Interview with CAFCASS please help!!!

Dear all

I have an interview with CAFCASS for a NQSW.  Please give me any advice and any possible questions.

 

Many thanks in advance

Hi Cee,

 

I currently work for Cafcass as an FCA and I started in June 2011.  I don't know about what they have already asked of you but for my interview I had to complete a 10 minute presentation entitled "Why Cafcass", and a written case study.  In total, the whole process lasted about 3 hours. 

 

As for the questions, it's the usual SW interview questions of examples of when you've dealt with CP and what action you took, example of a time when discrimination was an issue (either with SU or colleague), example of a time you have managed conflict, example of a time you have made appropriate planning for a child, example of good direct work with a child...etc etc. 

 

I'm not sure about the exact NQSW role (as we don't have one in our office at the moment) but I would make yourself very familiar with the Family Justice Review (which I think is out this week some time) and of the structures within Cafcass.  Knowing the differences between Public and Private Law and the role of the Guardian would be crucial. 

 

Most importantly...relax and good luck! 

What on earth is CAFCASS doing taking on NQSW's? - no disrespect but their role requires social workers with some considerable experience.

Yes I am surprised that they would consider a NQSW however maybe you had some very good placements or extensive pre qualifying experience.

I would try and demonstrate a good knowledge of Childcare Law, a desire to remain Child focussed and the ability to type fast!!! A knowledge of court proceedings and how to write a good report is essential. Also good time management skills.

However much experience you have I cannot think that it will cover all the different aspects of this work. I would list your learning needs and ask if they will be able to support you as a NQW in order for you to become competent.

As a NQSW I would think twice before going into a highly specialised service such as CAFCASS as long term it may limit your career development, although I know it is difficult for newly qualifieds  to get employment so good luck.

 

 

 

Q1.....How many cases can you take?

Q 2.....can you take any more?

Q3.......your colleagues have all got a lot more cases than you......are you sure you can't take any more cases??????

Q4.......And if not I will put your on one of CAFCASS's infamous Action Plans so are you really sure that you can't take more cases?

Many thanks for that, very useful. 

Some info below re the NQSW recruitment to CAFCASS for those who are interested:

http://www.cafcass.gov.uk/recruitment/application_pack/nqsw.aspx

 

Cee...I know that you didn't appeciate the flippant comments...but like everything there's a grain of truth in everything......and instead of a grain......have a bloody great boulder.....

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201012/cmselect/cmjust/518/51809.htm

If you get the job...let us know how it's going.....and genuinely...good luck with your application.

I didn't focus on those flippant comments by the way. I am genuinely saying thank you!!

Dear All

Thank you so much, I got the job.

Congratulations.

 

 

for all my negativity about Cafcass...I hope you do well Cee...give us regular dispatches from the front

Yeah, it would be interesting to hear about life inside CAFCASS.

Brilliant

Commiserations - it's an awful Organisation / Quango and I am far from convinced that it puts children first.

I'm intrigued to hear more about the NQSW role at CAFCASS ... Given the amount of head butting I'm currently having with an obnoxious guardian who has met a child once at the beginning of proceedings and now has bothered to meet them again when his report is due but is now trying to delay the final heating because they have not done their job and have made incorrect assumptions about the case......I'd be really interested to know how CAFCASS are going to train nqsw's in being able to challenge la social workers and care plans when it is extremely unlikely they would have court experience or anywhere near enough cp experience? Complex case experience? Is it just section 7 reports? In which case how do the NQSW,s get cp case work experience?!?! ....... Not slating the OP .... Well done on getting a job! ..... I'm just so confused and disappointed that what used to be the most experienced role in social work has been reduced and reduced in qualifying experience so that social workers with only three years experience and now even NQSW's can do it?? I simply don't get how guardians can be critical and challenging social workers when they have not done the job or have a real understanding??? ....... OP - please seriously keep us updated on here - I really want to know how this is working out.... Good luck :-)....... Also thinking back to a post a few years ago about a guardian grow your own type scheme and being a student and thinking (possibly even saying!) that rupert and shirack were being unfair to NQSW's ..... Oh how my thoughts have changed!!!

