Childcare Solicitor

Oldham Council; Oldham; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 59,000; Full time

Job summary

A municipal local authority in England is seeking a Childcare Solicitor to provide legal services primarily related to Social Services. In this role, you will advise on legal matters, conduct advocacy in Family Court, and manage complex child care proceedings. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in advising social work clients and conducting contested hearings, providing a vital service within a hybrid work model. Competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package are offered.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Discounted gym membership

Wellbeing support

Attractive pension scheme

Qualifications

• Extensive experience advising Social work clients and their managers.
• Post qualification experience in conducting child care proceedings.
• Experience in advocacy during contested Hearings at Court.

Responsibilities

• Advise Council and departments on legal matters related to Social Services.
• Conduct litigation related to Children’s Social Care.
• Draft and settle legal documentation.

Skills

Advising Social work clients

Conducting child care proceedings

Court advocacy

Advising on complex child care matters

Education

Legal qualification as Solicitor

Job description

Legal Services Team

Childcare Solicitor

Ref: 001198

Contract: Permanent

Salary: £55,593 £58,896 per annum (SM3)

Hours: 36.66 per week

Location: Hybrid Remote and Spindles offices

Closing Date: Sunday 11th January 2026

Interview Dates: TBC.

Role Overview

To provide the professional services of a solicitor to the Council and other bodies within the Directorate for Health and Well‑being.

Key Responsibilities

• To advise Council, Executive, Committees, Officers and Departments of the Council on legal matters primarily, but not exclusively, relating to all areas of Social Services including attendance at evening meetings as requested.
• Advocacy in contested and uncontested hearings in Court and when necessary instruction of Counsel at the Family Court, including the preparation and management of cases.
• Drafting and settling of legal documentation with particular reference to Children’s Social Care.
• Conduct of litigation with particular reference to Children’s Social Care and matters.

Key Requirements

• Extensive experience of advising Social work clients and their managers.
• Extensive post qualification experience in conducting child care proceedings.
• Advocacy experience including Contested Hearings at Court.
• Ability to advise competently in complex child care matters and to assimilate and advise upon evidential matters relating thereto.

If you have completed the GM Elevate (Leadership Development) Programme, please indicate this within the ‘About You’ or ‘Supporting Statement’ section of your application.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and therefore expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

About Us

We want Oldham to have vibrant, safe neighbourhoods where people are proud to live with opportunities for healthier, more fulfilled lives; and a sustainable, thriving economy. As we look to the future, the challenges may be significant, but so are the opportunities. We’ve identified three missions with our residents and partners, focusing on what will deliver the biggest impact : A Great Place to Live, Healthier, Happier Lives, and Green and Growing.

We’re looking for candidates who will support us to achieve our ambitions and we encourage you to download our Corporate Plan: Ready for the Future and our Oldham Plan for further information.

Our Values and Behaviours

By driving innovation, investing in our people, and championing our communities, we will ensure that Oldham continues to be a place where everyone can live their best life. To support this, we have three core values which define who we are and how we operate. These are ‘Proud, Ambitious, and Together’, and they shape our culture, inform our decisions, and inspire us to deliver on our commitments to the people of Oldham.

We have translated these values into five behaviours which guide our actions and are the standards we hold ourselves to, day in and day out :

• Work with a resident focus
• Support local leaders
• Committed to the borough
• Delivery high performance
• Take ownership and drive change

You can find out more about our values and behaviours on our greater.jobs Oldham page

Our Benefits Package

At Oldham Council we offer a great benefits package for our employees, which includes the following :

• 25 days annual leave which increases after 5 and 10‑years’ service
• The option to purchase additional annual leave.
• An attractive LGPS benefit pension scheme with the option to make shared cost additional voluntary contributions.
• Discounted gym membership with Oldham Active.
• Staff discount scheme for shopping, entertainment, eating‑out, eating‑in, travel, motoring and more.
• Salary sacrifice scheme for home and electronics and Cycle to Work.
• Wellbeing support, including a Mental Health First Aider network and an Employment Assistance Programme that provides 24 hours access to advice and support.
• Staff recognition and celebration events.
• Peer support groups

Inclusive Recruitment

We work closely with employees to help them work at their best, including making adjustments such as flexible working, describing available working patterns, providing equipment or making changes to the workplace.

If you’re an applicant with disabilities and have previously been in or currently in care, a carer or someone who has served in the Armed Forces and you meet the essential criteria of the role, you are guaranteed to reach the first stage of assessment under our Guaranteed Assessment Scheme.

Data and Privacy

For details of how we use your data please see our privacy notice.

Important Information

Please note that should a vacancy that has been released for internal or external recruitment be deemed suitable for a current employee at risk of redundancy, it can be pulled back at any point, up to the post being formally offered to a candidate who is not at risk of redundancy.

While we embrace the use of AI as an innovative tool to maximise our services at Oldham 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.