1641 - Family Court Adviser
Welsh Government
Apply before 4:00 pm on Thursday 3rd October 2024
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Length of employment
Business area
Type of role
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Job summary
In Cafcass Cymru we support thousands of children and families in family court proceedings each year. Our purpose is to safeguard the child and ensure their voice is heard within the family justice system. The child’s future is at the heart of every recommendation made and every action taken by Cafcass Cymru.
Our goals:
As a learning organisation, Cafcass Cymru is strongly committed to continuing to invest in our staff to maintain consistent levels of quality, develop our services and innovate and continuously improve in response to future challenges. Our goals are to:
- Provide the best quality service to support improved outcomes for every child, young person and family we work with.
- Create an environment and learning culture where staff feel valued, and their well-being is supported.
- Share our knowledge, learn from partners and use our collective influence to improve the family justice system and children’s social care in Wales.
The role:
The role of Cafcass Cymru’s Family Court Advisers is to represent the wishes, feelings and best interests of children and young people involved in family court proceedings in Wales, providing high quality, independent social work advice that protects and promotes their welfare, leading to safe outcomes.
To be a Family Court Adviser you must hold a recognised social work qualification social and already registered with, or eligible to be registered with Social Care Wales. You must have knowledge and experience of safeguarding children and young people within a statutory sector.
Our work is demanding; therefore, you will need to be resilient and organised, can work proportionately, with strong IT skills and excellent verbal and written communication skills.
This 1 year fixed term appointment, provides you with a unique opportunity of tasting all aspects of working with Cafcass Cymru - the work, the culture and the opportunity to shape and influence the lives of the children and their families in Wales. Cafcass Cymru would welcome your interest.
We are actively committed to becoming an increasingly diverse organisation with a workforce that reflects the diversity of the children and families we work with. We particularly welcome applications from individuals from diverse backgrounds with a range of lived and professional social work experiences. This is supported by our dynamic approach to learning and development and there are several Diversity networks which staff can participate in, which include The Minority Ethnic Staff Network, PRISM LGBTI+ Network, and the Women Together Network.
Job description
The role of Cafcass Cymru’s Family Court Advisers is to represent the wishes, feelings and best interests of children and young people involved in family court proceedings in Wales, providing high quality, independent social work advice that protects and promotes their welfare, leading to safe outcomes.
To be a Family Court Adviser you must hold a recognised social work qualification social and already registered with, or eligible to be registered with Social Care Wales. You must have knowledge and experience of safeguarding children and young people within a statutory sector.
Our work is demanding; therefore, you will need to be resilient and organised, can work proportionately, with strong IT skills and excellent verbal and written communication skills.
This 1 year fixed term appointment, provides you with a unique opportunity of tasting all aspects of working with Cafcass Cymru - the work, the culture and the opportunity to shape and influence the lives of the children and their families in Wales. Cafcass Cymru would welcome your interest.
We are actively committed to becoming an increasingly diverse organisation with a workforce that reflects the diversity of the children and families we work with. We particularly welcome applications from individuals from diverse backgrounds with a range of lived and professional social work experiences. This is supported by our dynamic approach to learning and development and there are several Diversity networks which staff can participate in, which include The Minority Ethnic Staff Network, PRISM LGBTI+ Network, and the Women Together Network.
Person specification
As a Family Court Adviser, you will be working directly with vulnerable children and families, to advise the family courts on the best course of action for the child or young person. You will work with parents, relatives, local authorities, and the courts, and demonstrate your understanding of what the child needs, wants, and feels.
Your key tasks will include:
- Carry a case load of private and/or public law cases.
- Provide professional social work advice and assistance to Courts to achieve a timely conclusion to proceedings and secure the best possible outcome for the child based on their individual needs and best interests.
- Provide high quality evidence (orally and in writing) to the Court.
- Ensure that the child’s welfare is paramount throughout proceedings, including ensuring the child is safeguarded in line with organisational requirements and the All-Wales Safeguarding Procedures.
- Ensure the appointment and instruction of legal representation for the child as required and in line with statutory and organisational requirements.
- Ensure the child’s wishes and feelings are appropriately considered and reported upon in a timely and high-quality fashion as part of family proceedings.
- Advise and assist parents and other relevant parties, in dispute, aiming to reduce conflict and minimise the need for court intervention.
- Work effectively with partner organisations, stakeholders and people who use our service, whilst maintaining the required independence as part of proceedings.
- Keep up to date with changes in legislation, guidance, court rules, policies, procedures, and best practice developments.
- Comply with organisational policies, procedures, statutory requirements, and court rules in the delivery of services to children and families involved in family proceedings.
- Be responsible for personal learning and development in accordance with the registration requirements of Social Care Wales and the Welsh Government’s performance management process.
- Work as a team member, attend relevant meetings and contribute to the effectiveness and wider planning of Cafcass Cymru as required.
- Provide management information on workloads, practice and performance as required.
- Use ICT effectively for case planning and recording and to support service delivery.
- Represent Cafcass Cymru and the Welsh Government in a professional manner conducive to always promoting a positive image.
Licences
Qualifications
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Leadership
- Delivering at Pace
- Managing a Quality Service
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Applicants must have a Diploma in Social Work (or Social Care Wales registered equivalent) and be a registered Social Worker with Social Care Wales or other Care Regulator.
To apply, you'll need to complete the online application form, answering the following 2 questions based on the experiences listed above.
- Using an example from your practice, demonstrate your understanding of the needs of children subject to family proceedings and explain why timely reporting and decision making is critical to ensuring good outcomes for children. (Max 500 words).
- Using a specific example, tell us about when you have used evidence-based practice to inform your analysis and how this led to safe recommendations and the best possible outcome for the child or young person you were working with. (Max 500 words).
Please note, you do not need to provide a written response in relation to the behaviours. These will be tested at interview stage.
Once you’ve submitted your application form, the selection process will consist of the following stages:
- Stage 1 – Shortlisting based on responses to the above 2 questions.
- Stage 2 – Written Assessment & Panel interview. If Successful at stage 1, you will be provided with a written assessment task to complete ahead of your interview. The panel will take this assessment in to consideration at the interview stage where you can expect to be asked further questions about your submission. The panel interview will be based on the behaviour and experiences listed above.
In the event of two or more candidates having the same total score, the panel has decided the following criteria to determine a merit order:
- Score for experience 1 and then score for experience 2.
A reserve list may be held for this opportunity. Any candidate who is successful in being offered a reserve status, will remain on the reserve list for 12 months.
If you want to find out more, or if you’re interested in applying, we strongly encourage all potential candidates to contact us prior to completing an application to discuss the role and recruitment process. Please email CafcassCymruHR@gov.Wales with your contact details, noting the area you are interested in working in and the best times to contact you.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Cafcass Cymru HR
- Email : CafcassCymruHR@gov.wales
Recruitment team
- Email : Sharedservicehelpdesk@gov.wales
