At a Glance
- Tasks: Advocate for children's best interests in family court cases and conduct assessments.
- Company: Cafcass, a leading organisation representing children in family court.
- Benefits: Generous holidays, Local Government Pension Scheme, and wellbeing support.
- Other info: Diverse, inclusive workplace with flexible working options and strong team support.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives and be their voice in court.
- Qualifications: Relevant Social Work qualification and experience with children and families.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
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 and young people every year ensuring their needs, wishes and feelings are heard. In short, our role is to be their voice.
While we are proud that Ofsted judged us to be ‘outstanding’ when they inspected us in early 2024, we haven’t come this far only to come this far. This outcome has energised us to just keep getting better at what we do for children and families. If our purpose resonates with you, we are recruiting for the role of Children’s Social Worker, to work alongside like-minded people in a diverse, inclusive and supportive organisation.
As a Family Court Adviser (our professional title for Children’s Social Workers), you’ll work within our teams that are involved in cases where families require assistance to agree on the best arrangements for the welfare and safety of the child(ren) involved. When applying, you’ll have the opportunity to indicate your preference — so you can specify a preference of the role that best fits your skills and interests.
Children’s Social Workers key responsibilities include:
- Conducting assessments and directly engaging with children to understand and represent their views and wishes to the court.
- Using expertise in robust risk assessment and mediation will be essential as you advocate for arrangements that prioritise the best interest of the children.
Who we’re looking for:
- You must hold a relevant Social Work qualification and be registered with Social Work England.
- You’ll have experience working with children and families in a qualified social work capacity.
- You will have experience in Family Court proceedings.
Location: While these roles are contractually based in either our Gray’s Inn Road office or Croydon office, we support flexible working which means your proximity to the office doesn’t need to be a deciding factor, however, there will be a requirement to travel frequently for this role to meet with children and families and attend court.
We also meet regularly for team meetings and group supervision to help you feel supported in your role, connect with peers and managers and feel supported and a valued member of our team. We provide an outstanding range of practice aids, 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.
Benefits: We also know that to join us you want to be rewarded in a variety of ways, including quality time away from work to spend time with those important to you, support to manage your financial present and future, whilst also being trusted to manage your work/life balance. We have an extensive package of benefits that you can find out more about when you click through, including excellent holidays and a generous Local Government Pension Scheme to name just two things.
We also understand that you will want to work for an organisation that is both passionate and committed to supporting your wellbeing. The four dedicated, additional days per year when colleagues are encouraged to spend time focusing on their health and wellbeing is just one of a multitude of ways in which we do this.
Things you need to know: We also know it is important for you to work in a diverse, inclusive organisation that is a safe space for colleagues with shared aspects of identity and lived experience. Given we work with children and families from all backgrounds, we especially welcome applications from people from diverse backgrounds as this helps ensure our workforce reflects the diversity of the children and families we work with and provide a service that reflects their uniqueness.
We are looking to move forward with this recruitment process as quickly as we can and so will review applications and be in touch as soon as we can. However, as a guide, the timetable we are hoping to work to is below.
- Closing date for applications: 07 December 2025
- Initial interviews completed by: As and when you apply
- Final interviews: To be confirmed.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Qualified Children's Social Worker in London employer: Cafcass
As a leading organisation in the Hampshire & Dorset area, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that values diversity and inclusion, ensuring every team member feels supported and empowered. Our commitment to professional growth is reflected in our extensive wellbeing support and excellent benefits package, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and high-quality service delivery for children and families. Join us to make a meaningful impact while enjoying a collaborative and inspiring work environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Qualified Children's Social Worker in London
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know Cafcass and what we stand for! Attend our recruitment events to meet the team and understand our mission. This will not only help you connect with us but also show your genuine interest in making a difference for children and families.
✨Tip Number 2
When you apply, be sure to highlight your experience with children and families. Use specific examples from your past roles that demonstrate your skills in risk assessment and mediation. We want to see how you can advocate for children's best interests!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t underestimate the power of networking! Connect with current or former Cafcass employees on LinkedIn. They can provide insights into the role and the organisation, plus it shows us that you're proactive and engaged.
✨Tip Number 4
Finally, make sure to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, you’ll find all the details about our benefits and wellbeing initiatives there, which is super important for your work-life balance.
We think you need these skills to ace Qualified Children's Social Worker in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your passion for advocating for children and families shine through. We want to see how much you care about making a difference in their lives!
Tailor Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your relevant social work qualifications and experience with children and families. We’re looking for specific examples that demonstrate your skills in risk assessment and mediation.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application clear and to the point. Use straightforward language to explain your experiences and how they relate to the role of a Family Court Adviser. We appreciate clarity!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, you can find more info about the role and our amazing benefits there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cafcass
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of child welfare laws and family court procedures. Familiarise yourself with Cafcass's mission and values, as well as recent developments in child protection. This will show that you're genuinely interested and prepared.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Be ready to discuss your previous work with children and families in detail. Prepare specific examples of how you've conducted assessments or advocated for children's best interests. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨Engage with Empathy
Cafcass is all about being the voice for children. During the interview, demonstrate your ability to empathise with children and families. Share stories that highlight your understanding of their needs and how you’ve effectively communicated their views in challenging situations.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions to ask at the end of your interview. This could be about team dynamics, support for professional development, or how Cafcass measures success in its mission. It shows you're not just interested in the role, but also in how you can contribute to the organisation's goals.
