At a Glance
- Tasks: Support families in care proceedings and implement intervention plans for better parenting outcomes.
- Company: Bradford Children and Families Trust, dedicated to child welfare and family support.
- Benefits: Generous leave, health support, professional development, and a retention payment.
- Other info: Join a supportive team committed to continuous learning and improving social work practice.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives by helping families navigate challenging situations.
- Qualifications: Qualified social worker with substantial experience and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 37000 - 44962 £ per year.
The Court Consultant role will work alongside parents, where children are subject to care proceedings, to co‑coordinate and implement support and intervention plans and complete assessments in relation to parents’ ability to overcome the problems identified and reduce the impact on parenting capacity.
You will not be the allocated worker for the child.
This approach to care proceedings can be successful in helping parents to commit to and work alongside key services, such as domestic abuse, mental health and substance misuse services, leading to more children being able to remain in their parents’ care or to return home at the conclusion of care proceedings.
Where we are not able to engage parents and children cannot return home, quicker decisions are made about permanent placements for them, and a greater proportion of parents remain engaged with services.
Key Responsibilities
- To case manage and track the progression of the legal process in the child in care team, including discharge of care orders, progression of special guardianship orders, review of placement with parent arrangements originating in Bradford Trust against the agreed timescales, and to ensure that all parties including lawyers, social work teams, IRO’s and Children’s Guardian’s understand at the outset of each case the role of the Court Consultant and their duties to ensure that court directions are met and handled in a timely fashion in accordance with the timescales of the child.
- Work with key stakeholders to devise and implement new ways of working and set clear standards in respect of court directed work, supporting operational changes where necessary to improve standards.
- Use a range of leadership and management techniques to support staff and managers to improve practice, continuous learning, creatively interpreting and applying legislation and developing supporting policy and practice.
This includes providing support and challenge to social work team managers in relation to Quality Assurance and Practice.
- Provide direct guidance and consultation to Social Workers, Practice Supervisors and Team Managers who are managing pre‑proceedings, public and private law proceeding cases.
This will include the provision of direct support and quality assurance of statements and care plans and supporting the preparation of Social Workers for giving evidence in court.
About You
- Be passionate about excellent social work practice and helping and supporting families.
- Hold a Dip SW or equivalent qualification and be registered with Social Work England as a qualified social worker.
- Have substantial post‑qualification social work experience with a minimum of 12 months as an experienced level 3 social worker.
- Have an excellent working knowledge of relevant safeguarding legislation and care planning regulations, and keep up to date with changes in policy, guidance and research relating to court work and permanence for children.
- Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and be able to make good decisions based on the information available, ensuring effective relationships with other professionals.
- Be able to provide assessments of parents, their willingness and capacity to engage in therapeutic work, their parenting capacity and, of paramount importance, the safety of their children to the court on a regular basis and work closely with Problem Solving Court colleagues and partners.
- Have a breadth of experience in working with families within court proceedings, including experience of writing assessments and giving evidence in court.
Benefits
- Retention Payment: you will be eligible for our annual retention payment, paid in 12 monthly instalments. This is non contractual (reviewed annually).
- Generous annual leave – 31 days rising to 34 with service, plus bank holidays.
- Excellent Local Government pension.
- Family‑friendly policies and enhanced parental leave.
- Health & wellbeing support, including Occupational Health and counselling.
- Professional development and career progression opportunities.
- We are a National Living Wage employer.
- Our Commitment
Bradford Children and Families Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment.
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Court Consultant employer: Bradford Children and Families Trust
Bradford Children and Families Trust is an exceptional employer dedicated to creating a supportive and nurturing environment for both staff and the young people in their care. With a strong focus on professional development, employees are encouraged to grow and advance their skills while making a meaningful impact in the community. The Trust fosters a collaborative work culture that values compassion and commitment, making it an ideal place for those passionate about improving the lives of children and families.
Contact Details:
Bradford Children and Families Trust Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Court Consultant
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
Social work thrives on community connections, so get involved in local groups or forums specific to your interests. Whether it’s volunteering at local shelters or joining community action boards, these are great ways to boost your visibility and make direct contacts that could lead to opportunities like the one at Bradford Children and Families Trust.
✨Attend Social Work Events and Workshops
Keep an eye out for workshops, seminars, or conferences in social work. These events are fantastic for meeting professionals in the field, learning about emerging trends, and spotting job openings. Plus, you might just bump into someone from Bradford Children and Families Trust!
✨Showcase Your Passion and Expertise
Use platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn to share your journey and insights into the social work sector. Whether it’s writing about your experiences or sharing relevant articles, this helps to establish you as an engaged professional. Potential employers, like Bradford Children and Families Trust, will notice your enthusiasm!
✨Leverage Your Network
Don’t hesitate to reach out to professors, mentors, or even past colleagues who are in social work. They might have inside knowledge about openings at Bradford Children and Families Trust or be able to connect you with someone who’s hiring. Networking is key, especially in a full-time role where relationships matter.
We think you need these skills to ace Court Consultant
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to Bradford Children and Families Trust:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Bradford Children and Families Trust! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Bradford Children and Families Trust
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
