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Starting your social work career can be both exciting and challenging, especially when balancing work and family life.
In this blog, one of our newly qualified social workers shares what a typical day looks like for her at Cafcass while she’s completing her Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE). She reflects on the variety, flexibility and rewards of the role, and how she manages family life alongside a career supporting children and families through the family justice system.
Balancing life as a newly qualified social worker and a full-time working mum is definitely a juggling act, but it's also incredibly rewarding. No two days are ever the same, but here's what a typical day looks like for me.
As a newly qualified social worker completing my Assessed and Supported Year in Employment (ASYE) at Cafcass, I work with children and families involved in family court proceedings. My role is to help children have their voices heard, understand their experiences and relationships, and provide recommendations to the court that support children's welfare and best interests.
A brief overview of ASYE social work
The ASYE is a national programme that helps newly qualified social workers transition into professional practice. During their first year, social workers receive additional support, learning opportunities and guidance from experienced colleagues to help build their confidence and skills.
At Cafcass, ASYE social workers work directly with children and families involved in family court proceedings, helping to ensure children's voices are heard and their experiences are understood.
6:00am – The morning rush begins
My day starts early. I'm up at 6am getting myself ready before helping my children get up, dressed and prepared for school. Mornings can be busy, but staying organised helps me start the day on the right foot.
Before leaving the house, I pack my lunch, grab my work laptop and, if I have a school visit planned, prepare my direct work resources for the day.
Meeting children in school can help them feel more comfortable sharing their experiences and views in a familiar setting. Direct work is one of the most rewarding parts of my role, and I use a range of age-appropriate activities to help children express what is important to them. By building trust and creating a safe space for conversation, I can better understand their experiences and ensure their voices are heard within the family court process.
8:20am – School run
Before officially starting the day, I drop my children at school and then head straight to my office base.
9:00am – Settling in at the office
I arrive at the office, set up my laptop, and of course, make a much-needed cappuccino to start the day.
10:00am – Admin and case management
I spend time catching up on administrative tasks, checking emails and reviewing my Excel work tracker to see what tasks are outstanding across my open family court cases.
As a trainee Family Court Adviser, it's important that I keep in touch with families, schools, local authorities and legal professionals, ensuring I have the information needed to fully understand each child's circumstances and experiences.
10:30am – Report writing
I finish preparing a Section 7 report for one of my families and send it to my line manager for review. It will then be shared with court, solicitors, and parents. This type of report provides information and recommendations to help the court decide what arrangements are in a child's best interests.
Report writing is a key part of the role. The reports I prepare help inform important decisions about children's futures. This means carefully analysing information, considering the child's wishes and feelings, and making evidence-based recommendations that focus on their welfare and best interests.
11:00am – Sharing my recommendations
Once my manager has checked the report, I call the parents to talk through my recommendations with them. After this, I log the discussion on our case tracking system, ensuring everything is clearly recorded. This helps me to manage my cases effectively. The technology that Cafcass offers to help us do this is great.
11:30am – Lunch break
Time for a quick lunch and a reset before the afternoon begins.
12:00pm – Heading out for a school visit
After lunch, I leave the office for my direct work school visit. I planned the session a few days ago and packed everything this morning, so I feel fully prepared and not rushed.
12:30pm – Direct work with a child
When I arrive at the school, I sign in and show my identification. I then spend time with the child, completing direct work to understand their wishes and feelings.
I typically use professional resources like the diversity wheel and a Cafcass direct work sheet to help children express themselves in ways that feel comfortable and engaging.
Children are at the heart of everything we do at Cafcass. During sessions like these, I take time to build trust and create a safe space where children can talk openly. Every conversation helps me better understand what matters most to them, what they may be worried about, and what support they really need.
One of the most rewarding parts of the role is empowering children to have their voice heard during family court proceedings. Knowing that a child feels listened to and understood can make a real difference to their experience of the family justice system.
1:30pm – Travel back to the office
After the session, I head back to my office base.
2:00pm – Recording and follow-up work
Back at the office, I write up a detailed contact log about the direct work session. I upload photos of the work completed to include in my Section 7 report.
I also complete other admin tasks, such as chasing a school welfare report. These are really important for understanding the child's experience at school, but sometimes require follow-ups because schools are just as busy as we are!
Although recording information can seem like a small part of the day, maintaining accurate records is essential. It helps ensure children's views are reflected clearly and that everyone involved in the case has access to the information needed to make informed decisions.
3:10pm – School pickup
I leave the office to collect my children from school. One of the things I value most about working at Cafcass is the flexible working arrangements, which help me balance my professional responsibilities with family life.
When we get home, I settle the children with snacks and activities so they can unwind after their day. Being able to work from home means I can be present for important moments with my children while continuing to provide the best support in my role.
3:45pm – Afternoon work
I can then log back on and continue working from home. I catch up on some more admin, send emails, and continue writing another family's Section 7 report.
As a newly qualified social worker, I'm also continuing to develop my skills and knowledge through continuous learning opportunities, reflective discussions and support from experienced colleagues. So, during my admin time at the end of the day, I often spend time on such activities, reading and reflecting on valuable guidance that helps me build my professional confidence.
5:30pm – Wrapping up
I finish for the day by checking my calendar and planning ahead for tomorrow, making sure I stay organised and prepared.
Final thoughts
Being a newly qualified social worker while raising a family may at first seem challenging, but it’s also incredibly rewarding. Working at Cafcass suits me well, as the role offers a level of flexibility that supports my responsibilities as a mother to young children.
Each day, I have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in children's and families' lives.
What I enjoy most is knowing that my work helps children to be heard, understood and represented during some of the most important moments in their lives. For anyone considering a newly qualified social worker role at Cafcass, it's a unique opportunity to develop your professional skills, work alongside experienced practitioners, and make a lasting difference for children and families when they need support the most.
Find out more
If you've enjoyed reading about life as a newly qualified social worker at Cafcass and would like to explore a career where you can make a real difference for children and families, we encourage you to find out more about our current opportunities.
Visit our vacancies webpage to discover the latest roles and learn how you can help ensure children's voices are heard throughout family court proceedings.
