Appointment details

Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) 3 x Board Member 170023

Summary

• Organisation: Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service
• Sponsor department: Ministry of Justice
• Location: London
• Sectors: Public Administration
• Skills: Audit and Risk, Judicial, Regulation, Social Care
• Number of vacancies: 3
• Time commitment: 35 day(s) per annum
• Remuneration: £301 per day
• Length of term: Four years
• Application deadline: 11am on 8 September 2025

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   8 August 2025

2. Application deadline

   11am on 8 September 2025

3. Sifting date

   19 September 2025

4. Interviews expected to end on

   21 November 2025

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction

The purpose of the Board is threefold: to ensure good governance across the organisation, to add value to Cafcass’s strategic direction and programmes, and to ensure that Cafcass’ policies are compatible with those of the Secretary of State. 

Introduction from the Chair

Dear Candidate,

Thank you for your interest in becoming a member of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) Board.

You may already have some idea about the important work we do in Cafcass and the following pages will tell you more about the organisation’s purpose and the requirements on Cafcass Board members.

Cafcass is an independent (non-departmental) public body which has a statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of children going through family proceedings.  These can be disputes between parents about child arrangements following separation or divorce, or intervention by local authorities when children are at risk of significant harm.  Cafcass ensures that children and young people who are the subject of such proceedings are kept safe, their voices are properly heard, the decisions made about them by courts are in their best interests and that they and their families are supported throughout the process, no matter what form their family takes in the modern world. 

Cafcass is the largest single employer of social workers in England.  It seeks to secure the best possible outcomes for children and young people whose future care is subject to decisions by the family court.  Cafcass practitioners undertake direct work with these children and young people and their families, to ensure the child has the opportunity to make their wishes and feelings clear and provide independent expert social work analysis and recommendations to the family court. 

In its most recent inspection of Cafcass in January 2024, Ofsted reported that Cafcass is delivering an outstanding service.  Cafcass’ strategic plan, ‘Ambitious for children 2023 – 2026’, set out how the organisation would aim to deliver exceptional experiences for every child supported by Cafcass in family proceedings through our Practice, People and Partner priorities: our ‘Together’ social work practice framework, our professional, dedicated staff and our strong partnerships across the family justice system.  We are very proud of our success to date and strive to continuously improve all aspects of our service, always having children’s best interests at the heart of our work.  Against a challenging backdrop of increased demand and constrained resources in the family courts, we continue to explore with local authorities, the courts and the judiciary how current or potential new models of family proceedings, such as the pathfinder courts, can ultimately deliver better outcomes for children and families.

If after reading the material you have further questions about any aspect of this post or the recruitment process, you are welcome to contact the Public Appointments Team at: Publicappointmentsteam@justice.gov.uk.

If you believe you have the experience and qualities we are seeking, we very much look forward to hearing from you. I do hope you will consider applying for this important position.

Sally Cheshire CBE, Chair of Cafcass

Appointment description

The Board is specifically responsible for:  

• Establishing and taking forward the strategic aims and objectives of Cafcass consistent with its overall strategic direction and within the policy and resources framework determined by the responsible Minister;  

• Ensuring that the responsible Minister is kept informed of any changes or risks that are likely to impact on the strategic direction of Cafcass or on the attainability of its targets, and determining the steps needed to deal with such changes or risks;  

• Ensuring that any statutory or administrative requirements for the use of public funds are complied with; that the Board operates within the limits of its statutory authority and any delegated authority agreed with the Department, and in accordance with any other conditions relating to the use of public funds; and that, in reaching decisions, the Board takes into account guidance issued by Department;  

• Ensuring that it receives and reviews regular financial information concerning the management of Cafcass; is informed in a timely manner of any concerns about the activities of Cafcass; and provides positive assurance to the Department that appropriate action has been taken on such concerns;  

• Demonstrating high standards of corporate governance at all times, including by using the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee to help the Board to identity, address and manage key financial and other risks; 

• Ensuring Cafcass is compliant with appropriate adaptations of sections of Corporate Governance in Central Government Departments: Code of Good Practice;  

• Ensuring suitable business continuity arrangements are put into place and tested; and  

• Appointing a Chief Executive and, in consultation with the Department, setting performance objectives and remuneration terms linked to those objectives for the Chief Executive, which give due weight to the proper management and use of public resources.  

