Areas of practice

Courts

Summary: Support children involved in legal proceedings and represent their interests in court

What you'll do

Your responsibilities will vary depending on your role and position in the team.

Social workers in court teams are expected to:

build effective relationships with children and families involved in legal proceedings
carry out assessments to identify risks and make recommendations to the court
advocate for the rights, interests and well-being of children within the legal system
ensure families have a voice in court proceedings
provide expert opinion and write reports that address child welfare and parental capacity
work with children’s guardians, lawyers and judges and ensure decisions are made in children’s best interests
provide support and guidance to help families navigate the legal system
work with families to develop plans and interventions that promote positive outcomes
evaluate progress and compliance with court orders and intervention plans

The skills and knowledge you need will vary depending on your role and position in the team.

Social workers in court teams are expected to have:

interpersonal skills to communicate with children clearly and compassionately
skills in carrying out assessments and developing support plans
the ability to present evidence in court clearly and concisely
an understanding of relevant legislation and policies relating to family law
an understanding of legal processes relating to child protection, custody and visitation
communication skills to engage effectively with legal professionals
the ability to advocate for children and ensure their voices are heard
knowledge of court systems, legal terminology and the roles of legal professionals
the ability to work effectively with children from diverse backgrounds and communities

You could work with external partners and services including:

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