Children\'s Social Workers in Stoke-on-Trent

Please note - vacancies within our Information and Screening Team will not attract a Professional Retention Payment. 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, a Public Law team, or a converged team covering both. Whatever the 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 a FCA at Cafcass, you will:

• complete high‑quality assessments by engaging directly with children to understand their experiences, wishes and feelings;
• 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;
• write assessments to the court, providing clear and succinct recommendations and professional advice;
• attend in‑person court sessions to offer further advice and guidance where necessary.

Who we’re looking for

We’re looking for practitioners who are confident, curious, compassionate and committed to excellent social work practice. To join us, you need:

• A Social Work qualification is essential.
• Right to work in the UK (we do not sponsor).
• Registration 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 experience in family court proceedings or knowledge of Private and/or Public Law.
• For applicants with limited post‑qualifying experience, relevant pre‑qualifying experience supporting children and families may be beneficial.
• Strong organisational skills, professional resilience and the ability to work independently while effectively managing a varied caseload.

Roles we’re recruiting for

Converged team based in Stoke/Staffordshire – covering Public Law, Private Law and Pathfinder – £4,000 Professional Joining Incentive applies. 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 fast‑paced, short‑term work 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 may be required to gather clear information, collaborate with partners and complete direct work with families. £4,000 Professional Joining Incentive is not applicable for these roles.

How we support you

As the largest employer of Children’s Social Workers in England, we’re uniquely positioned to support your professional growth and wellbeing. You’ll benefit from high‑quality equipment and technology, access to specialist resources, guidance and training to strengthen your practice, a strong commitment to wellbeing, reflective supervision and a healthy work‑life balance, and an inclusive environment that values diversity, encourages learning and continually strives to improve outcomes for children, families and colleagues alike.