Deputy Head of Communications
This is a {Advertised Permanent / Temporary}, {Advertised Full Time / Part Time} vacancy that will close in {x} days at {xx:xx} BST.
The Vacancy
Would you like to work in a purpose driven communications role that has a direct impact on 130,000 children and families every year? Cafcass (the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service) is a national organisation that supports children by understanding their experiences and speaking up for them when the family court makes critical decisions about their futures. It is an arm’s-length body of the Ministry of Justice and the largest employer of qualified social workers in England.
If you are a senior communications professional with a strong sense of purpose, who enjoys rising to a challenge and making a tangible difference, then this could be the right role for you.
About the role
We are seeking an experienced and strategic communications professional to join us as Deputy Head of Communications, providing senior leadership for the Cafcass communications team, closely working with the Head of Communications and senior leadership.
As Deputy Head of Communications, you will play a pivotal role in shaping, delivering and evaluating creative and effective communication strategies that support our organisational priorities. You will lead Cafcass’ media function and be a trusted adviser who works pragmatically with senior leaders and key stakeholders to develop media strategies.
You will also act as our senior digital communications lead, driving the continued development of Cafcass’ social media channels, digital platforms and online presence. Your expertise will ensure that our digital communication is strategic, responsive and insight‑led, supporting engagement with children, families, partners and colleagues.
You will work closely with our suppliers including our media monitoring service and our website developers ensuring effective contract management and value for money.
Leadership and Team Development
In this role, you will provide confident, supportive and empowering line management to members of the communications team. You will promote a culture of accountability, excellence and continuous learning, ensuring colleagues are supported to grow, innovate and deliver high-quality work.
Your leadership approach will balance professional challenge with coaching and development, modelling the values and behaviours expected across Cafcass.
Location
This is a national role within a flexible, predominantly remote-working team. Travel to our Central London office will be required for key meetings, events and project delivery. London weighting or expenses will apply depending on your contracted location.
About you
- Degree-level education or equivalent professional experience in communications, media, PR or a related field.
- Significant experience leading communications teams in complex, fast-paced, politically aware environments. Thrives working across multiple projects with a variety of stakeholders.
- A strong track record of advising senior leaders and influencing decision‑making at an organisational level.
- Expertise in developing and delivering integrated communication strategies, managing channels and producing engaging content for diverse audiences.
- Excellent judgement and communication skills, with the ability to write clearly, concisely and with impact.
- A strong understanding of the public sector context, including political sensitivity and awareness of risk.
- Robust project management and analytical skills, using audience insight and evaluation to inform continuous improvement.
- Experience in media relations, including proactive and reactive press handling, and an ability to build constructive relationships with partners across sectors.
- Experience developing and enhancing digital platforms, working closely with external suppliers to ensure optimum impact.
- A commitment to inclusive, sensitive and non‑discriminatory practice, demonstrating professional integrity in all interactions.
Next steps / Timelines
Below we have given you an indication of a timetable we are hoping to work towards, although dates are subject to change.
| Closing date: | 6th April 2026 |
| Telephone interviews (via Teams): | 16th &17th April |
| Final Interview (in person Grays Inn Road, London): | 22nd April |
Vacancy Contact - Priya.Kadara@cafcass.gov.uk
Be Their Voice
We are Cafcass – the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service – and we represent children in family court cases in England.
Independently advising the family courts about what is safe for children and in their best interests, we speak up for over 130,0000 children every year when the family court makes critical decisions about their futures, ensuring their needs, wishes and feelings are heard.
Watch our video to find out we don’t just listen to children’s voices but we can be their voice.
If our purpose resonates with you, and you share our ambitions for children - exceptional experiences, for every child, everywhere and every time - then if you join us, you will work alongside like-minded people in a diverse, inclusive and supportive organisation.
