Lawyer - Children services

Lawyer –  Children services

£50 per hour

Hybrid working 

Contract – Full Time:

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Provide the People Directorate with high quality advice and assistance to enable the Client to deliver its statutory duties in respect of children.
• Handle the majority of active casework in respect of child protection cases; includes advocacy in courts and tribunals. There may be an opportunity to develop your knowledge in adult protection and mental health work.
• Provide high quality legal advice and assistance with specialist experience within child protection and public law proceedings, including adoption. This post will support Children's Social Care to meet its statutory obligations in relation to safeguarding children.
• Ensure that the Client manages its resources effectively, delivering value for money, exploiting opportunities to drive out inefficiencies and generating income where appropriate.
• To advise the Client, through its officers, directorate and committees, on legal matters primarily, but not exclusively, relating to child protection and public law proceedings including adoption. Representing the Client in public law proceedings in the Family Proceedings Court and County Court and attendance at meetings as required.
• Advocacy, personally and through Counsel, at Court, Tribunals and elsewhere.
• To draft and settle legal documentation.
• To assist and cover for other team members as necessary.
• To ensure compliance with and fulfilment of the postholder’s professional obligations (training, conduct, etc.), as a legal practitioner.
• To maintain up-to-date knowledge of the relevant law and advise the team of any implications for their work.
• To undertake such other legal and administrative work as may be allocated, including assisting other teams as necessary.
• Ensure the effective and efficient implementation of Client policies and the achievement of Client objectives, including financial ones.
• To present and participate in training to the Children's Social Care team (internal clients).
• To assist as required in Performance Reviews of Legal Services to ensure that legal services are delivered efficiently and cost effectively.
• To provide such other duties commensurate with the grading of the post as the Strategic Head of Service (Legal & Governance), from time to time, may decide.
• Mentor and supervise more junior legal staff (albeit it is not anticipated that the applicant will have any direct reports.)
• Communicate effectively with your job share partner to ensure continuity of service delivery.

To find out more information please contact Lily at (url removed)

Recruitment is done in line with safe recruitment practices. We are an equal opportunity agency.