Location: Flexible base with regular travel to London and other Cafcass locations across England as required
Salary £76,539 + London weighting of £5,951 if relevant
Reporting to: Assistant Director (Principal Social Worker)
The Vacancy
Our work supports children and families at some of the most important and difficult moments in their lives. The learning we offer colleagues needs to help them make a difference when it matters.
We are looking for a Head of Practice for Learning and Development to join our National Improvement Service. This is an opportunity for an experienced social work leader to shape learning across Cafcass, bring people and ideas together, and turn evidence into practical support for colleagues working with children and families.
About The Role
As part of our Operational Management Team (OMT), you will lead a team with expertise in learning, development, coaching and improvement. You will give their work clear direction and help create learning that colleagues can use in their day-to-day practice.
Working closely with the Assistant Director (Principal Social Worker), you will lead national learning and development across public and private law. You will bring research, learning from practice and children’s and families’ feedback into the programme, asking not just who took part, but what changed as a result.
You will manage the Together and Family Forum leads and work with colleagues, including the Social Work Academy, to deliver agreed learning priorities.
You will move between the bigger picture and the practical detail: identifying priorities, shaping learning and working with operational leaders to understand its impact. The focus is on helping colleagues apply what they learn to improve children’s experiences.
What You Will Be Doing
- A highly effective leader, able to motivate and influence colleagues and lead change by providing assurance and inspiring confidence.
- Confident in public and private law practice and safeguarding, able to quality assure learning and draw on incidents, reviews, audits and complaints to identify learning needs.
- Able to support the Principal Social Worker in developing and quality assuring practice guidance, aids and alerts.
- Have excellent report writing skills.
- Be able to analyse large amounts of information and data and make sound judgments and recommendations to senior managers based on this.
- Someone who thrives on developing a service and ensuring the performance and productivity of staff is optimum.
About You
- A recognised social work qualification and current registration with Social Work England.
- Significant post qualifying experience in a social work setting of working with children and families.
- Experience of leading national or organisation-wide learning programmes and evaluating their impact on practice and children’s experiences.
- Evidence of professional development to support your progression into a managerial role.
- A collaborative team worker who can build positive relationships and work effectively across boundaries and achieve results through others.
- Proven experience of managing staff, services and budgets at a senior level across a wide range of functions, including supervisory and/or practice management experience.
We are flexible on your location, and it is reasonable to assume you will predominantly work remotely. However, as a senior leader you should expect to attend relevant offices for key meetings, which may include some overnight stays in different parts of the country.
If you join us, you will be well-supported through induction, supervision, learning and performance review, whether you are already at this level of leadership or are taking your next career step.
We offer an attractive reward package, flexible working to achieve that important work/life balance. In addition to a generous annual leave entitlement. You may also be able to bring your ‘continuous service’ with you, bringing further benefits.
We are an organisation valuing, promoting and prioritising equality, diversity and inclusion and we especially welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds. The Chief Executive and Corporate Directors sponsor our objectives in this regard, listening to and encouraging feedback from families, children, our staff, and partners about how well we are doing in terms of understanding and celebrating uniqueness.
Next steps/timelines
Below we have given you an indication of a timetable we are hoping to work towards, although dates are subject to change.
Closing Date
17th November 2026
Initial Interview
w.c. 30th November 2026
Final/Assessment Interview
16th December 2026
Safeguarding and inclusion
Cafcass is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment.
We are also committed to creating an inclusive and diverse working environment where colleagues feel valued, respected and able to do their best work. We welcome applications from people with a range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.
Head of Practice for Learning and Development in Wideopen employer: Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service)
Cafcass is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises the well-being of families and children. With opportunities for professional growth and development, employees are encouraged to engage in meaningful work that makes a real difference in the community. Located in Newcastle, the company provides a collaborative environment where staff can thrive while contributing to vital family support services.
Contact Details:
Cafcass (Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service) Recruitment Team
