Qualified Children's Social Worker - Child focused courts

Location: Engaging directly with children and families in Coventry, Northampton and Warwickshire with a contractual base in Coventry. Salary: £45,749 - £49,886 + £4,000 joining incentive (see wider benefits below) A once-in-a-generation opportunity to practice social work differently Family justice is changing, and Cafcass is at the heart of that change. With the national rollout of Child Focused Courts, we are leading a transformation in how children's voices are heard and how decisions are made in family proceedings.

Child Focused Courts place children's safety, wellbeing and lived experience at the centre of decision-making from the very start of proceedings. This problem-solving, less adversarial approach allows decisions to be informed earlier by a clear understanding of children's experiences, including through the preparation of Child Impact Reports. The role at a glance Working within Cafcass' Child Focused Courts teams, you will; Undertake direct work with children and families involved in family court proceedings Ensure children's voices are heard clearly and influence judicial decision-making Collaborate closely with judges, legal professionals and partner agencies Practise social work that is purposeful, evidence-informed and values-led Many practitioners involved in early Child Focused Court pilots describe this way of working as professionally rewarding, aligned with core social work values, and genuinely impactful for children.

What you will do As a Children's Social Worker / Family Court Adviser, you will: Conduct high-quality assessments that focus on Children's lived experience, safety and wellbeing Engage directly with children, ensuring their views, wishes and feelings are understood and represented Prepare clear, analytical reports for the family court, including contributions to Child Impact Reports. Apply robust risk assessment and mediation skills to support child-focused decision-making Work effectively across private law proceedings, with a strong understanding of public law context Manage your caseload independently while contributing to a supportive, learning-focused team environment A recognised Social Work qualification To be registered with Social Work England An understanding of family court processes and private and/or public law Strong analytical, organisational and communication skills Resilience, professional curiosity and confidence in working independently The resources, equipment and flexibility needed to work effectively, connect with children and your colleagues Together, we work to ensure that children and young people are heard when the family court makes critical decisions about their futures.

Inclusion and belonging Cafcass is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that reflects the children and families we serve. We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds and value professional diversity, lived experience and different career pathways., 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 130,0000 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 resource