You will be trusted to work flexibly and independently using outstanding technology (e.g. touchscreen laptops, iPhone, all with first class support, including IT Trainers) with access to substantial resources (e.g. Cafcass Library has over 27,000 resources on social work, child protection and related topics). You will also have opportunities to develop, whatever team you join, wherever you are in the country and at whatever stage you are at in your career.
Whether you join us in one of our social work roles that work directly with children and families or our corporate and business services teams who provide technology, support and expertise, you will have the chance to make a difference for children and families. You can also find out more at www.cafcass.gov.uk/careers.
Wellbeing
The wellbeing of our colleagues is something we are truly passionate about, as demonstrated by everyone having four dedicated, additional days per year when they are encouraged to spend time focusing on their health and wellbeing.
Colleagues can also have a health and wellbeing cash plan, for which Cafcass pays the basic premium (you can upgrade to include family members), which allows them to claim back some costs of routine health expenses, including dental check-ups, eye tests, physiotherapy sessions and more.
Overall, we foster a holistic approach to supporting our colleagues, benefitting physical, mental and financial health. This is led by a dedicated in-house team, the benefits of which include meaning support is targeted and specific to what colleagues need. Our team can also offer support and guidance when it comes to specific health conditions, such as neuro-diverse conditions, cancer and the menopause.
Our wellbeing offer is further strengthened by an external Employee Assistance Provider (EAP) which provides a free confidential support service 24 hours a day. This means access to clinical and professional expertise which gives you a chance to talk about all kinds of work and personal issues.
If this wasn’t enough, we are especially proud that over 125 colleagues have completed training and receive ongoing support to act as Health and Wellbeing Champions. Furthermore, we have nearly 100 people that have trained to be Mental Health Allies.
Diversity
We represent children and families from diverse backgrounds and having a diverse workforce helps us to fulfil this responsibility authentically.
It also helps us to grow, evolve and innovate, so we particularly welcome applications from individuals from diverse backgrounds as we strive to ensure our workforce reflects the diversity of the children and families we work with.
We are proud to be a disability confident leader, we invite you to join our team, we are committed to actively attract and recruit individuals with disabilities including “non-visible” disabilities and mental health conditions. Our inclusive and accessible recruitment process means we aim to accommodate reasonable adjustments as needed. This commitment highlights our dedication to employing, training, retaining, and developing the careers of our colleagues with disabilities.
Our Diversity Networks provide a safe space for colleagues with shared aspects of identity and lived experience – supported by allies across the organisation. The networks help ensure we provide an inclusive working environment and a service which promotes the diversity and uniqueness of children and families from all backgrounds.
For more information watch our video here.
Our current networks include:
Kaleidoscope Network
Colleagues from Black Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds.
Mental Health Network
Colleagues who experience, or have an interest in, Mental Health issues.
Pride
Network
Colleagues who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans – LGBT+.
Neurodiversity Network
Colleagues who are neurodivergent, or support someone who is.
Together
‘Together with Children and Families’ (which we just call ‘Together’) is the name of our relationship-based practice framework. It applies to the work of every individual in Cafcass, from Social Workers to Leaders and includes our Corporate and Business Support teams.
It is at the heart of what we do and is made up of our values, how these values work in practice, the tools to use to incorporate these values in our work and the impact this will have on the children and families we serve.
This framework encourages us to be pro-active and to look for the strengths in ourselves and others. It also enables us to build positive relationships with our colleagues, our partners and most importantly, with the children and families with whom we work.
We look forward to telling helping you learn more about Together should you join us.
Benefits
We know if you join us you want to be rewarded in a variety of ways, including time away from work to spend time with those important to you, manage your financial present and future, whilst also be trusted to manage your work/life balance.
Therefore, in addition to our unique, holistic approach to supporting your health and wellbeing we also provide:
Generous holidays
28 days holiday (including three for Christmas) rising to 33 days with five years continuous service, which could include your current employment. You can also sell any you do not need.
This list is just a selection of main benefits and we have a range of policies and processes that allow us to support our colleagues - and their families – and we look forward to providing you with further information about these in due course.
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