Members of the Board may be called upon to chair various Cafcass working groups that are charged with developing strategies for priority areas, or to take on lead roles for specific issues. This lead role system is well developed and is based upon important thematic issues being taken forward by a Board member and designated senior manager, on behalf of the Board and the Cafcass Executive (the Corporate Management Team). 

Organisation description

Cafcass’s functions include safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children, giving advice to the court about any application made to it, making provision for children to be represented in such proceedings, and providing information, advice and other support for the children and their families

Board composition

The Cafcass Board comprises the chair and nine members. Of the ten current Board members: six (60%) are female, two (20%) are from an ethnic minority background, two (20%) have declared a disability and two (20%) reside outside London and the South-East.

Regulation of appointment

This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the Commissioner’s website 

Person specification

Essential criteria

Criteria for all roles:

·     Knowledge of the family justice system.

·     Ability to work as part of a Board to advise, challenge and hold to account Cafcass leaders and our partners to deliver positive change for children involved in legal proceedings.

·     Excellent communication and influencing skills.

·      Ability to gain the respect and confidence of senior stakeholders and to collaborate effectively with them to achieve shared goals across a complex system.;

·     Leadership of or contribution to the development of strategy, the delivery of good governance and the management of operational and financial risk.

·   Ability to demonstrate skills or experience in organisational change or improvement in the public, private or voluntary sectors

Role Specific criteria

· Senior social work experience and a commitment to improve the outcomes for children and young people

AND/OR

·  Governance, audit, finance and risk management experience including the ability to chair or be a member of the Audit Committee

Application and selection process

How to apply

In order to apply you will need to create an account or sign in.

Once you are logged into your account, click on 'apply for this role' and follow the on-screen instructions. To apply, all candidates are required to provide:

• equality information
• information relating to any outside interests or reputational issues
• a Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• a supporting statement
• a short professional biography (150 words)

We will ask you to check and confirm your personal details to ensure your application is accurate.

You will also have the opportunity to make a reasonable adjustment request or apply under the disability confident scheme before you submit your application.

Overview of the application process

Public appointments are made on merit following a fair and open competition process which is conducted in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments. We will deal with your application as quickly as possible and will keep you informed at key stages. We aim to conclude the appointment process within three months of the deadline for applications – this is in accordance with the Governance Code.

The assessment process

1. Ministers are responsible and accountable to Parliament for the public appointments made within their department. As a result, they must be consulted at every stage of the appointments process.

2. An Advisory Assessment Panel (“Panel”) is appointed by Ministers to assist them in their decision making. The role of the Panel is to decide, objectively, which candidates meet the eligibility criteria for the role.

3. At the shortlisting meeting the Panel will assess applications against the eligibility criteria and decide which candidates have best met the criteria, who should be recommended for interview. Ministers will then be consulted on the Panel’s recommended shortlist. If you have applied under the Disability Confident Scheme and you meet all the essential criteria, then you will also be invited for an interview.

4. Once the shortlist has been agreed by Ministers, you will be advised (by e-mail) whether you have been shortlisted. Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview. Before the interview, the Family Justice Young People's Board (FJYPB) will conduct face to face meetings with all of the shortlisted candidates and provide feedback of their meetings to the assessment panel prior to interviews. The FJYPB is a group of around 40 children and young people aged between 8 and 25 who been through the family justice system or who have an interest in children's rights and the family courts. The members come from all across the country and from a range of backgrounds. The Board's purpose is to ensure that the family justice system and particularly the Family Justice Board (FJB) remain child-centred and child inclusive.

5. The Panel will meet again to interview candidates and determine who is appointable to the role. The Panel may invite you to make a brief presentation at the start of the interview and will go on to question you about your skills and experience, including asking specific questions to assess whether you meet the criteria set out for the post. The Panel will also explore with you any potential conflicts of interest or any other issues arising from your personal and professional history which may impact on an appointment decision.

