Legal Intervention Assistant in Birmingham

A permanent position with a grade B salary ranging from £28,598 to £34,434, working 36.5 hours per week. The role is hybrid; however, the post holder will be required to work from Birmingham City Council buildings as business needs dictate.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dedicated individual to join our Children and Families Directorate in Birmingham City Council as a Legal Intervention Assistant. In this crucial role, you will assist with the efficient and effective organisation of BCC school attendance legal procedures. You will also provide information, advice, and guidance to parents, schools, and other agencies relating to school attendance.

If you have an interest in protecting the rights of children to full-time education and possess high-level organisational skills and experience, we want to hear from you!

As a Legal Intervention Assistant, you will:

• Check applications for penalty notices from schools, particularly relating to unauthorised leave in term time, ensuring that statutory deadlines are met.
• Issue Penalty Notices and advise schools and other agencies regarding the criteria for issuing such Notices.
• Liaise with the Legal Intervention Coordinators concerning legal proceedings and preparation of cases for trial.
• Offer advice and guidance to school staff regarding prosecution for non-payment of penalty notices for unauthorised absence from school.
• Liaise with all customers and colleagues on matters concerning individual cases, operating with a high degree of confidentiality at all times.
• Be responsible for establishing, maintaining, and reviewing administrative systems relating to all school attendance legal procedures, ensuring that legal requirements are met.
• Communicate with defendants in consultation with a Legal Intervention Coordinator or Statutory Attendance Manager as necessary, and attend trials as required to assist the legal representative.
• Review applications from parents for withdrawal of penalty notices, including liaising with schools and notifying parents of outcomes.
• Manage and keep accurate records regarding the receipt of payment of Court costs and penalty notice payments, and collate pupil absence data and other relevant statistics.

We are looking for candidates with a good standard of education, with evidence of continued professional development. You should be able to offer advice and guidance in an effective and timely manner and have experience of extensive computerised systems, particularly word-processing packages, databases, and spreadsheets, along with experience in producing statistical reports. You should have excellent skills in the use of digital tools and data analysis and be able to work to tight deadlines in a pressurised environment. You should demonstrate a high level of written and oral communication skills and have a proven ability to work in partnership with other agencies. You should be able to negotiate and consult and work on your own initiative. Additionally, you should demonstrate a positive and sensitive approach to work, colleagues, and customers while effectively collaborating in a team environment.

In return, we offer a supportive and collaborative work environment where your contributions will be valued. You will have the opportunity to participate in regular supervision, team meetings, and professional development activities. We are committed to your growth and will provide training to enhance your knowledge of home education and safeguarding practices. By joining our team, you will be making a meaningful impact on the lives of children and their families in Birmingham.

For any informal enquiries, please contact: Resourcing@birmingham.gov.uk

Birmingham City Council is an accredited Disability Confident Leader employer, and we are committed to employing, retaining, and developing all of our people. We want to ensure your recruitment journey with us is a positive and equitable one, so please let us know if there are any reasonable adjustments, additional support, accessibility needs, or if there is any way in which we can support you through your application.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be undertaken. Proof of Right to work in the UK will be required for all applicants in accordance with UK Home Office requirements before any employment offer can be confirmed. Birmingham City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our citizens and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Sponsorship is not available for this post. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK that does not require employer sponsorship for the duration of the appointment.