Of course none of you were ever newly qualified and lacked experince and were never ever thought by your collagues as not knowing anything and how dare you be employed and how on earth were you ever going to be capable of doing the job. We all bow down in awe to your ego's with the humility that comes with knowing how supportive and encouraging you would be if we dared to work with you. Before you get cocky I have been a qualified practitoner for 26 years but seem not to have aqcuired the marvelous skill of forgetting that I also at one point was a student and an extremly self concious new practitioner. Look forward to your endless smart and knowing responses. Never lose your humility I say for it makes you a self righteous bore.

Read the Post preceding yours 'lovecats' before responding so aggressively - 'supersonic' reflects a worrying reality and waits with interest follow-up from the original poster.

In my admittedly very humble opinion Rupert M I find that one of the most aggressive phrases in discourse is "no disrespect but"

And also "With respect..." and then setting all the areas of disagreement. Far better to say that "I disagree with you because...."

Blimey,  expertise in debating skills too. I was bowing earlier now I realise I should really be scraping. Priviliged to be kept on the right path to enlightenment. With respect I think I'll let tthe topic return to its origins.

the NQSW scheme in Cafcass is yet another example of Anthony Douglas' madcap ideas. As the Children's Guardian doesn't just provide an "independent" report to courts but also monitors and critiques the work of the L.A. then their role is predicated on the Guardian possessing the pre-requisite knowledge and experience of child protection work and bringing care proceedings in particular.

So it was that Guardians needed to have extensive experience in social work with children and families. At first it was thought that 5 years prior experience should be the minimum needed to undertake the role...then this was reduced to 3 years and now with the Cafcass NQSW role it's been reduced even further to one year in a L.A. placement and 2 other "trainee" years in Cafcass.

So it is quite right and proper to subject these "dumbing down" strategies to scrutiny. Personal and professional integrity is important in the role as practitioners are working with solicitors, barristers, magistrates and judges (as well as children and families in crisis) ...who can be tough and uncompromising bedfellows...and will expose any poor or unfocussed practice...ruthlessly at times...so the practitioner needs to be on their mettle.

Whether the NQSW's in Cafcass can gain that level of expertise in so short a time is open to question...it's not just a matter of knocking NQSW's generally...it is the notion of an "apprenticeship period", which allows practitioners to gain experience in a relatively safe and supported manner and i doubt very much whether Cafcass as an organisation can provide that...as not only have their executive failed..in a spectacular way but Cafcass is embarking on a major change period with an uncertain future despite what the politicians say.

Cafcass is an unforgiving organisation where corporate risk in terms of manageble caseloads has been passed down to individual practitioners...so that there are no external waiting lists but practitioners are extremely limited in what work they can actually do on cases...this is not a strategy that can last...somethings got to give.

 

I know that Cafcass is drawing upon

lovecats:

In my admittedly very humble opinion Rupert M I find that one of the most aggressive phrases in discourse is "no disrespect but"

 Oh come on now, don't get upset when people are just making obvious points. Just off to have a root filling with my trainee dentist.

'Shirack' - have just had root canal work after terrible pain!!! -  3 separate hours of dental work. Hope that you trainee dentist does a good job.

 

 

lovecats:

Of course none of you were ever newly qualified and lacked experince and were never ever thought by your collagues as not knowing anything and how dare you be employed and how on earth were you ever going to be capable of doing the job. We all bow down in awe to your ego's with the humility that comes with knowing how supportive and encouraging you would be if we dared to work with you. Before you get cocky I have been a qualified practitoner for 26 years but seem not to have aqcuired the marvelous skill of forgetting that I also at one point was a student and an extremly self concious new practitioner. Look forward to your endless smart and knowing responses. Never lose your humility I say for it makes you a self righteous bore.

Great quality humility and we all start somewhere, as you say. Which is why, in my opinion, humility must be surely lacking for those that are newly qualified to choose a role where they pass comment on the practice of those that are experienced.

I'm not knocking the ability of NQSW's, but It's like running before you can walk. How will they ever understand the pressures of the system that social workers are forced to practise in?

Similarly, I also find it incredible that people who are 2 or 3 years qualified are often desperate to zoom the managerial ladder. Where is the grounding? That grounding is priceless. There shouldn't be 'short cuts'.

