Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead

Location: Flexible location, with regular travel to Cafcass office locations across England

Salary: £56,941 - £59,028 (plus London Weighting £5,951 where applicable)

Reports to: Head of Organisational Development

Shape inclusion, colleague voice and meaningful change at Cafcass

At Cafcass, our work supports children and families at some of the most important and difficult moments in their lives, and the experience and support we provide for colleagues is central to how well we deliver that purpose.

Aligned to the recently published Cafcass Strategic Plan 2026-2029, Sustaining ambition for children, this is a critical role in leading, facilitating and delivering our equality, diversity and inclusion priorities across Practice, People and Partners.

We are looking for an experienced, values-led Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead who shares our passion and ambition for our colleagues and for the children and families we serve. You will strengthen inclusion across our culture, workforce, services and practice, helping to improve experiences and outcomes for children while supporting Cafcass to attract and retain experienced colleagues, promote wellbeing and sustain high performance.

About The Role

Reporting to the Head of Organisational Development, you will work across the HR function and in equal partnership with senior operational, corporate and business services leaders and teams. You will provide subject matter expertise, lead the development and delivery of Cafcass’ equality, diversity and inclusion priorities, facilitate our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, and turn insight, data and colleague voice into practical action. You will work with internal colleagues, members of the Family Justice Young People’s Board and Cafcass Board, trade unions, external partners and our colleague diversity networks to improve organisational culture, support inclusive practice and secure better experiences for colleagues, children and families.

You Will

What you will be doing

Lead the development, delivery, review and evaluation of Cafcass’ equality, diversity and inclusion priorities across Practice, People and Partners, aligned to the Strategic Plan 2026-2029.
Facilitate the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, working with internal colleagues, Family Justice Young People’s Board members and Cafcass Board members to support effective governance, challenge and progress.
Work across the organisation to bring leading-edge practice and innovative strategies into our approach to equality, diversity and inclusion including interpretation of government and other official publications.
Build strong relationships with and support our seven colleague diversity networks: Ability Matters, Carers, Faith, Kaleidoscope, Mental Health, Neurodiversity and Pride (LGBT+), helping their insight and priorities influence organisational practice and decision-making.
Use equality, diversity and inclusion data, evidence and colleague voice to inform decisions, reporting, awareness campaigns and improvement work, including activity that supports attraction, retention, wellbeing and high performance.
Provide credible specialist advice, support and constructive challenge to senior leaders and stakeholders, acting as an ambassador for Cafcass, safeguarding, inclusion and meaningful organisational change.

About You

We are seeking someone who can bring:

Substantial subject matter expertise and a strong track record of developing and delivering equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives in a large or complex organisation.
The ability to influence, engage and work credibly with a wide range of stakeholders, including senior leaders, operational, corporate and business services teams, governance groups, colleague networks and external partners.
Experience of facilitating groups, building consensus and translating diverse perspectives, evidence and insight into practical, measurable action.
Strong analytical, communication and problem-solving skills, with the confidence to bring leading-edge practice and innovative thinking to organisational priorities.
A collaborative, credible and values-led style, together with the same passion and ambition we have for our colleagues and for the children and families we serve.

Why join Cafcass?

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in an organisation with a unique and important purpose.

In return, you will be part of an organisation that offers:

Flexible and hybrid working, with regular travel across England where the role requires it.
A supportive, values-led organisation with a clear focus on improvement, colleague experience and inclusive practice.
Access to the West Yorkshire Pension Fund, a Local Government Pension Scheme.
28 days' annual leave, rising to 33 days after five years' continuous service, plus bank/public holidays.

Safeguarding and inclusion

Cafcass is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment.

We are also committed to creating an inclusive and diverse working environment where colleagues feel valued, respected and able to do their best work. We welcome applications from people with a range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

If you are interested in this opportunity and want to help Cafcass deliver an exceptional experience for children and families, we would welcome your application. For enquiries, please contact Jen Skila, Chief People Officer, at Jen.Skila@cafcass.gov.uk

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Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Lead