Job summary
You will be the practice leader of England’s largest social work employer, overseeing the effectiveness of Cafcass’ work for c130, 000 children and their families every year in both public and private law proceedings. We are also responsible for the allocation of children’s guardians in applications to deprive children of their liberty in England. This is a significant and influential national leadership position and you are required to be tenacious, inspirational, enabling, accountable and relentless about children’s experiences with Cafcass at all times.
With the corporate management team and the senior operational leadership team, you are responsible for the realisation of our strategic ambition which is for every child in family law proceedings to have an exceptional experience, everywhere in the country and every time they engage with us. Every day we receive 221 new applications and there will be c44, 000 children in open proceedings on any one of those days. Managing the flow of work, the availability and capacity of social workers and managers is a critical responsibility that comes with this position.
With your senior team and alongside the Chief Executive, you lead the operational social work service and are accountable for practice effectiveness in all 19 English operational service areas. You are required to oversee the safe and proper discharge of Cafcass’ statutory responsibilities for the safety and welfare of children in proceedings, our employer responsibilities in respect of Social Work England and to comply with the regulatory framework for Cafcass set by Ofsted in accordance with statute.
The National Director of Operations is responsible for two Deputy Directors for Operations and Improvement as well as the Cafcass Principal Social worker and the Assistant Director for the quality and performance improvement who leads our national improvement service. The role also has oversight of two Assistant Directors working on private law transformation in England. We work to the legislation of the Children Acts 1989 and 2014 in respect of public and private law proceedings and a range of practice directions that set out what is required in advice given to the family court. Our Family Court advisers and children’s guardians are independently appointed by the court and the employer and supervisory dynamic is different to that found in local authority social work. You will need to be familiar with this and able to lead improvement and practice effectiveness in this context.
You will be the lead sponsor for Cafcass’ own practice framework, Together with children and families, alongside the practice and management quality standards. These fundamental sets of guidance house our expectations and values for practice and leadership alongside our policies which all colleagues are expected to follow. You will be responsible for making sure that all Cafcass social workers renew and retain their registration with Social Work England annually and you will lead with the Chief Executive, the development and adjustment of the national improvement plan and associated priorities.
In addition to holding the lead responsibility and accountability for the quality and effectiveness of practice and the welfare of our social work practitioners and managers, you will take lead responsibility for corporate national projects in consultation with the Chief Executive. This will involve you in partnership work with Family Justice system leaders, the Ministry of Justice and the Department for Education. Your experience nationally and alongside government and regulatory bodies will be key to your success in this role.
The experiences of children and their families at very difficult times in their lives are the most significant and fundamental responsibility for the national Director of Operations. Everything you do, say and lead must route back to the impact on them and the safety of children in proceedings.
