At a Glance
- Tasks: Join our Social Care Team as a Childcare Lawyer, handling complex cases to support vulnerable children.
- Company: Stockport Council is dedicated to creating opportunities for everyone in the thriving town of Stockport.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work model, flexible hours, and a supportive culture focused on your wellbeing.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in children's lives while developing your legal skills in a friendly team environment.
- Qualifications: Must have a current practising certificate or equivalent qualification and strong advocacy skills.
- Other info: We promote diversity and inclusivity, welcoming applicants from all backgrounds.
The predicted salary is between 38000 - 44000 £ per year.
Childcare Lawyer
MB4 (£43,693 – £49,764)
37 Hours, Full Time
Permanent
Hybrid: Stockport Town Hall and homeworking
Application Deadline: 5th August 2025 11:59pm
Please be aware that we may close this vacancy early if a high volume of applications are received. We encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Shortlisting Date: 8th August 2025
Interview Date: 13th August 2025
Interview Type: In person
While we embrace the use of AI as an innovative tool to maximise our services at Stockport Council, we are looking for authenticity in applications we receive. We therefore ask you to think carefully if choosing to use AI when completing your application and ask that you ensure you read all instructions carefully and that your application is written by you and reflects your skills, knowledge and enthusiasm.
Your Role
Stockport MBC has an exciting opportunity for an experienced Social Care lawyer, specialising in Children’s Social Care to join its highly regarded and forward-thinking Social Care Team within Legal and Democratic Governance. You’ll work within a friendly and supportive team environment where your professional development will be nurtured and appreciated. Working on some of the most sensitive and challenging, yet rewarding cases, you’ll be a critical support to our Social Care clients in achieving the best outcomes for Children within Stockport.
You will be responsible for providing the People Directorate with high quality advice and assistance to enable the Council to deliver its statutory duties in respect of safeguarding vulnerable children. The successful candidate will have effective advocacy skills and the ability to be flexible to assist other team members as required. You will be handling a case load on matters such as Public law and Private law proceedings and Deprivation of Liberty.
About You
We are looking for a highly motivated Childcare specialist. You should be a confident team player who is able to work under pressure and will thrive in a post responsible for a high volume of complex work. We are looking for an able and creative lawyer with a practical problem-solving approach.
Stockport has been leading on setting up an FDAC (Family Drug and Alcohol Court) in Greater Manchester. As part of the team you will get an opportunity to experience the problem-solving approach in dealing with carte proceedings which has been a tremendous success.
The successful candidate will need to demonstrate an ability to manage a demanding and varied caseload with minimal supervision. You will need to have a current practising certificate (or equivalent qualification such as CILEX) and be able to demonstrate your ability to bring added value to a well-established team.
You will need to be able to demonstrate that you will quickly develop and maintain strong internal and external working relationships and work effectively in a team to ensure continuity of service to our internal clients and residents.
We pride ourselves on our supportive, friendly and flexible culture putting your wellbeing at the centre of your personal development.
About Us
At Stockport Council we are one ambitious team on a mission to create opportunities for everyone who lives, works and spends time in the borough. Working at Stockport Council means contributing to one of the most thriving towns in the North. We’re keen to recruit people with the right values and behaviours that can help us ensure our workplace values are at the heart of everything we do.
We are proud to be recognised under the Good Employment Charter as an organisation committed to the wellbeing of our colleagues. As members of the charter, we have been recognised as a great place to work for all colleagues and pledge to pay the real living wage, engage staff in key decisions and endorse fair and flexible working conditions.
If you would like to find out more about the role, please contact Maggie O’Toole, Head of Children and Adults Social Care Legal Team on maggie.otoole@stockport.gov.uk to arrange a mutually convenient time for a conversation.
The successful applicant’s appointment will be subject to satisfactory pre-employment clearances including a Disclosure and Barring Service check.
Stockport Council holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not currently qualify.
Please note that we have made a commitment to improve the employment opportunities for people with disabilities, care leavers and ex-military personnel. As part of the Guaranteed Assessment Scheme you will therefore be guaranteed an interview if you meet both the criteria for the scheme and the essential job role criteria.
Find out if you meet the criteria here: https://www.greater.jobs/our-guaranteed-assessment-scheme
Follow our recruitment team on X, Instagram and Facebook for updates on our vacancies and recruitment events.
Stockport Council is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce culture – a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities to join our workforce.
We want our employees to have a good work life balance and in many job roles we can offer a range of flexible/hybrid working arrangements. We also have inclusive employment policies and staff engagement forums to support our diverse workforce. We will listen to, learn from, and develop our workforce.
Calculate your take home pay. Use this service to estimate how much Income Tax and National Insurance you should pay for the current tax year.
Employment could affect your benefits, find out more here. Turn2us Benefits Calculator.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Childcare Lawyer NEW Stockport Council Posted today Stockport £43,693 - £49,764 Expires on 05/0[...] employer: Stockport Clinical Commissioning Group
Contact Detail:
Stockport Clinical Commissioning Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Childcare Lawyer NEW Stockport Council Posted today Stockport £43,693 - £49,764 Expires on 05/0[...]
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific legal frameworks and recent developments in children's social care law. This will not only help you during the interview but also demonstrate your genuine interest and commitment to the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the field of childcare law, especially those who work within local councils. Engaging with them can provide insights into the role and may even lead to valuable referrals.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for the interview by practising your advocacy skills. Since the role requires effective advocacy, consider role-playing scenarios that might come up in a childcare context to showcase your abilities.
✨Tip Number 4
Research Stockport Council's recent initiatives, particularly around the Family Drug and Alcohol Court. Being knowledgeable about their projects will show your enthusiasm for contributing to their mission and values.
We think you need these skills to ace Childcare Lawyer NEW Stockport Council Posted today Stockport £43,693 - £49,764 Expires on 05/0[...]
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Read the job description thoroughly to understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Childcare Lawyer position. Tailor your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with these specific needs.
Showcase Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasise your experience in social care law, particularly in children's services. Provide examples of cases you've handled that demonstrate your advocacy skills and ability to manage a complex caseload.
Personalise Your Application: Make sure your application reflects your personality and enthusiasm for the role. Avoid generic statements and instead, share why you are passionate about working in children's social care and how you can contribute to Stockport Council's mission.
Proofread and Edit: Before submitting your application, carefully proofread all documents for spelling and grammatical errors. A polished application shows attention to detail and professionalism, which is crucial for a legal position.
How to prepare for a job interview at Stockport Clinical Commissioning Group
✨Understand the Role
Make sure you thoroughly read the job description and understand the responsibilities of a Childcare Lawyer. Be prepared to discuss how your experience aligns with the specific duties mentioned, such as handling Public and Private law proceedings.
✨Showcase Your Advocacy Skills
Since effective advocacy is crucial for this role, think of examples from your past experiences where you successfully advocated for clients. Be ready to explain your approach and the outcomes of those situations.
✨Demonstrate Teamwork
The role requires a confident team player who can work under pressure. Prepare to share instances where you collaborated with colleagues to achieve a common goal, especially in high-stress environments.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the team dynamics, the challenges faced by the Social Care Team, and the council's approach to safeguarding vulnerable children. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it's the right fit for you.