Social Care Lawyer

This is a Full Time, Permanent position. An opportunity has arisen for a candidate to join the Social Care Legal team in a permanent role as a Lawyer. The Social Care team provides legal advice and support to Children, Young People & Family Services.

The successful candidate will be a Solicitor, barrister or CILEX lawyer and will provide legal advice and represent the Council on a range of matters relating to children inclusive of, but not limited to, care proceedings, private law proceedings, adoption proceedings and pre-proceedings work. As the position requires you to conduct hearings on behalf of the Council you will be a confident court advocate and have the necessary rights of audience to appear in the Magistrates and County Court.

The successful candidate must be a team player with a pro-active approach to their work, have excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a busy environment and hold a large caseload. The successful candidate will be based at the Guildhall offices in Hull City Centre.

The Council provides a range of benefits to motivate, reward and recognise the valuable work of its officers. This includes flexible working policies to help balance home life with work commitments, generous annual leave and an excellent defined benefit pension scheme. Note the role is not suitable for fully remote working and therefore the successful applicant will need to be willing to attend the Guildhall offices in Hull.

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Louise Garner.

ROLE AND PURPOSE

To provide Council departments and external clients with comprehensive legal advice and to advise upon complex and sensitive cases. To advise on legal matters which are complex and may have a high profile. These are often highly confidential and sensitive.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES:

• Strategy – To assist in the development of strategies and plans for implementing new legislation by assisting in the provision of advice to the Council in relation to its legal obligations and timescales for implementation.
• Customer Focus – To prepare, advise on and contribute to reports for committees, which have a legal dimension to ensure compliance with relevant law and Council's policies and to check the legality and accuracy of new Council policy and committee minutes.
• To negotiate, draft, prepare, review and agree as necessary, standard legal documents, including thresholds, court documents and statements. Clients can be service departments and a range of outside authorities, bodies and organisations.
• To provide oral and written legal advice and assistance to officers and departments and external bodies. The advice is sometimes required urgently with little or no time for research.
• To undertake the preparation of legal proceedings and present less complex cases on behalf of the Council in the courts, public inquiries or other tribunals to achieve the best outcome for the client in the circumstances.
• To be responsible for less complex cases run on behalf of the Council and advice given under the guidance of experienced staff, where decisions taken upon the advice given can have far-reaching effects.
• This work has an impact on the lives of vulnerable people, children and their families, employees, housing tenants and those who have been subjected to antisocial behaviour.
• To work in a way that minimises the personal risk and ensures the safety of him/herself and other team members when dealing with violent and abusive clients.
• To instruct experts and Barristers in matters as appropriate and to obtain approval and negotiate their fees.
• Assist as instructed in the supervision and manage work carried out by Legal Officers and Assistant Legal Officers, providing assistance on points of law and procedure relevant to their workload.
• Performance Management – To assist the Head of Legal Services by undertaking legal work other tasks as directed.
• To be proactive in providing support to him/her and the Council.
• To provide support to the Team Leaders.
• To work with other staff in dealing with routine casework, and work as part of a project team when working collaboratively on cases.
• To ensure compliance with all managerial requirements and quality standards.
• Leadership – To participate in the corporate workings of the Council by taking part in inter service groups and working parties and by developing an understanding of local government affairs generally and current issues of Kingston upon Hull City Council.
• To support the Head of Legal Services, other Senior Officers and Team Leaders in their roles.
• To assist in the preparation, prepare and deliver in-house legal training and development for colleagues, other Council departments and members of the Council to develop their knowledge and understanding of legal matters resulting in effective delivery of the Council's services.

Benefits of Working of Hull City Council:

• A competitive salary
• An excellent pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Initially 23 days annual leave depending on length of service. You will also get eight public holidays per year, and three additional days off, one in May/August and one during the Christmas/New year period
• Career development and learning experiences from a range of training courses and learning methods
• Supportive and forward-thinking culture
• Great career development opportunities

Please ensure that you complete and submit your application by midnight prior to the closing date. Please ensure that your application demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria against the person specification as listed in the job description.