Children\'s Social Worker (Family Court Adviser) in Stafford

We are offering a £4,000 ‘Professional Joining Incentive’ if you successfully join one of our teams in this area. You can find out further information about this incentive and the associated terms and conditions by accessing the relevant vacancy document.

At Cafcass, we’re recruiting Children’s Social Workers who share our passion, commitment and ambition to facilitate positive outcomes for children involved in private and public law family court proceedings. Our Social Workers — professionally known as Family Court Advisers (FCAs) — play a vital role. You might work within a Private Law team, where there is disagreement on the best arrangements for the welfare of the child(ren) involved, a Public Law team, where local authorities have raised serious welfare concerns, or a converged team covering both law types. Whichever team you join, the underlying role is the same – to speak on behalf of children and young people to ensure their thoughts, wishes and feelings are not just understood but heard.

As part of this early analysis, FCAs will also write assessments to the court, providing clear and succinct recommendations and professional advice. This includes outlining any immediate safeguarding issues and advising on the most proportionate, child‑focused next steps to support early judicial decision‑making. In person court attendance to offer further advice and guidance where necessary is also a requirement.

What you’ll be doing:

• Complete high quality assessments, engaging directly with children to understand their experiences, wishes and feelings — and ensure these are clearly and powerfully represented to the family court.
• Apply your expertise in risk assessment, analysis and mediation, advocating for solutions that place the child’s safety, wellbeing and long term interests at the centre of decision making.
• Work with adults, local authorities, and a wide range of professionals to help resolve complex issues and influence better outcomes for children.

We’re looking for:

• Social Work qualification is essential.
• Right to Work in the UK (we don’t sponsor people to work in the UK).
• Registered with Social Work England (or likely to be able to register quickly if practising outside England).
• Recent, relevant experience of working directly with children and families.
• Desirable to have experience in family court proceedings, or knowledge of Private and/or Public Law.
• Strong organisational skills, professional resilience and the ability to work independently while effectively managing a varied caseload.

Where you’ll work:

Our Social Workers work flexibly across multiple settings — including the office in Birmingham, home, courts, schools and other appropriate, safe locations, and we ensure you have the technology to do this. Shared learning is very important to us, and we bring our teams together regularly, both remotely and in person, for team meetings and group supervision, which creates space to connect with peers and managers, reflect on practice, and feel supported. You’ll also have regular 1:1 time with your manager, especially during your induction, and again there will be a balance between doing this remotely and in person, so you have opportunities to form in‑person connections.

Roles we are recruiting for:

• Converged team based in Stoke/Staffordshire – covering Public law, Private Law and Pathfinder.
• Pathfinder – Information and Screening Team based in Birmingham – Family Court Advisors in the Pathfinder screening position play a central role in ensuring a consistent and child‑focused response at the earliest stage of involvement.

This is fast‑paced, short‑term work that requires timely analysis and clear decision‑making. You will undertake an initial, expert review of all incoming families, assessing risk, identifying safeguarding concerns, and determining the most appropriate next steps for children and families within private law proceedings. You are required to gather clear information, collaborate with partners, and at times may be required to complete direct work with families.

How we support you:

As the largest employer of Children’s Social Workers in England, we’re uniquely placed to support your professional growth and wellbeing. At Cafcass, you’ll benefit from:

• High quality equipment and technology to help you work efficiently and engage with families effectively.
• Access to specialist resources, guidance and training to strengthen your practice.
• A strong commitment to wellbeing, reflective supervision and healthy work‑life balance.
• An inclusive environment that values diversity, encourages learning and constantly strives to improve outcomes for children, families and colleagues alike.

Next steps:

Closing date: 4 May 2026. Telephone interviews: week commencing 4 May 2026. Final Interview: week commencing 11 May 2026. If you have any questions about the role or recruitment process, please contact Michelle.Berridge@cafcass.gov.uk. Before applying, we encourage you to read about our offer and pre‑employment checks. Any questions or concerns can be confidentially raised through your application. Successful applicants will complete several pre‑engagement checks, including a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. If any criminal offences are disclosed, we will conduct an individual assessment in line with the DBS code of practice and the Cafcass DBS policy.

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 130,000 children every year when the family court makes critical decisions about their futures, ensuring their needs, wishes and feelings are heard.