R2R103597 Senior Lawyer Social Care Services Permanent Full Time and Part Time available

Southend-on-Sea City Council; Southend-on-Sea; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government council in Southend-on-Sea is looking for a Senior Lawyer to manage care proceedings and legal matters. The ideal candidate will be a qualified solicitor with at least 3 years of experience in social care, ready to represent the Council at court. This position offers the opportunity for hybrid working and includes benefits such as 25 days of annual leave. Candidates must have a current England & Wales practising certificate and a commitment to professional development.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Flexible working

Training and development opportunities

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of post-qualification experience in the social care sector.
• Understanding of local government and working in a political environment.
• In-depth knowledge of relevant legislation, policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Manage and advise on all aspects of care proceedings.
• Draft documents under the Children Act 1989.
• Represent the Council at court and manage complex cases.

Skills

Qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or Legal Executive

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Ability to manage complex workloads

Education

Current England & Wales practising certificate

3 years post-qualification experience in social care

Job description

Southend-on-Sea is a vibrant and diverse coastal city known for its long beaches and famous pier. As one of the UK’s newest cities (over 200,000 residents and growing) and with its proximity to London, Southend is focused on the future with ambitious strategic plans.
The Director of Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer has restructured the Legal Services team to match these broader ambitions.

Your new role

Southend City Council is looking to appoint a permanent full‑time or part‑time Senior Lawyer. As a lawyer within the Council’s well‑respected Legal Services team you will manage and advise on all aspects of care proceedings, adoption proceedings and, when necessary, international matters.

• Advising on and managing all aspects of care proceedings.
• Drafting all documents relating to applications under the Children Act 1989, including case‑management documents, threshold statements, orders and case summaries as necessary.
• Representing the Council at court.
• Advising and managing DOL (Deprivation of Liberty) and Secure Accommodation proceedings.
• Dealing with S7 and S37 matters.
• Leading and taking responsibility for routine and complex cases, including High Court applications and Judicial Reviews as necessary.
• Managing up to three legal assistants, empowering and engaging them to continually improve and deliver successful outcomes.

Hybrid working opportunities are available, but you are required to be on‑site at the Civic Centre a minimum of two days a week.

What you’ll need to succeed

• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister, or Legal Executive with a current England & Wales practising certificate.
• 3 years post‑qualification experience within the social care sector.
• Understanding of local government and experience of working in a political environment.
• In‑depth knowledge of relevant legislation, policies and procedures.
• Proven experience in the public sector, ideally local government.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage complex workloads.
• Commitment to continuous professional development and training.

What you’ll get in return

When joining the council you can enjoy a range of benefits including: 25 days annual leave, flexible working and excellent training and development opportunities.
We are committed to ensuring that you are supported in this varied and challenging role with the appropriate level of training. A full list of benefits provided by Southend Council can be viewed on the “Why Work for Us” tab.

What you need to do now

If you are interested in this role, please click ‘Apply online’ to forward an up‑to‑date copy of your CV. If you would like a copy of the full Job Description please click the link provided. For further information that isn’t in the JD, contact Nathalie. Applications may close prior to the date advertised above, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

All applicants for this role will require a standard DBS check.

Equal Opportunities

The Council is an equal‑opportunities employer. We welcome applications regardless of race, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, age or religion or belief.

Required Experience

Senior IC

Key Skills

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Employment Details

• Employment Type: Contract
• Department / Functional Area: Legal
• Experience: years
• Vacancy: 1