£42,403 - £45,441 per annum

Assist the Head of Legal and Democratic Services in fulfilling the overall objectives of the Service by providing a high quality, proactive professional legal service to the Council, primarily in childcare and safeguarding.

Liaise with the courts, solicitors and barristers, senior officers of the Council, Elected Members and other relevant persons and bodies.

Assist in the development and training of Legal Assistants, Legal Officers in the team and any Trainee Solicitor in Legal Services.

Main duties and responsibilities

1. The core duty of the post is advising and representing the Client Authority in relation to childcare and safeguarding matters including conducting proceedings through the Family Court.
2. Advising clients verbally and in writing on legal issues connected with Children services, to include Child Protection, Care Proceedings, Special Guardianship, Private Law proceedings, Fostering Legislation and Adoption Law.
3. Preparing for hearings and conducting advocacy in the Family Court including at directions and contested hearings.
4. Work as part of a team to meet the needs of the service, including covering cases, hearings nd meetings as required whether you are the allocated worker.
5. Advising Client Authority and attending at internal and external meetings such as Legal Planning Meetings, Gateway, and PLO meetings.
6. Judicial review (advice and conduct of proceedings) in relation to child protection.
7. Liaise with and, where appropriate, negotiate with other organisations and their officers, professional bodies and members of the public, and their solicitors.
8. Assist in the training and supervision of Legal Assistants (Child Care), Legal Officers (Child Care) and any Trainee Solicitors in the team.
9. Responding to police disclosure enquiries to include Public Interest Immunity Applications in Criminal Proceedings.
10. Ensure that all work is completed to the standards and within time frames set by relevant legislation, court orders, service level agreements, key performance indicators and council policy.
11. Advising clients on Policy issues on any aspect of relevant law and Government policy drafting and providing training to client departments.
12. Undertake such other duties as may from time to time be allocated commensurate with the seniority and qualifications of the post.

This is not a complete statement of all duties and responsibilities of this post. The post holder may be required to carry out any other duties as directed; the responsibility level of any other duties should not exceed those outlined above.

Closing date: 22 September 2024
Interview date: 2 October 2024

For further information or to apply, please click on the 'Enquire/Apply' button below.