Associate Family Court Adviser

Cafcass; Chatburn; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Cafcass is seeking experienced social workers to join as Associate Family Court Advisers (FCAs). These self-employed practitioners support Cafcass’s work with vulnerable children by providing independent social work expertise in public and private law family court matters across Lancashire and beyond.

Associates typically handle a mixed caseload with 5 to 18 cases, including opportunities for shorter-term tasks like drafting safeguarding letters.

Qualifications

• Registered with Social Work England
• Significant post-qualifying experience in family safeguarding
• Experience working with families and the family courts is essential

Responsibilities

• Provide independent social work analysis and recommendations in best interests of children.
• Manage a mixed caseload across public and private law matters for Cafcass associates.
• Work independently within self-employed framework and coordinate with Cafcass commissioning teams

Skills

Post qualifying experience

Safeguarding

Multi-agency working

Analytical skills

Case recording

Education

Social work degree

Job description

Cafcass is seeking talented, passionate, and experienced social workers to join us as Associate Family Court Advisers (FCAs) — a vital part of our national practice community.

As self-employed practitioners contracted by Cafcass, Associate FCAs play a key role in supporting our work with vulnerable children and young people, providing independent social work expertise to help families through some of the most challenging moments in their lives.

As an Associate FCA, you will be commissioned by local Cafcass teams across Lancashire to undertake public and private law family court work. You will contribute expert case analysis, provide recommendations in the best interests of children, and help to manage caseload pressures while complementing the work of our employed practitioners.

Associates typically carry a mixed caseload, with thresholds set at 5 to 18 cases, ensuring workloads remain manageable and proportionate. There is also the opportunity to take on shorter-term work such as writing Work to First Hearing safeguarding letters.

Becoming a Cafcass Associate is ideal for practitioners used to working independently and who want to maintain high-level professional social work practice and shape their own workload. It also allows practitioners to combine working with Cafcass with other roles or commitments (e.g. ISW, IRO, lecturing, training, or other business interests) and obtain the balance they need to suit their personal circumstances, whilst undertaking challenging, rewarding practice that makes a real difference to vulnerable children across England.

Cafcass currently contracts over 100 Associate FCAs, and with continued demand, this number is expected to grow. Our dedicated Associates team provides onboarding and contract support to ensure effective collaboration with our commissioning teams. We also provide a professional induction to all new Associates including access to specialist training and resources throughout your time as an Associate.

We are looking for Social Work England registered social workers with:

• Significant post qualifying experience
• Expertise in safeguarding, child engagement, and multi‑agency working
• Strong analytical, assessment, and recording skills
• Confidence working directly with families, professionals, and the family courts
• Capacity to fulfil the time requirements of the role - the Associate Family Court Adviser role is not compatible with remaining in a substantive or full-time role, as the demands of the position would make it difficult to dedicate sufficient time to the work and meet the standards we expect for children and young people.

As this is a self-employed role, you will need to manage your own tax and contribution arrangements. Cafcass assesses that Associate FCA work is not within IR35.

If you haven't done so yet, we advise you to spend a few minutes learning about the role of Associate Family Court Advisers at Cafcass. This will give you a clearer insight into what it means to be an Associate FCA, the remuneration, and the support that will be available to you.

Finally, in anticipation of your application being successful, you might want to read about the compliance requirements. Please be advised successful applicants will be subject to a range of pre-engagement checks, including a Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS). In accordance with the DBS code of practice and our own policy, should an individual have a declared criminal offence an individual assessment will be completed. Further information on what the assessment covers can be found by viewing the Cafcass DBS policy.