Child Protection Solicitor

Southampton City Council; Southampton; On-site; GBP 54,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent local government pension

25–34 days holiday

Flexible working options

Family-friendly policies

Training and development

Health and wellbeing support

Armed Forces Covenant

Retail discounts and benefits

Discounted memberships

Sustainable travel benefits

Death in service benefit

Volunteer days

Job summary

Southampton City Council is seeking a solicitor/barrister/CiLEX to join the Child Protection team. You will handle high-profile care proceedings and related matters in Portsmouth and Southampton courts, providing expert advocacy and advisory support within a multi-skilled team.

The role offers a salary band of £54,143–£60,807 with annual progression, plus a comprehensive benefits package and flexible working options. Applicants should have substantial experience in child protection law.

Qualifications

• Experience in child protection and high-profile cases.
• Strong advocacy, negotiation and advisory skills are required.
• Competence with IT and case management systems.

Responsibilities

• Represent Southampton City Council at court hearings in Portsmouth and Southampton.
• Handle care proceedings, pre-proceedings, adoption and deprivation of liberty matters.
• Support the council's aim to be a child-friendly city and safeguard children.

Skills

Advocacy

Negotiation

Advisory skills

IT skills

Case management systems

Education

Qualified solicitor or barrister or CiLEX

Tools

Case management software

Job description

Solicitor/Barrister/Lawyer (based in Child Protection Legal team)

Have you got what it takes to support us in driving change and delivering positive change for children and families in a growing,diversecity? The Southampton, Havant and Fareham Legal Services Partnership is an outcome focused service recognised for its dedication to improving the communities in which we live and work and delivering professional excellence.

About the team:

A lawyer specialising in child protection is required to join our People and Courts Team. We want you to join our dynamic team dealing with high profile and challenging cases, covering all aspects of children’s social care including care proceedings, pre-proceedings, adoption and deprivation of liberty matters, supporting the Council's priority to become a child-friendly city and for children to live safe and healthy lives.

In this role you will be required to attend court torepresent Southampton City Council at in-person court hearings in Portsmouth and Southampton courts.

About you:

Are you an experienced solicitor/barrister/CiLEX with substantial subject area experience, strong advocacy, negotiating and advisory skills and competence with IT and case management systems. You will need an enabling, positive approach to finding solutions to complex problems and have good appreciation of risk management / the ability to work flexibly across a multi skilled team.

For further information about this role please view the job description.

If you feel you have the necessary background, experience and skills to undertake this role we would like to hear from you.

What we can offer you:

Salary: The salary band for this role is £54,143 - £60,807. The starting salary is £54,143 with annual progression through the salary bands.

Here at SCC we have a range of different benefits, a few examples can be found below.

• Excellent local government pension with 15.2% employer contribution
• Generous holiday 25–34 days, based on role and service
• Flexible working options (role-dependent)
• Family-friendly policies - Maternity, Paternity, Adoption, Shared/Unpaid Parental Leave, Time off for Dependents
• Training and development, including coaching and mentoring
• Health and wellbeing support - Employee Assistance Programme, Menopause Pledge, Mental Health First Aiders and access to a variety of staff networks
• Veteran-friendly employer with the Armed Forces Covenant
• Retail discounts and savings through the Southampton City Council benefits platform
• Discounted memberships at local sports and fitness centres
• Sustainable travel benefits - low emission car scheme, cycle to work, season ticket loans
• Death in service benefit of x3 salary, and optional salary sacrifice shared cost AVC (additional voluntary contribution)
• Employee volunteering scheme with 2 paid days leave to volunteer

For further information on our benefits package please visit Employee benefits (southampton.gov.uk)

Contact details for informal discussion:

For further information and details regarding the role, please contact Claire Markwell, Senior Barrister on 023 8083 2345 or email [e-mail]

Recruitment contact details:

Email: [e-mail]
Tel: [phone]
For more information about SCC please visit Southampton City Council