Social Care Lawyer

Isle of Wight Council; Newport; Hybrid; GBP 49,000 - 51,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounted Solent ferry travel

Island bus network discount

Cycle to work scheme

Discounted island sports & leisure gym

Job summary

Isle of Wight Council in Newport (Isle of Wight) is seeking a dedicated Child Care Lawyer to join our Legal Services team. The role focuses on representing the Council in child care proceedings and related matters, delivering expert advice and advocacy for children and families.

You will manage a busy caseload (8–10 cases) with a strong emphasis on care proceedings, with flexible and agile working options where possible. Office-based role with some hybrid working arrangements.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of relevant policies, regulations and legislation.
• Excellent interpersonal, persuasion and negotiation skills.
• Proven ability to manage conflicting demands and work under pressure.
• Relevant professional qualifications (CFILEX, barrister, or solicitor).

Responsibilities

• Represent the Council in child care proceedings and other legal matters.
• Provide expert advice and representation to ensure the best outcomes for children and families.
• Manage a full caseload (8 to 10 cases) focused on care proceedings.

Skills

Knowledge of relevant policies, regs &

Interpersonal, persuasion & nego

Ability to manage conflicting demands

Qualifications (CFILEX, barrister or 0

Job description

Salary Grade 12, £48,663 to £51,135 per annum + market supplement of £3,000 p/a reviewed annually

Location County Hall, Newport, Isle of Wight

This role is office‑based; however, it also offers some agile or remote working We are seeking a dedicated and skilled Child Care Lawyer to join our dynamic Legal Services team at the Isle of Wight Council!

As a Child Care Lawyer, you will play a crucial role in representing the Council in child care proceedings and other legal matters. You will provide expert advice and representation, ensuring the best outcomes for children and families. 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.

At the Isle of Wight Council, we value our employees and offer a supportive and collaborative work environment. You will have the opportunity to develop your skills and contribute to meaningful work that impacts the community.

We understand the importance of a good work‑life balance and are therefore happy to discuss flexible and agile working arrangements that suits you.

What we are looking for:

• Knowledge of relevant policies, regulations and legislation
• Excellent interpersonal, persuasion and negotiation skills
• Proven ability to manage conflicting demands and work under pressure
• Relevant professional qualifications (CFILEX, barrister, or solicitor)

• 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.

We actively promote the diversity of our workforce, and provide flexible working options (where appropriate) to support the different needs of our employees. We are an equal opportunities employer, proud to encourage applications from all cultures, backgrounds and abilities to better reflect the diversity within our local community.

We are 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 protects its employees from discrimination, and this is supported by;

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 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.

Please note, appointment to a regulated role will require you to provide additional personal details, including full employment history, referee information, and consent for any required safeguarding checks, as part of the Council’s commitment to safer recruitment and compliance with regulatory requirements.

This council and its schools recruit according to the council’s Recruitment, Policy and Procedure and are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment.

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.