Redana, presumably the JD for the job allowed NQSW to apply so the question really should be directed to cafcass not the social worker who applied and in this instance was successful at securing the job. Humility as you say also means knowing your own limitations but we also make a judgement about our strengths and if the JD seems to support these then apply I say. We sink or swim once we plunge in. It is very easy for experienced workers to resent others they see as not so experienced but this on its own does not mean that NQSW’s don’t have better qualities than some of us. They are not ground-down by the realities of the job for a start. I have medical doctor friends and though they too are self-conscious and feel often out of their depth as junior doctors, I have yet to meet a Consultant grade doctor who sees them as anything other than fellow doctors. A mature person with pre-qualification experience should have the confidence to stand up to a more qualified social worker. If they make sense than we need the confidence to acknowledge this as the moe experinced worker. What some of these comments seem to imply is that by dint of NQSW status, these colleagues have little to nothing to offer us. our service and to service users. I just don’t subscribe to that. If we were all fully formed and had the knowledge and skills form the off than these comments would make sense to me. To suggest that one can only do a job once one has already done it has an internal illogic that does not seem to preoccupy the real professions. How does one get the grounding without being allowed on to the ground?

lovecats:

Redana, presumably the JD for the job allowed NQSW to apply

Of course it did- to state the obvious, it's an NQSW recruitment programme.

lovecats:

It is very easy for experienced workers to resent others they see as not so experienced

I am genuinely pleased for any NQSW that manages to get a social work job- that's not the point though.

lovecats:

I have medical doctor friends and though they too are self-conscious and feel often out of their depth as junior doctors, I have yet to meet a Consultant grade doctor who sees them as anything other than fellow doctors.

Yes, they should respect the junior Drs, but the junior Drs are not in the job position of giving specialist advice to the consultants. As you say, they may have much to offer, but can be 'out of their depth'.

lovecats:

What some of these comments seem to imply is that by dint of NQSW status, these colleagues have little to nothing to offer us. our service and to service users.

Your interpretation only.

lovecats:

To suggest that one can only do a job once one has already done it has an internal illogic

No, what I am saying is that in order to pass judgement, more than a basic understanding of the issues and processes are needed. You wouldn't expect an NQSW to supervise an experienced sw for the same reason.

Lovecats - my post was written with genuine interest and certainly was not meant to offensive to the op and reading it back I dont think that it is. ..... You have jumped up and down slating everyone because they have an opinion that does not match yours! I don't agree with you, that does mean ive a big ego or look down on nqsw's! It's a fairly short time ago I was an NQSW. ....... I'm happy to be proven wrong about CAFCASS .... I'm not suggesting NQSW's are not my colleagues and can't do my job ... I'm saying I don't believe they can effectively challenge experienced cp social workers in court about decisions and care plans when they have no experience of the job. It's no skin off my nose whether the guardian is 10 years qualified or an NQSW .... I do my job the same either way, and yes I may have a rant about how rubbish the whole guardian system is, but it's not going to ruin my world, guardians are a pain in butt we have to suffer... But you know what? If it does not work and they continue to employ people with very little experience, it's the parents and ultimately the children subject to proceedings who miss out.... Think about it... The guardian role is to challenge, to make sure LA's are not shafting children for financial reasons or rubbish practice .... The role is about ensuring the proceedings stay child focussed. I foresee a lot of less experienced guardians being rode rough shod over in court by la (im advocating for it) I can envisage the children's solicitor - who is there to give advice and take instruction - to end up running the show. They are going to need to be glued to these inexperienced workers sides. I'm not being obnoxious, rude or egotistical .... I'm genuinely worried that the system set up to ensure the right decisions are made for children in a timely way, has eroded so much, it may as well not be there.... Then where would we be? Maria Colwell all over again?

** I'm NOT advocating for LA's riding rough shod!!! Typo in my post above!!!!

Lovecats..there is also a growing body of evidence that Cafcass cases are being, "stitched up", by Cafcass managers who are making or changing decisions on an individual case to satisfy their own ends.... see Sir Nicholas Wall's recent judgement and some anecdotal evidence leaked to Private Eye regarding the concerns of Family Judges in Hampshire...so Guardians need to be strong enough to rebuff their own managers as well as asserting independence in the courts.

It is well known that Anthony Douglas is antithetical to the independence of Guardians seeking to introduce and replicate the heirarchical model imposed on Local Authority social work...a model which has clearly failed..and is in opposition to Eileen Munro's vision of children's social work. Douglas has already said that he regards new recruits drawn from local authorities to be better conditioned to work in the new improved Cafcass....with no limit on caseloads...and subject to the whims of newly appointed managers drawn from the same gene pool...in Cafcass at the moment productivity is king...allocating cases takes precedent...and damn the quality of work

So in this climate social workers need to be emotionally tough, resilient, confident and knowledgeable...and in my view these qualities are consistent with a practitioner who has spent a reasonable amount of time in practice.....most of us don't get this way overnight.