6. Details of the panel’s assessment of interviewed candidates are provided to Ministers, including whether they have judged a candidate to be appointable to the role. It is then for Ministers to determine merit and decide who should be appointed. In some circumstances, Ministers may choose not to appoint any candidates and re-run the competition.

7. Ministers may choose to meet with candidates before deciding the outcome. Candidates should therefore be prepared for a short time gap between interview and a final appointment decision being made. Candidates who have been interviewed will be kept informed of progress.

8. Once the decision on the appointment has been made, interviewed candidates will be advised of the outcome of their application, including whom they may approach for feedback. Successful candidates will be issued with their Terms & Conditions and a letter of appointment should they agree to take up the position.

Further information about appointments, including tips on applying, can be found on our guidance pages on gov.uk.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

Panel Chair - Luke Taylor, MoJ Deputy Director Family Justice Improvement

Panel Member - Sally Cheshire, Chair of Cafcass

Independent Panel Member - Camilla Poulton

Advisory Assessment Panels (AAP) are chosen by ministers to assist them in their decision-making. These include a departmental official and an independent member. For competitions recruiting non-executive members of a board (apart from the Chair), the panel will usually include a representative from the public body concerned.

AAP’s perform a number of functions, including agreeing an assessment strategy with ministers, undertaking sifting, carrying out interviews in line with the advertised criteria and deciding objectively who meets the published selection criteria for the role before recommending to ministers which candidates they find appointable. It is then for the minister to decide who to appoint to the role.

Eligibility criteria

Under Regulation 6 of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Membership, Committee and Procedure) Regulations 2005, none of the following persons may be a member:

a) an officer or employee of the Service (Cafcass);

b) a person who has served as a member for a total period exceeding eight years;

c)  an undischarged bankrupt; or

d) a person in respect of whom a bankruptcy restrictions order or an interim bankruptcy restrictions order under Schedule 4A of the Insolvency Act 1986(5) has effect.

Candidates should have the right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply for a public appointment.

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. 

You cannot be considered for a public appointment if:

• you are disqualified from acting as a company director  (under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986);

• have an unspent conviction on your criminal record;

• your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors.

When you apply, you should declare if:

• you are, or have been, bankrupt or you have made an arrangement with a creditor at any point, including the dates of this. 

• you are subject to a current police investigation.

You must inform the sponsor department if, during the application process, your circumstances change in respect of any of the above points. 

When you apply you should also declare any relevant interests, highlighting any that you think may call into question your ability to properly discharge the responsibilities of the role you are applying for. You should also declare any other matters which may mean you may not be able to meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Board Members (see Outside interests and reputational issues section below)

Security clearance

The successful candidate will be required to undertake Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks in line with the Civil Service guidelines. Additional Security Clearance may also be required for certain roles. However, where this applies, candidates will be notified during the appointment process. Further information on National Security Vetting can be found on the Gov.uk website here.

Additional information for candidates

Equality and diversity

We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom. Boards of public bodies are most effective when they reflect the diversity of views of the society they serve and this is an important part of the Government’s levelling up agenda.

We collect data about applicants’ characteristics and backgrounds, including information about people’s educational and professional backgrounds, so that we can make sure we are attracting a broad range of people to these roles and that our selection processes are fair for everyone. Without this information, it makes it difficult to see if our outreach is working, if the application process is having an unfair impact on certain groups and whether changes are making a positive difference.

When you submit your application, your responses are collected by the Cabinet Office and the government department(s) managing your application. The data is used to produce management information about the diversity of applicants. You can select “prefer not to say” to any question you do not wish to answer. The information you provide will not be seen by the Advisory Assessment Panel who review applications against the advertised criteria and conduct interviews.

Disability confident

We are a member of the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. We use the Disability Confident scheme symbol, along with other like-minded employers, to show our commitment to good practice in employing people with a disability. The scheme helps recruit and retain disabled people. As part of implementing the scheme, we guarantee an interview for anyone with a disability whose application meets the essential criteria for the role, set out in the advert, and who has asked that their application is considered under the scheme. Indicating that you wish your application to be considered under the scheme will in no way prejudice your application. By ‘essential criteria', we mean that you must provide evidence which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required under each of the essential criteria, as set out in the job-advert. When you apply you will have the opportunity to select if you would like your application considered under this scheme.

