Cafcass’ Social Work Academy launches

As the largest employer of social workers in the country, we support over 140,000 children every year by understanding their experiences and speaking up for them when the family court makes critical decisions about their futures.

What is the Cafcass Social Work Academy? 

The Cafcass Social Work Academy aims to provide a home to nurture excellence in social work and to support the development of students, Newly Qualified Social Workers and practice education.  We recognise the value of good social work and the potential for the positive and life changing impact it has on the lives of children, young people, and their families. We are recruiting resilient and passionate Newly Qualified Social Workers who want to make that difference.

The Social Work Academy oversees our Newly Qualified Social Worker programme, which is now open for applications for soon-to-be qualified social workers (or those who have recently gained a recognised qualification) who want exceptional grounding in children’s social care. Newly Qualified Social Workers joining this programme will be able to build on their knowledge and will receive the support that they will require to develop their skills to full potential. 

The academy aims to focus on building positive relationships with local authorities, provide training and development to further strengthen qualified and experienced staff’s knowledge on the assessment of practice and to provide a space to critically reflect with those that are newly qualified. We want to inspire new ways of working, to shape the training, recruitment and retention of social work staff.

What benefits will it bring to the social work sector? 

The Social Work Academy will help train the next generation of social workers. They will build on their confidence, skills, and experience, equipping them for the future of children’s social work. Through secondment opportunities and collaboration with our local authority partners, we will share our learning to improve the children’s social care sector. 

What sets out the Cafcass Academy from other Newly Qualified Social Workers programmes available? 

Cafcass is a national organisation that makes a difference to children and families. We are the largest employer of social workers in the country, and the Newly Qualified Social Workers develop the skills to be a critical practitioner in a positive and challenging environment. 

Qualified Social Workers will have the opportunity to use various pieces of family law and legislation, use modern tools, theories and methods. They will be exposed to court work and will have the space for critical reflective supervision. The programme is linked to academic qualifications at master’s level, and the Newly Qualified Social Workers will have access to a psychology service and to the extensive Cafcass library. 

Our unique three-year programme will be led by expert social workers, who will support their Newly Qualified Social Worker’s journey, enhance their expertise and ensure they can work with confidence. 

In the first year, the Newly Qualified Social Workers will complete an Assessed and Supported year in Employment (ASYE). During the second year, they will take part in a secondment to a local authority for six months, and in the third year, they will consolidate their learning to take on more complex cases. 

How can Newly Qualified Social Workers apply to be part of the Academy? 

Newly Qualified Social Workers can apply for the programme on the Cafcass vacancies page. The deadline for applications is Sunday 09 May 2021.

Sarah Parsons is principal social worker for Cafcass and Debbie Blackshaw is social work academy lead.