Children’s Social Care Solicitor – Legal Services

Interim Children’s Social Care Solicitor - Legal Services

Reference no:  Newcastle 6155914344131

Up to £21.51 per hour PAYE depending on experience

This opening assignment is for 2-3 months

The primary focus of the post is to run a varied caseload of care and placement proceedings but also to provide effective legal advice in respect of fostering, adoption and other general children’s social care matters.

Key Responsibilities:

• Advising Children's Social Care on legal issues.
• Draft Court documentation for Childcare, Placement, Wardship Proceedings, Deprivation of Liberty applications and Adoption, obtaining evidence, liaison with clients, Courts, Solicitors, Cafcass and witnesses to address threshold as well as being a confident advocate before the Courts to undertake advocacy at all levels of proceedings where possible.
• Support the Team Manager and meet the needs of the Council in respect of primarily public law childcare proceedings but on occasion to also meet the needs of the Local Authority in its role within private childcare matters.
• Provide sound legal advice promptly whenever necessary to Committees and departments of the Council and approved external bodies.
• Undertake legal and administrative work of any kind and assist in the provision of effective and efficient Legal services.
• This role does involve travel to outlying service areas and to the varying locations that the Family Court sitting within the Humber region.
• Working outside of normal working hours may be required on occasions.

“Role Requirements” – to give yourself the maximum chance of success please try and ensure your CV addresses the following essential criteria:

Qualifications:

1. Qualified Solicitor/FILEX holding a current practising certificate.

Skills & Experience:

1. Minimum of 12 months recent experience in a similar role, or context and ideally within a public sector organisation.
2. A working knowledge of care proceedings is necessary.
3. Experience of working in a local authority would be advantageous; however, lawyers from private practice will also be considered as you would be working as part of an experienced and supportive team.
4. Substantial proven experience in the law relating to public childcare proceedings.
5. Knowledge of public and/or private childcare proceedings and legislation.
6. Knowledge of adoption proceedings and legislation.
7. Good written and communication skills with good negotiating skills.
8. Good analytical and problem-solving skills.
9. Able to demonstrate organisational awareness and treat customers with respect.
10. Strong IT skills including Microsoft packages or equivalent (e.g. G Suite).

NB: Please feel free to apply to us direct via [email protected] by quoting the job reference and job title exactly. SEE DETAILS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS AD.

If you have previously applied to one of our vacancies and have already sent the required supporting documentation to us, please make this clear when you re-apply as this will help speed up your application.

To help speed up the process of uploading your CV to the client we would suggest that you send us your CV in Word format (or equivalent) if possible, rather than as a PDF

If you are successful in securing this role, please note that for the entire duration of this contract, regardless of extension you will be working this role at the PAYE rate that has been advertised. For absolute clarity, we only work on a PAYE basis, rather than entertaining umbrella pay terms, we do not offer Ltd/umbrella or outside IR35 rates. If you wish to understand PAYE vs Umbrella more, please let us know and we can send you some additional information for clarity.