Lawyer (Health and Adult Social Care) in Northampton

Working on a hybrid-remote basis from any of our offices; Huntingdon, Northampton or Shefford.

Contract: Permanent, Full time

Main Accountabilities:

• Advise upon and conduct proceedings relating to the care and protection of adults with community care or mental health needs to secure the proper course of action and balanced and favourable judgments.
• Act as a legal advisor to client organisations to ensure awareness of their safeguarding responsibilities and ensure compliance with statutory duties and obligations and to protect the best interests of the client organisations.
• Develop and provide legal input into training courses for social care and mental health workers and other relevant persons to increase the clients’ awareness of relevant legal issues and to increase their self-sufficiency.
• Advise upon other matters relating to the law of adults health and social care as required by the client organisation.
• Supervise other members of the team in a line management capacity where required.
• Act as a source of legal advice and support to any of the clients’ senior management or decision-making bodies, as directed, to cover the absence of colleagues.
• Undertake such other legal and practice related work as the Director of Pathfinder Legal Services Ltd requires from time to time.
• Deputise for the Principal Lawyer (Practice Area: Adult Social Care) or the Head of Community Care and Litigation where required.
• Support the Pathfinder Legal Services Ltd management team in building and maintaining effective working relationships with clients to ensure the delivery of a seamless and client focussed service.
• Comply with all Legal Services’ practice management requirements including time recording and billing, Lexcel and SRA regulatory requirements.
• Attend courts and tribunals undertaking advocacy where required and represent clients in negotiations and discussions with third parties in matters regarding the areas of legal practice relevant to the post.
• Support the Pathfinder Legal Services Ltd management team in developing and maintaining effective partnerships, networks and joint working arrangements to ensure the most effective provision of Legal Services to meet the needs and aspirations of clients.
• Contribute to the development, training or mentoring of colleagues where required.
• Buddy, train and support colleagues.
• Act as an authorised signatory for an appropriate shareholder client.

Benefits:

• Local Government Pensions Scheme – considered to be one of the best employer contribution rates.
• Flexible working arrangements – we offer flexible hours and hybrid working which allows for remote working but we also require regular office attendance with the aim to give everyone a balanced work/life ratio.
• Family Friendly policies including excellent Maternity, Paternity and Adoption entitlements.
• An exceptional Employee Assistance Program which helps supports employees with workplace changes as well as other work, family and personal issues.
• A generous minimum annual leave entitlement of 25 days, rising on 5 and 10 years service, plus public holidays, with the option to purchase more annual leave.