Family Court Adviser - CAFCASS | Sheffield

Family Court Adviser - CAFCASS | Sheffield

Location: Sheffield
Role: Family Court Adviser (FCA)
Service: Work After First Hearing (WAFH)
Rate:£34.50 per hour - Limited/Umbrella
Working Pattern: Hybrid

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Family Court Adviser to join the team in Sheffield, supporting children, families and the courts throughout family proceedings.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Children's Social Worker looking to use their advanced social work skills within a court-focused environment, ensuring that the welfare, safety and best interests of the child remain at the centre of decision-making.

As a Family Court Adviser, you will provide advanced social work support across complex family proceedings. You will be responsible for assessing risk, analysing complex cases, advising the court on child welfare and safeguarding concerns, and working directly with children and families to achieve positive outcomes.

The role will involve:

• Completing detailed assessments of children and families.
• Undertaking risk and safeguarding assessments.
• Working directly with children, parents and families.
• Preparing high-quality reports and recommendations for the court.
• Analysing complex information and presenting professional recommendations.
• Advising the court on child protection and welfare concerns.
• Managing sensitive and high-conflict situations professionally.
• Ensuring the child's wishes, feelings, welfare and best interests remain central to decision-making.
• Managing a caseload effectively and working to deadlines.

The role will focus on work undertaken after the first hearing, including:

• Detailed assessments.
• Direct work with children and families.
• Court report writing.
• Ongoing analysis and recommendations.
• Supporting the court to achieve the best possible outcomes for the child.

Public Law cases involve Local Authority intervention where there are safeguarding concerns or a risk of significant harm to a child.

As a Family Court Adviser/Children's Guardian, you will:

• Assess the child's circumstances and welfare.
• Consider safeguarding and risk issues.
• Represent the child's wishes, feelings and best interests throughout care proceedings.
• Provide independent professional advice and recommendations to the court.

Private Law cases generally involve disputes between parents or carers regarding child arrangements, including contact and residence.

You will:

• Assess welfare and safeguarding concerns.
• Undertake appropriate assessments.
• Provide professional advice to the court.
• Support parents and carers to remain focused on the needs and welfare of the child.

We are looking for candidates who have:

• A recognised Social Work qualification.
• At least 3 years' post-qualifying experience working with children and families.
• Strong experience in assessment and safeguarding.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong case management and report-writing abilities.
• Excellent assessment, negotiation and analytical skills.
• The ability to work confidently with complex and high-conflict cases.
• Strong IT skills.
• The ability to work effectively under pressure and manage competing priorities.
• A professional and child-centred approach.

• Location: Sheffield
• Working: Hybrid
• Monthly team meeting: Office-based
• Training: A mixture of in-person and hybrid training events

£34.50 per hour - Limited/Umbrella

If you are an experienced Children's Social Worker with strong assessment, safeguarding and court experience and are looking for an opportunity to progress into a Family Court Adviser role, we would love to hear from you.

Interested? Apply now or get in touch for further information about the role and the application process.

Randstad Care acts as an employment business when supplying temporary staff and as an employment agency when introducing candidates for permanent employment with a client. Randstad Care is an equal opportunities employer and decisions are made on merits alone.

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