Qualified Children's Social Worker - to First Hearing team; Private Law

We are offering a £4,000 ‘Professional Joining Incentive’ if you successfully join one of our Work To First Hearing teams covering Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk
. 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. Working in a Private Law team, where there is disagreement on the best arrangements for the welfare of the child(ren) involved, and to speak on behalf of children and young people to ensure their thoughts, wishes and feelings are not just understood but heard.

As the only organisation that does this kind of work, FCAs can make recommendations leading to lasting change for children and families, which is why this is a responsibility we take seriously. And why we’re committed to creating a safe, healthy and supportive environment for our colleagues to practice.

As an FCA in our Work to First Hearing team you will play a key role in ensuring Cafcass only intervenes in the lives of those children who need a service. This role is fast paced, draws on Child Protection expertise and requires analytical and effective risk assessment to identify key issues for the court and make safe recommendations in the best interests of the child.

You will predominantly achieve this through effective telephone interviews with applicants and respondents and by assessing information received from other agencies. You will then collate this to allow you to succinctly and expertly communicate advice in the court through clear, evidence‑based reports and representations, which will occasionally mean attending initial Court Hearings to ensure that children remain central to all decision making.

We’re looking for practitioners who are confident, curious, compassionate and committed to excellent social work practice.

• A Social Work qualification is essential.
• Have the 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.
• It’s desirable you’ll have 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.

Our Social Workers work flexibly across multiple settings—including the offices in Chelmsford or Norwich, home, courts, schools and other appropriate, safe locations—and we ensure you have the technology to do this.

As the largest employer of Children’s Social Workers in England, we’re uniquely placed to support your professional growth and wellbeing.

• 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.

Below we have set out an indicative timetable we are hoping to work towards, although dates are subject to change.

2nd March 2026

TBC

TBC

If you have any questions about the role or recruitment process, please contact N.

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 look forward to receiving your application!