At a Glance
- Tasks: Support the National Improvement Service in enhancing practices for children and families.
- Company: Join Cafcass, a diverse and inclusive organisation dedicated to children's welfare.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous holidays, flexible working, and extensive wellbeing support.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team with great career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while developing your skills.
- Qualifications: Strong IT skills and excellent communication abilities are essential.
The predicted salary is between 37035 - 45265 £ per year.
We are recruiting for the role of Improvement Assistant in our team(s) with a flexible office base. 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. We provide extensive wellbeing support for colleagues, as well as excellent benefits, all of which we hope encourages you to join us. 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 which 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.
To support the National Improvement Service (NIS) with its delivery of a wide variety of services to support and develop practice improvements within the organisation and to build on its strengths. NIS works together with operational staff, other departments, managers and senior leaders with a clear focus on improving outcomes for children.
As an Improvement Assistant, you will be able to/have:
- Strong IT skills, confident in using a broad range of common and bespoke systems (including Microsoft Office packages)
- Ability to plan and prioritise own workload, and work well under pressure to strict timescales
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, confident in liaising professionally with colleagues of every seniority
- Effective organisational and administrative skills
- Creative and innovative approach to learning and development
- Ability to work to tight deadlines and pay attention to detail
- Ability to deal with situations sensitively and maintain confidentiality
- Ability to work on own initiative
- Ability to act as an ambassador of the National Improvement Service portraying a professional, positive image of the team
- Common sense, flexible and pragmatic approach to problem solving and decision making
- Effective customer service skills
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: 28th September 2026
Interview: 6th, 7th & 8th October 2026
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 Narinder Kaur at Narinder.Kaur2@cafcass.gov.uk from our HR Resourcing team if your query is to do with the recruitment process or is HR-related, or contact Heather Pedder, Project Officer, at Heather.Pedder@cafcass.gov.uk if your questions relate more to the role, providing your contact information and best times/methods to get hold of you.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Improvement Assistant employer: Cafcass
Cafcass in Leicestershire is an exceptional employer, dedicated to fostering a supportive and collaborative work culture that prioritises the voices of children and families. With a strong emphasis on professional development, employees are offered numerous growth opportunities within a framework that values child safety and wellbeing. Working here means being part of a meaningful mission, where your contributions directly impact the lives of children in family court proceedings.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Improvement Assistant
✨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 Cafcass.
✨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 Cafcass!
✨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 Cafcass, 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 Cafcass 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 Improvement Assistant
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 Cafcass:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to Cafcass! 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 Cafcass
✨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.
