The Vacancy
Location: Engaging directly with children and families in Hampshire (including Portsmouth and Winchester) and Dorset (including Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole and Weymouth)with a contractual base in either Portsmouthor Bournemouth.
Salary: £45,749 – £49,886 + £6,000 joining incentive (see wider benefits below)
A once-in-a-generation opportunity to practice social work differently
Family justice is changing, and Cafcass is at the heart of that change. With the national rollout of Child Focused Courts, we are leading a transformation in how children’s voices are heard and how decisions are made in family proceedings.
Child Focused Courts place children’s safety, wellbeing and lived experience at the centre of decision‑making from the very start of proceedings. This problem-solving, less adversarial approach allows decisions to be informed earlier by a clear understanding of children’s experiences, including through the preparation of Child Impact Reports.
The role at a glance
Working within Cafcass’ Child Focused Courts teams, you will;
- Undertake direct work with children and families involved in family court proceedings
- Ensure children’s voices are heard clearly and influence judicial decision‑making
- Collaborate closely with judges, legal professionals and partner agencies
- Practise social work that is purposeful, evidence‑informed and values‑led
Many practitioners involved in early Child Focused Court pilots describe this way of working as professionally rewarding, aligned with core social work values, and genuinely impactful for children.
What you will do
- Conduct high‑quality assessments that focus on Children’s lived experience, safety and wellbeing
- Engage directly with children, ensuring their views, wishes and feelings are understood and represented
- Prepare clear, analytical reports for the family court, including contributions to Child Impact Reports.
- Apply robust risk assessment and mediation skills to support child‑focused decision‑making
- Work effectively across private law proceedings, with a
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