At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team of Family Court Advisers to support children and families in critical court decisions.
- Company: Cafcass, a diverse and inclusive organisation dedicated to safeguarding children's welfare.
- Benefits: Hybrid working, extensive wellbeing support, and competitive salary reflecting our pay award.
- Other info: Join a supportive team with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in supervising social workers and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
We are recruiting for the role of Assistant Service Manager in our team covering Nottingham and Derby. We trust and empower colleagues to work in a hybrid way, providing the resources, equipment, and support, so that individually and collectively, we can be the voice of children and young people when the family court makes critical decisions about their futures.
Whilst this role is part of a team based from our office in Nottingham and Derby, our teams work flexibly and remotely; your proximity to the office doesn’t always have to be a critical consideration. We are a diverse, inclusive organisation that is a safe space for colleagues with shared aspects of identity and lived experience, which helps ensure we provide a service that promotes the diversity and uniqueness of children and families from all backgrounds. We especially welcome applications from people from diverse backgrounds as we strive to ensure our workforce reflects the diversity of the children and families we work with.
We provide extensive wellbeing support for colleagues, as well as excellent benefits, all of which we hope encourages you to join us. Being an Assistant Service Manager is very rewarding but, as you would expect, challenging too. You will manage a team of Family Court Advisers and have a good understanding of what good looks like in Public and Private law cases.
Through your own practice and reflective/case supervision of colleagues, you will consistently reflect and champion the values and core practice of our practice framework, ‘Together with Children and Families’. As an Assistant Service Manager, it is your duty to safeguard and protect the welfare of children, and the support you provide to colleagues to achieve the same standards of safeguarding practice.
Providing high-quality reflective case supervision, you will be accountable for your own practice and for the quality and impact of the practice quality standards of the Family Court Advisers you directly manage. As well as being registered with Social Work England, you’ll be organised, resilient, and have some experience of supervising, coaching, or mentoring social workers. You will promote resilience and wellbeing at work, maintaining morale and be confident in managing employees with a wide range of professional experience.
You will be a good communicator both orally and in writing, with emotional intelligence, at all levels and especially when interacting with children.
If and when you are ready to apply, our application process is straightforward and quick to complete. You don’t need to complete your application in a single visit; you can start it and come back and amend your responses or update your CV, just make sure you come back before the closing date to submit.
Closing Date: Sunday 16 November 2025
We understand you may benefit from finding out more to help you decide to apply. There is a lot of information available at Cafcass Careers but if there is something else you need to find out more about, you can either contact Anisa Awan at Anisa.Awan@cafcass.gov.uk from our HR Resourcing team if your query is to do with the recruitment process or is HR-related, or contact Alison Wakefield at Alison.Wakefield@cafcass.gov.uk if your questions relate more to the role.
Successful applicants will be subject to a range of pre-engagement checks, including a Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS). In accordance with the DBS code of practice and our own policy, should an individual have a declared criminal offence, an individual assessment will be completed.
Assistant Service Manager - Nottingham and Derby employer: Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service)
Contact Detail:
Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant Service Manager - Nottingham and Derby
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know Cafcass and its values! Before your interview, dive into their mission and the work they do. This will help you connect your experience with their goals, showing that you're not just another candidate but someone who truly gets what they're about.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice makes perfect! Run through common interview questions with a friend or in front of the mirror. Focus on how your past experiences align with the role of Assistant Service Manager, especially around safeguarding and supporting children and families.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your emotional intelligence! During the interview, share examples of how you've effectively communicated with diverse groups. Highlight your ability to manage and support colleagues, as this is key for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to ask questions! Prepare thoughtful questions about the team dynamics and the challenges they face. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it's the right fit for you. And remember, apply through our website for a smoother process!
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant Service Manager - Nottingham and Derby
Some tips for your application 🫡
Start Strong with Your CV: Your CV is your first impression, so make it count! Tailor it to highlight your experience in managing teams and working with children and families, as this role is all about safeguarding and support.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you're passionate about the role. Share specific examples of your experience in supervising social workers and how you embody our values of inclusivity and support.
Be Authentic: We want to see the real you! Don’t be afraid to share your unique experiences and perspectives, especially if they relate to the diversity of children and families. This helps us understand how you can contribute to our mission.
Check Your Application Before Submitting: Before hitting that submit button, take a moment to review your application. Make sure everything is clear, concise, and free of typos. And remember, you can save your progress and come back later if needed!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service)
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you have a solid understanding of Cafcass and its mission. Familiarise yourself with the role of an Assistant Service Manager, especially in relation to safeguarding children and supporting Family Court Advisers. This will show your genuine interest and commitment to the position.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in supervising, coaching, or mentoring social workers. Think about specific situations where you’ve successfully managed a team or improved practice standards. This will demonstrate your capability to lead and support colleagues effectively.
✨Communicate Clearly
Practice articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently. Since the role involves interacting with children and families, being able to communicate complex ideas simply is crucial. Consider doing mock interviews with friends or family to refine your delivery.
✨Emphasise Emotional Intelligence
Be ready to discuss how you handle sensitive situations and support the wellbeing of your team. Share examples of how you've promoted resilience and morale in previous roles. This will illustrate your ability to connect with others and foster a supportive work environment.