Every year, around 137,000 children in England rely on Cafcass to ensure their voices are heard and their welfare is protected within family court proceedings. As the independent organisation representing children in the family justice system, Cafcass plays a unique and vital role in helping courts make decisions that are in children's best interests.



Cafcass is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice, with responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children involved in family court proceedings. As England's largest employer of qualified social workers, it provides independent advice to the courts and supports children and families at some of the most critical moments in their lives. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted, Cafcass is recognised for delivering high-quality services and continues to play a leading role in shaping reform across the family justice system to improve outcomes for children and young people.



We are seeking an exceptional Chair to provide strategic leadership to the Board and guide the organisation through its next phase of development. Working closely with the Chief Executive, you will help shape Cafcass's future direction, ensure effective governance and accountability, and maintain a clear focus on achieving the best possible outcomes for children. You will also act as a visible ambassador for the organisation, engaging confidently with ministers, senior government officials, the judiciary, partner organisations and the media.



You will bring significant board-level leadership experience gained within a complex service delivery organisation operating at scale. You will have a strong understanding of child services, family support, safeguarding, health or social care, together with experience of leading transformation and improvement in public services. Strong relationship-building skills, sound judgement, resilience, and the ability to provide both support and constructive challenge will be essential. An understanding of the role of family justice and court services in improving outcomes for children will also be important.



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Recruitment Timetable



Closing date

11am on Friday 25 September 2026



Short listing

Week commencing 12 October 2026



Final panel

Week commencing 23 November 2026




How to apply




Before you apply



To help you succeed, we have provided application guidance on our Public Appointments campaign page.



You'll need to create an account on the UK Government's Public Appointments website or sign into your account, and complete the following:

• equality information


• information relating to any outside interests or potential reputational issues

You will also be asked to provide diversity data, and to declare any potential conflicts of interest or reputational issues.




If you have not completed the steps above, your application will not be accepted.



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.




You must also apply via the GatenbySanderson website by 11:00 on Friday 25 September 2026.




Any applications submitted after the closing date, or that are missing any of the following documents, will not be accepted. A CV or equivalent biographical information (maximum two sides A4, minimum 12 font) setting out your career history and including details of any professional qualifications. Provide a summary of why you are interested in the role and how you meet the specification and essential criteria. This can be in a form that allows you most ably to present your interest and credentials, for example a short, bullet-point slide presentation (no more than 5 slides), a short video (no more than 2 mins) or supporting letter (no more than two A4 pages, minimum 12 font). Make sure you refer to the contents of this document and provide specific examples.