafcass we recruit Children’s Social Workers – also known as Family Court Advisers (FCAs) – who are committed to facilitating positive outcomes for children involved in private and public law family court proceedings. FCAs may work in the Private Law team, the Public Law team, or a converged team covering both. All teams share a common purpose: to speak on behalf of children and young people so that their thoughts, wishes and feelings are understood and heard. As the only organisation doing this kind of work, FCAs can make lasting change for children and families.
What You’ll Be Doing
* Complete high‑quality assessments, engaging directly with children to understand their experiences, wishes and feelings and represent these powerfully to the family court.
* Apply expertise in risk assessment, analysis and mediation to advocate 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.
Who We’re Looking For
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 – we do not sponsor work visas.
* Registered with Social Work England (or able to register quickly if practising outside England).
* Recent, relevant experience of 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
Our Social Workers work flexibly across multiple settings – office in Liverpool, home, courts, schools and other appropriate, safe locations. We provide the necessary technology.
Travel Requirements
You will need to travel within Cheshire and Merseyside, covering Sefton, Liverpool, Knowsley, Wirral, St Helens, Warrington, Halton, Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester.
How We Support You
As the largest employer of Children’s Social Workers in England, we are uniquely positioned to support your professional growth and wellbeing. Learn more on our website and during the selection process.
Benefits
* High‑quality equipment and technology to help you work efficiently.
* Access to specialist resources, guidance and training.
* Commitment to wellbeing, reflective supervision and a healthy work‑life balance.
* An inclusive environment that values diversity and promotes continuous learning.
Next Steps & Closing
Indicative timetable:
* Closing date: Monday 09 February.
* Telephone interviews: week commencing 26 January and 02 February.
* Final interview: week commencing 09 and 16 February.
Contact Narinder.Kaur2@cafcass.gov.uk for questions about the role or recruitment process.
Before applying, read about our offer and pre‑employment checks. Successful applicants will complete pre‑engagement checks, including a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
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