What is even worse are the hypocritical public statements of Cafcass...saying they support the reforms needed by Eileen Munro whilst bludgeoning their practitioners with corrective and disciplinary actions should anyone have the temerity to challenge these oppressive practices see Charles Place' letter of resignation posted on the Pink Tape

website....http://pinktape.co.uk/2011/09/open-letter-cafcass/

The Hampshire judges say that practitioners are under the managerial cosh that directly affects the quality of their work...they say that there exists ,"a culture of disciplinary action by management that ignores and undermines their immense experience".

so how is a NQSW...to cope with these unreasonable demands...never mind the complexity of some of their bread and butter work in both public and private law.

P.S.....I'm wondering whether CC can liase with their Private Eye colleagues and obtain a copy of the judges letter and confront the Cafcass executive with their allegations and then report on it

Excellent posts Boxerdog, Supersonic and Redana.  I read Boxerdog's comments by Douglas about NQSW being 'better conditioned' etc - says it all really.

My last experience of an inexperienced and clearly out of depth Guardian with a big ego was (eventually and after I'd gone) nothing short of tragic for a sibling involved in the case. 

How on earth will a NQSW cope in the climate that currently prevails under Douglas and his management culture - by becoming conditioned I presume. They need to know their stuff about Conflict Resolution and working with hostility I suggest. And imo, that takes time and experience to be able to deal with.

How Douglas still survives and thrives is a credit to his 'political' ability and chameleon like qualities. 

I do however wish the OP the very best, and hope h/she can write once in post, to contradict the above posters views.

 

I'll make one last attempt to explain. While you are concentrating on why cafcass is a mess, I am concentrating on many of you are knejerking about how by definition a NQSW will always struggle, will not have credibility. Rest as of the conjecture may as well be taking place in esperanto.

Poor effort!!! You need to unbderstand the role and purpose of CAFCASS.

Whilst, hopefully, NQSW's would not be used in Public Law Cases they may be used in Private Law ones - BUT without the grounding in Children & Families social work, especially Referral & Assessment / short-term intervention / Child Protection / Domestic Violence and abuse then I think that they will be ill-equipped to make sound Recommendations to Courts.

CAFCASS is quite wrong to go down this particular path - it is nothing at all to do with criticising their NQSW Scheme but about WHY they are even doing it in the first place.

By the simple fact that I do not possess any of the expertise and iron clad certainty you display on all things social work Rupert M it's a self-evident truth that of course it is a poor effort. I now understand that someone as thick as me can never attain the dizzy intellectual nuances and standards you possess; on this at least I am sure we can agree. Trouble is when you begin to make lists then you may as well spout aphorisms as well as the self connaturally asterisks. I will now go and read all things cafcass so that I might at least have a smidgen of knowledge, though I am not sure I am capable if I have not managed to do so in the 26 years I have toiled under the misapprehension that I was a competent social worker. Keep shining the light on us though.

 

 

 

 

lovecats:

By the simple fact that I do not possess any of the expertise and iron clad certainty you display on all things social work Rupert M it's a self-evident truth that of course it is a poor effort. I now understand that someone as thick as me can never attain the dizzy intellectual nuances and standards you possess; on this at least I am sure we can agree. Trouble is when you begin to make lists then you may as well spout aphorisms as well as the self connaturally asterisks. I will now go and read all things cafcass so that I might at least have a smidgen of knowledge, though I am not sure I am capable if I have not managed to do so in the 26 years I have toiled under the misapprehension that I was a competent social worker. Keep shining the light on us though.

 

Now, now. Temper, temper.

 

 

 

 

 

Agree with you entirely - it is always good to have one's knowledge and expertise recognised.

Yet again I was deluding myself that I was showing insight to my evident short comings Redana, instead it seems I was being petulant and needed the firm reminder of a nanny to not be a silly child. Off to the naughty step with a mound of cafcass material. Now where is that funny shaped cap?

 

lovecats:

Yet again I was deluding myself that I was showing insight to my evident short comings Redana, instead it seems I was being petulant and needed the firm reminder of a nanny to not be a silly child. Off to the naughty step with a mound of cafcass material. Now where is that funny shaped cap?