Qualified Children's Social Worker

We are offering a 4000 Professional Joining Incentiveif yousuccessfully join one of our teams in this can find out further information about this incentive and the associated terms and conditions by accessing the relevantvacancy document.

Please note - vacancies within our Information and Screening Team will not attract a Professional Retention Payment.

Were hosting a virtual live event on Tuesday 24February at 5:00 PM - Click the link to sign up andfind out more about being a Childrens Social Worker at Cafcass.

At CafcasswererecruitingChildrens Social Workerswho share our passioncommitmentand ambition tofacilitatepositiveoutcomes for children involved in private and public law family court proceedings.

Our Social Workers professionally known asFamily Court Advisers (FCAs) play a vital role. Youmightwork within Private Law team where there is disagreementon the bestarrangements for the welfare of the child(ren)involved)aPublic Law teamwhere local authorities have raised serious welfare concerns or a converged team covering both law types.

Whateverthe teamyou jointhe underlying role is the same tospeak on behalf of children and young people to ensure their thoughts wishes and feelings are not just understoodbutheard.

As the only organisation that does this kind of workFCAscan makerecommendationsleading tolastingchange forchildren and families which is why thisis a responsibility we to creating asafehealthyandsupportive environment for ourcolleaguesto practice.

As part of this early analysis FCAs will also write assessments to the court providing clear and succinct recommendations and professional advice. This includes outlining any immediate safeguarding issues and advising on the most proportionate childfocused next steps to support early judicial person court attendance to offer further advice and guidance where necessary is also a requirement.

Whatyoullbe doing

As aFCAat Cafcass you will:

• Completehigh qualityassessments engaging directly with children to understand their experiences wishes and feelings and ensure these are clearly and powerfully represented to the family court.

• Apply yourexpertisein risk assessmentanalysisand mediation advocating for solutions that place the childs safety wellbeing andlong terminterests at the centre ofdecision making.

• Work with adults local authorities and a wide range of professionals to helpresolve complex issuesand influencebetter outcomes for children.

Whowerelookingfor:

Werelooking for practitioners who are confident curiouscompassionateand committed to excellent social work practice.

To join usyoullneed:

• ASocial Work qualificationisessential.

• Have theRight to Work in the UK(wedontsponsor people to work in the UK).

• Registeredwith Social Work England(orlikely to be able toregisterquicklyifpractisingoutside England).

• Recent relevant experienceof working directly with children and families.

• Itsdesirableyoullhave experience infamily court proceedings or knowledge of Private and/or Public Law.

• For applicants with limitedpost qualifyingexperiencerelevant prequalifying experiencesupporting children and families may be beneficial.

• Strongorganisationalskills professionalresilienceand the ability to work independently while effectively managing a varied caseload.

You can view the full job description in thevacancy documents.

Whereyoullwork

Our Social Workers work flexibly across multiple settings includingthe office inBirmingham home courts schools and otherappropriate safelocations and we ensure you have the technology to do this.

Shared learningisveryimportanttousand we bring our teams togetherregularly both remotely and in-person forteam meetings and group supervisionwhich createsspace to connect with peers and managers reflect on practice and feel supported.

Youllalso have regular 1:1 time with yourmanager especially during your induction and again there will be a balance betweendoing thisremotely and in-personso you haveopportunities toformin-personconnections.

If shortlisted the hiring manager willbe able to give you more insight intowhat a typical week or month might look likeshould you join us.

Roles we are recruiting for:

• Converged team based in Birmingham- covering Public law Private Law and Pathfinder - 4000 Professional Joining Incentive applies
• Converged team based in Worcester- covering Public law Private Law and Pathfinder- 4000 Professional Joining Incentive applies
• Pathfinder - Information and Screening Team based in Birmingham -Family Court Advisors in the Pathfinder screening position play a central role in ensuring a consistent and childfocused response at the earliest stage of involvement. This is fastpaced shortterm work that requires timely analysis and clear decisionmaking. You will undertake an initial expert review of all incoming families assessing risk identifying safeguarding concerns and determining the most appropriate next steps for children and families within private law proceedings. You are required to gather clear information collaborate with partners and at times may be required to complete direct work with families. 4000 Professional Joining Incentive isnot applicable for these roles

How we support you

As thelargest employer of Childrens Social Workers in Englandwereuniquely placed to support your professional growth and wellbeing.

At Cafcassyoullbenefitfrom:

• High qualityequipment and technologyto help you work efficiently and engage with families effectively.

• Access tospecialist resourcesguidanceand trainingto strengthen your practice.

• A strong commitment towellbeing reflectivesupervisionand healthy worklife balance.

• An inclusive environment thatvalues diversity encourages learning and constantly strives to improve outcomes for childrenfamiliesand colleagues alike.

You can find more about how we support our practitioners on our website andwellshare more during the selection process.

Next steps

Below we haveset out an indicativetimetable we are hoping to work towards although dates are subject to change.

If you have any questions about the role or recruitment process please contact.

Before applying we encourage you to read about ourofferandpreemployment checks. Any questions or concerns can be confidentiallyraised throughyour application.

Successful applicants will complete severalpre engagementchecks including aDisclosure and Barring Service (DBS)check. If any criminal offences aredisclosed we will conduct an individual assessment in line with theDBS code of practiceand theCafcass DBS policy.

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 overchildren 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 dont just listen to childrens voices but we can be their voice.