Reasonable adjustments

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to make sure applicants with disabilities, physical or mental health conditions, or other needs are not substantially disadvantaged when applying for public appointments. This can include changing the recruitment process to enable people who wish to apply to do so.

Some examples of common changes are:

• ensuring that application forms are available in different or accessible formats;
• making adaptations to interview locations;
• allowing candidates to present their skills and experience in a different way;
• giving additional detailed information on the selection / interview process in advance to allow candidates time to prepare themselves;
• allowing support workers, for example sign language interpreters;
• making provision for support animals to attend.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments to the application process.

Principles of public life

The Seven Principles of Public Life (also known as the Nolan Principles) apply to anyone who works as a public office-holder.

1. Selflessness

Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.

2. Integrity

Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

3. Objectivity

Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

4. Accountability

Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.

5. Openness

Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.

6. Honesty

Holders of public office should be truthful.

7. Leadership

Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour and treat others with respect. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

Code of conduct for board members

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. In support of this, all non-executive board members of UK public bodies must abide by the principles set out in the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. The Code sets out the standards expected from those who serve on the boards of UK public bodies and will form part of your terms and conditions of appointment.

Management of outside interests and consideration of reputational issues

Holders of public office are expected to adhere and uphold the Seven Principles of Public Life and the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. Before you apply you should consider carefully: 

• any outside interests that you may have, such as shares you may hold in a company providing services to government; 
• any possible reputational issues arising from your past actions or public statements that you have made; 
• and/or - any political roles you hold or political campaigns you have supported; 

which may call into question your ability to do the role you are applying for.

You will need to answer relevant questions in relation to these points when making an application. Many conflicts of interest can be satisfactorily resolved and declaring a potential conflict does not prevent you from being interviewed. If you are shortlisted for an interview, the panel will discuss any potential conflicts with you during that interview, including any proposals you may have to mitigate them and record that in their advice to ministers. Alongside your own declaration, we will conduct appropriate checks, as part of which we will consider anything in the public domain related to your conduct or professional capacity. This may include searches of previous public statements and social media, blogs or any other publicly available information. The successful candidate(s) may be required to give up any conflicting interests and their other business and financial interests may be published in line with organisational policies. 

Details of declared political activity will be published when the appointment is announced, as required by the Governance Code (political activity is not a bar to appointment, but must be declared).

Status of appointment

As this is an office holder appointment, you will not become a member of the Civil Service. You will not be subject to the provisions of employment law.

Appointment and tenure of office

Appointments are for the term set out in this advert, with the possibility of re-appointment for a further term, at the discretion of Ministers.  Any re-appointment is subject to satisfactory annual appraisals of performance during the first term in the post. There is no automatic presumption of reappointment; each case should be considered on its own merits, taking into account a number of factors including, but not restricted to, the diversity of the current board and its balance of skills and experience. In most cases, the total time served in post will not exceed more than two terms or ten years in any one post. 

Remuneration, allowances and abatement

You can claim reimbursement for reasonable travel and subsistence costs which are properly and necessarily incurred on official business, in line with the travel and subsistence policy and rates for the organisation to which you are applying. However these payments are taxable as earnings and will be subject to tax and national insurance, both of which will be deducted at source under PAYE before you are paid.  

Pension and redundancy

This is an office holder appointment and does not attract any benefits under any Civil Service Pension Scheme. You will not be eligible for redundancy pay as you are not an employee. No other arrangements have been made for compensation upon the end of your term of appointment because an office holder who is appointed for a limited duration would have no expectation of serving beyond that period.

Application feedback

We will notify you of the status of your application. We regret that we are only able to offer detailed feedback to candidates who have been unsuccessful at the interview stage.

How to complain

We aim to process all applications as quickly as possible and to treat all applicants with courtesy.

Please contact the Ministry of Justice public appointments team in the first instance if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application at publicappointmentsteam@justice.gov.uk. They will acknowledge your complaint upon receipt and respond within 15 working days.

