Senior Lawyer (Adult Social Care)

West Northants Council; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking local authority that prioritizes your legal career development. As a Senior Lawyer in the Adult Social Care team, you'll manage a full caseload, conduct litigation, and provide expert advice on critical legal matters. This role offers a supportive environment with opportunities for mentoring, training, and flexible working arrangements. Experience the satisfaction of making a meaningful difference in your community while enjoying generous benefits like a Local Government Pension Scheme and ample annual leave. If you're ready to take the next step in your career, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Benefits

Generous annual leave entitlement

Cycle to Work scheme

Local Government Pension Scheme

Employee discounts

Car Lease scheme

Payment of professional subscription

Employee Assistance Programme

Ongoing training and development opportunities

Flexible working options

Support for hybrid and collaborative working

Qualifications

• Must hold a valid practising certificate to practice in England.
• Experience in managing a full caseload of Adult Social Care cases.

Responsibilities

• Conduct litigation related to Adult Social Care matters.
• Advise on Care Act, Mental Health Act, and safeguarding issues.

Skills

Adult Social Care

Litigation

Advising on Care Act

Teamwork

Time Management

Education

Practising certificate as Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow

Job description

Would you like to join a local authority where you can progress your legal career and be supported to excel professionally? If so, join the new Legal Team at West Northants Council, one of the newest and the fourth biggest Unitary Council in England.

We are continuing the growth of our new legal service with the addition of a Senior Lawyer in our Adult Social Care team.

For more information, please contact Julia Rickards, Head of Legal (People) on 07585 405339 for a confidential discussion.

What will you be doing?

If you have experience in Adult Social Care, we want to hear from you.

Your work will include:

• Holding a full caseload and conducting litigation in relation to matters including Community DOLs, s.21A challenges, s.16 welfare proceedings and Judicial Reviews.
• Advising on Care Act, Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act matters, including ordinary residence, continuing health care and s.117 aftercare.
• Responding to issues relating to safeguarding, finances and information governance.
• Assisting in the training and supervision of Senior Paralegals and Legal Assistants as may be required.

About you

You will:

• Hold a valid practising certificate to practice in England as a Solicitor, Barrister or Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives.
• Be able to hold a full caseload of Adult Social Care cases.
• Be able to work as part of a team.
• Be able to work to tight timelines and under pressure.

West Northants is a great place to work. With a focus on career development, wellbeing, flexibility and support, this is an opportunity for you to take the next step on your career journey. We have mentoring, coaching, training and many other opportunities available to assist and develop you, to ensure your success in the role and your ongoing progression and success within the Council.

We are a dedicated, professional, ambitious and friendly team where you will be supported to achieve your potential.

We offer hybrid working, a flexi-time scheme and will also consider a variety of flexible working arrangements. Benefits include the Local Government Pension Scheme, 28 days of annual leave (increasing to 30 days after 2 years and to 33 days after 5 years) plus Bank Holidays and a lease car salary sacrifice scheme.

As local government experience is not essential, we encourage those looking to change sector or return to work after a career break to apply.

Benefits

• Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 28days annual leave per year, 29days for senior managers (pro rata, depending on how many hours per week you work), plus bank holidays. An additional 5 days, linked to continuous service, and ability to purchase up to 6 weeks additional leave per year.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
• Car Lease schemevia Tusker.
• Payment of professional subscription / membership- If your job description requires that you are registered with or area member of a professional body, WNC will pay for your professional subscription or membership fees.
• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
• Commsave- Free membership to Commsave Credit Union who provide a variety of savings accounts, loans, a monthly lottery draw and more!
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• A variety of flexible working options to support your work/life balance, including full or part time, term time, 9-day fortnight, etc. (subject to business needs).
• Our West Ways of Working– We want our workforce to thrive, and we equip our employees with the right technology to support hybrid and collaborative working, on or off site, depending on the role.
• Making a difference - If you want to use your skills and experience with an organisation that are genuinely invested in making a difference, are committed to improving people's lives, and whose success has a direct impact on the wellbeing of your family, friends and people in your local area, then West Northamptonshire Council is the place for you.

About us

At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.

Our vision is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services.

We are committed to ensuring diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion is woven into the fabric of WNC and everything we do, to enable all colleagues to develop and maximize their full potential. We are a disability confident employer, a member of the Armed Forces Covenant, and a Care Leaver Covenant partner.

If you need additional support or reasonable adjustments during the application process, including needing the job description in another format or language, please email [e-mail] for support.

West Northants Council, where careers thrive.