Solicitor Childcare 

Have you got what it takes to join our child protection legal team?

The Southampton and Fareham Legal Services Partnership is an outcome focused service recognised for its dedication to improving the communities in which we live and work and delivering professional excellence. Winner of the Lawyers in Local Government Awards ‘Project Team of the Year’, ‘Legal Team of the Year’ and finalists in a range of other awards including  legal professional, community team, place shaping team and young lawyer we are growing and currently have exciting opportunities for a  lawyer within our  Child Protection Team.

The position is a permanent and fixed term Solicitor / Barrister vacancy in our  busy child protection legal team which deals with supporting the most vulnerable children and families secure a good start in life, specialising in early intervention advice and court work, including adoption, fostering and child safeguarding supporting our Children’s Services colleagues as they drive forward transforming the way they deliver children’s social care within the City.

Lawyer / Solicitor / Barrister post: Experienced CILex with substantial subject area experience, practising Solicitor or Barrister with strong advocacy, negotiating and advisory skills and competence with IT and case management systems. You will need an enabling, positive approach to finding solutions to complex problems and have good appreciation of risk management / the ability to work flexibly across a multi skilled team. Please note that depending on your level of expertise, you will be appointed with a salary up to £50,576 (pay award pending) and benefits.

The Partnership team has a modern flexible approach to working across a range of locations, including office, home, remote and partner- based locations with outcome-based performance management and adaptable working hours subject to meeting our clients and court’s needs. If you feel you have the necessary background, experience, enthusiasm, drive and skills to undertake this  role we would like to hear from you. 

You would be expected to carry a caseload of care proceedings and other related court proceedings and to represent the council at hearings , now increasingly listed ‘in person’ at court .

For further information about any of this role please view the relevant job descriptions on our website. 

If you feel you have the necessary background, experience and skills to undertake this role we would like to hear from you.

Contact details for informal discussion:

For further information and details regarding the position please contact: James Croxford

Additional Information:

• This post requires an Enhanced DBS check.
• For any posts that require a DBS check, if you have lived outside the UK within the last 5 years, you will be required to provide a Certificate of Good Conduct or a police certificate from the country/countries you have resided in. Kindly note that this is at the expense of the candidate, as well as any costs involved for translating into English.
• Please note the salary quoted is based on full time hours (37 hours).
• Working hours 37 per week.

The supporting statement section of the application form must be completed, unless there are specific criteria questions for you to evidence against. Applications are shortlisted against the essential and desirable criteria found within the job description for the post. Please refer to the job description when completing your application form and evidence how you meet the required criteria/questions. A CV on its own will not be considered.

Unfortunately, we are not able to accept applications that are made through a third-party agency. We cannot guarantee that any correspondence sent from third party agencies will be responded to. To ensure your application is received please apply online at www.careers.southampton.gov.uk

To apply for the position please select the 'Apply for this job' button at the bottom of the page.

We are proud to be #DisabilityConfident and support fair recruitment practices. Find out how you can get involved at gov.uk/disability-confident