How to complain to Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA)

If you are not content with the appointing department’s response you may wish to further complain to the Commissioner at publicappointments@csc.gov.uk.Further information on how the Commissioner handles complaints can be found on the Commissioner for Public Appointments’ website https://publicappointmentscommissioner.independent.gov.uk/regulating-appointments/investigating-complaints/

Data protection

The Cabinet Office will use your data in line with our privacy policy.

Privacy Notice: Public Appointments

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is committed to the protection and security of your personal information.

It is important that you read this notice so that you are aware of how and why we are using such information. This privacy notice describes how we collect and use personal information during and after your relationship with us, in accordance with data protection law.

MoJ is the data controller for the personal data used for the purposes of making public appointments.

The type of personal data we process

We currently collect and use the following information:

• Name;
• Contact details;
• Employment history and qualifications
• Curriculum vitae and other background information relevant to your application, including sift and interview assessments made by the advisory assessment panel;
• Information you provide on interests relevant to the role you are applying for;
• Political activity;

·       Health information as required to facilitate access and participation in events (e.g. venue access and dietary requirements).

·       Due Diligence checks;

• As part of the recruitment process, for those candidates being invited to interview, the Department will undertake due diligence checks to assess their suitability for the role, including (alongside consideration of their own declaration of relevant interests) evidence of their conduct and/or professional capacity as demonstrated by information about them in the public domain.

How we get your personal data and why we have it

We receive most of your personal data through your application and declaration form.

We also gather personal information indirectly, from various sources as part of the due diligence checks. This will include, for examples:

• your public social media activity, including searches on sites such as LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook
• Searches for any relevant news stories
• The Electoral Register (http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/)  

·       Companies House (https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/)

·       The Insolvency Register website (https://www.gov.uk/search-bankruptcy-insolvency-register)   

In submitting your application you acknowledge that such due diligence will be undertaken in respect of you and that copies of search results may be saved, stored securely, and used as part of the recruitment process in line with this privacy notice. Processing of such data is necessary to protect the reputation of the Department. Candidates may be asked about their public profiles/search results, at interview. 

We process your personal data for the purposes of making public appointments in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. More information about this work is available from the Commissioner for Public Appointments' website.

Where we need to share your personal data with others, we ensure that this data sharing complies with data protection legislation. For the purposes of this work we may need to share your personal information with:

·       The Cabinet Office

·       The Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments

Under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the lawful basis we rely on for processing your personal information is:

·       Performance of a public task.

The legal bases on which the MoJ processes special categories of information you have provided, is on the basis of:

·       The substantial public interest in the Secretary of State appointing suitable candidates to the role. substantial public interest condition.

International Data Transfers

There are no international transfers

How we store your personal data

If you are successful in an application and appointed we will hold your data for three years from date appointment ends and then delete.

If you are unsuccessful in your application your data will be held for two years from end of campaign and then deleted.

Your Rights

• Your right of access - You have the right to ask us for copies of your personal information.
• Your right to rectification - You have the right to ask us to rectify personal information you think is inaccurate. You also have the right to ask us to complete information you think is incomplete.
• Your right to erasure - You have the right to ask us to erase your personal information in certain circumstances.
• Your right to restriction of processing - You have the right to ask us to restrict the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
• Your right to object to processing - You have the right to object to the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.

·       Your right to data portability - You have the right to ask that we transfer the personal information you gave us to another organisation, or to you, in certain circumstances.

Depending on the lawful basis on which your personal data is being processed, not all rights will apply.

You are not required to pay any charge for exercising your rights. If you make a request, we have one month to respond to you If you wish to exercise your data protection rights please contact:

Disclosure Team

Post point 10.38

102 Petty France

London

SW1H 9AJ

data.access@justice.gov.uk

How to complain

If you have any concerns about our use of your personal data, you can contact the MoJ data protection officer;

Data Protection Officer

Ministry of Justice

5th Floor, Post Point 5.18

102 Petty France

London

SW1H 9AJ

dpo@justice.gov.uk

You can also complain to the ICO if you are unhappy with how we have used your data.

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

Helpline number: 0303 123 1113

ICO website: https://www.ico.org.uk

Contact details

Campaign Manager: Alistair Horsley

Email: publicappointmentsteam@justice.gov.uk

Phone: 07549 426626