Job Introduction
The Court Consultant role will work alongside parents, where children are subject to care proceedings, to co-ordinate and implement support and intervention plans and complete assessments in relation to parents’ ability to overcome the problems identified and reduce the impact on parenting capacity.
You will not be the allocated worker for the child. This approach to care proceedings can be successful in helping parents to commit to and work alongside key services, such as domestic abuse, mental health and substance misuse services, leading to more children being able to remain in their parents’ care, or to return home at the conclusion of care proceedings.
Where we are not able to engage parents and children cannot return home, quicker decisions are made about permanent placements for them, and a greater proportion of parents remain engaged with services.
Key Responsibilities
- To case manage and track the progression of legal process in the child in care team, to include discharge of care orders, progression of special guardianship orders, review of placement with parent arrangements originating in Bradford Trust against the agreed timescales and to ensure that all parties including lawyers, social work teams, IRO’s and Children’s Guardian’s understand at the outset of each case, the role of the Court Consultant and their duties to ensure that court directions are met and handled in a timely fashion in accordance with the timescales of the child.
- Work with key stakeholders to devise and implement new ways of working and set clear standards in respect of court directed work, supporting operational changes where necessary to improve standards.
- Use a range of leadership and management techniques to support staff and managers to improve practice, continuous learning, creatively interpreting and applying legislation and developing supporting policy and practice. This includes providing support and challenge to social work team managers in relation to Quality Assurance and Practice.
- To provide direct guidance and consultation to Social Workers, Practice Supervisors and Team Managers who are managing pre-proceedings, public and private law proceedings cases. This will include the provision of direct support and quality assurance of statements and care plans and supporting the preparation of Social Workers for giving evidence in court.
About You
- Be passionate about excellent social work practice and helping and supporting families.
- Hold a DipSW or equivalent qualification and are registered with Social Work England as a qualified social worker.
- Have substantial post qualification social work experience with a minimum of 12 months as an experienced level 3 social worker.
- Will have an excellent working knowledge of relevant safeguarding legislation and care planning regulations, as well as keeping up to date with changes in policy, guidance and research relating to court work and permanence for children.
- Have excellent verbal and written communication skills and be able to make good decisions based on the information available, ensuring effective relationships with other professionals.
- Be able to provide assessments of parents, their willingness and capacity to engage in therapeutic work, their parenting capacity and, of paramount importance, the safety of their children to the court on a regular basis and work closely with Problem Solving Court colleagues and partners.
- Will have a breadth of experience in working with families within court proceedings, including experience of writing assessments and giving evidence in court.
You’ll also be joining an organisation that truly values its people, offering a range of benefits designed to support your wellbeing, growth, and work-life balance, including:
- Retention Payment: You will be eligible for our annual retention payment, paid in 12 monthly instalments. This is non contractual (reviewed annually)
- Generous annual leave - 31 days rising to 34 with service, plus bank holidays
- Excellent Local Government pension
- Family-friendly policies and enhanced parental leave
- Health & wellbeing support, including Occupational Health and counselling
- Professional development and career progression opportunities
- we are a National Living Wage employer
For full details of our benefits, please see the attached ‘Our Benefits’ brochure.
Bradford Children and Families Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment.
If shortlisted, you will be required to disclose relevant information regarding criminal history prior to interview.
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check including a check against the Children’s barred list, will be carried out on preferred candidates.
To arrange an informal discussion - Please contact Sarah Metcalfe, Service Manager for a informal discussion. Email: sarah.metcalfe@bradfordcft.org.uk Telephone: 07812 490 662
Closing Date - 2nd August 2026
Interviews - TBC
