Senior Lawyer - Social Care

Isle of Wight Council; Newport; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

The Isle of Wight Council seeks a Senior Lawyer for its Legal Services Team, focusing on child protection cases. The role includes managing a caseload, supervising junior staff, and offering legal advice on child care and social care law. With opportunities for professional growth in a supportive team, this is a pivotal role in serving the community.

Benefits

32 days annual leave + public holidays

Discounted ferry travel

Cycle to work scheme

Relocation scheme up to £8,000

Travel allowance for commuting

Qualifications

• Relevant qualifications in law.
• Ability to manage a full caseload of 8 to 10 cases.
• Strong problem-solving and research skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage care proceedings with minimal SEN or DOLS work.
• Supervise junior staff and provide legal advice to the council.
• Contribute to projects and professional growth within a supportive team.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Negotiating skills

Judgment

Education

Qualified solicitor, barrister or CFILEX

Job description

Salary Grade 13, £48,062.00 to £51,541.00 per annum + Market supplement £3000 FTE

Location County Hall, Newport, Isle of Wight and agile working

Are you a proactive and capable Child Protection lawyer looking for an exciting new opportunity?

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Lawyer to join our Legal Services Team. You will manage a full caseload (8 to 10 cases) focused almost exclusively on care proceedings as there will be no SEN, Care Home or DOLS work.

Looking to gain management experience and develop your skills? You will supervise junior staff and trainees alongside providing advice to the wider council and its members on child care law and/or adult social care law.

We understand the importance of work-life balance and are happy to discuss suitable flexible and agile working arrangements to best fit your needs.

You will be part of a dedicated team committed to making a difference in the community, working in a supportive environment with opportunities to work on diverse and challenging cases, and assist in projects, supporting professional growth.

What we are looking for:

• Relevant professional qualifications (qualified solicitor, barrister or CFILEX)
• Proven initiative and judgement to identify, research and resolve problems with excellent interpersonal, persuasion and negotiating skills
• Motivated worker who will connect and engage with the team
• Diplomatic worker who is invested in securing the best outcomes for those we serve

Join #TeamIWC and you'll receive our staff benefits package, including:

• Annual leave entitlement of 32 days p/a PLUS public holidays!
• Discounted Solent ferry travel
• Island bus network discount
• Cycle to work scheme
• Discounted island sports & leisure gym membership
• National and local discounts & benefits schemes
• Relocation scheme of up to £8,000 may be available for some roles (subject to criteria)
• Travel allowance may be available if commuting from the mainland (subject to criteria)

The Isle of Wight Council currently does not have a license to sponsor overseas workers.

The Isle of Wight Council’s Terms & Conditions of employment are available upon request. Please contact our recruitment team via [e-mail] if you would like to receive a copy.

The Isle of Wight Council is an equal opportunities employer. We are proud to encourage applications from all cultures, backgrounds and abilities to better reflect the diversity within our local community. We are also a Disability Confident Employer . Along with a number of commitments, this means, providing you meet the basic essential requirements of the advertised role and have declared yourself as disabled, you will be offered an opportunity for an interview within the council.

The Isle of Wight Council reserve the right to close vacancies earlier than stated, if required. To ensure your application is considered, it is recommended to submit your application promptly.

If you have difficulty completing your online application or need further information about how to apply, phone [phone] or email [e-mail] Only applications submitted online by the closing date will be accepted.

We often receive a high volume of applicants for our vacancies. If you do not hear from the recruiting manager within three weeks of the closing date, we regret that your application will not have been successful on this occasion. Please revisit our job page for alternate posts that may be suitable.