Service Manager - Liverpool in London

We are recruiting for the role of Service Manager in our Public and Private Law team(s) in Liverpool covering the Cheshire and Merseyside area. 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 Liverpool, 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 a Service Manager is very rewarding but, as you would expect, challenging too. As well as being registered with Social Work England, you’ll be organised, resilient, empathetic, supportive, and able to work independently.

In Work After First Hearing teams, Family Court Advisers – which is what we call our Social Workers – typically have a mixed Public and Private Law caseload. In Public Law, this will include them telling the court about the child’s journey and experiences and explaining their wishes and feelings, while also carrying out independent enquiries, scrutinising the work of the Local Authority and representing the child in court, alongside their appointed solicitor. This is predominantly achieved through effective telephone interviews with applicants and respondents and by accessing information received from other agencies. They then collate this and succinctly and expertly communicate advice in the court through clear, evidence-based reports and representations, which will occasionally mean attending initial Court Hearings to ensure that children remain central to all decision making.

What We’re Looking For:

• Expert knowledge of children’s social work, including safeguarding, statutory and assessment frameworks
• A track record of highly effective practice management or supervisory experience
• Demonstrable experience of being a practice educator with the skills to continuously monitor, manage, develop and improve team and individual performance
• Proven ability to establish strong and effective networks with other agencies
• Experience of leading individuals and teams through change

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/update your CV, just make sure you come back before the closing date to submit.

Closing Date: 20th February 2026

Initial Interview: 4th March 2026

Final Interview: 13th March 2026

We understand that starting a new role is a big decision, and you may require further information before applying. You can find out more about the role in the Job Description and there is a wealth of information about Cafcass on our Cafcass Careers page.

If you wish to speak with a member of the team for more specific information you can contact Narinder Kaur from our HR Resourcing team, or the recruiting manager Emma Copp, Head of Practice, providing your contact information and best times/methods to get hold of you.

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.

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 140,000 children every year when the family court makes critical decisions about their futures, ensuring their needs, wishes and feelings are heard.

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 with access to substantial resources. You will also have opportunities to develop, whatever team you join, wherever you are in the country and at whatever stage you are at in your career.

Whether you join us in one of our social work roles that work directly with children and families or our corporate and business services teams who provide technology, support and expertise, you will have the chance to make a difference for children and families.

Wellbeing:

The wellbeing of our colleagues is something we are truly passionate about, as demonstrated by everyone having four dedicated, additional days per year when they are encouraged to spend time focusing on their health and wellbeing. Colleagues can also have a health and wellbeing cash plan, for which Cafcass pays the basic premium, allowing them to claim back some costs of routine health expenses.

Overall, we foster a holistic approach to supporting our colleagues, benefitting physical, mental and financial health. This is led by a dedicated in-house team, the benefits of which include targeted support specific to what colleagues need.

Our wellbeing offer is further strengthened by an external Employee Assistance Provider (EAP) which provides a free confidential support service 24 hours a day.

We are especially proud that over 125 colleagues have completed training and receive ongoing support to act as Health and Wellbeing Champions.

Diversity:

We represent children and families from diverse backgrounds and having a diverse workforce helps us to fulfil this responsibility authentically. Our inclusive and accessible recruitment process means we aim to accommodate reasonable adjustments as needed.

Our Diversity Networks provide a safe space for colleagues with shared aspects of identity and lived experience – supported by allies across the organisation. The networks help ensure we provide an inclusive working environment and a service which promotes the diversity and uniqueness of children and families from all backgrounds.

Benefits:

In addition to our unique, holistic approach to supporting your health and wellbeing we also provide:

• 28 days holiday (including three for Christmas) rising to 33 days with five years continuous service
• Excellent pension – 18.1% employer contribution to Local Government Pension scheme
• Flexible working – Most colleagues work in a hybrid way
• Exclusive discounts with a wide range of companies
• Professional fees reimbursement for Social Work England membership
• Car leasing schemes

This list is just a selection of main benefits and we look forward to providing you with further information about these in due course.