Principal Solicitor - Social Care
Provide high level, expert legal advice and guidance to colleagues, managers, and partner agencies to contribute to delivery of the council’s objectives and priorities.
To provide strong leadership and management of the Social Care of the People legal Division, by providing proactive, specialist, in-depth, legal advice to the client departments, as well as implementing initiatives and processes in order to set high quality standards in managing the legal risk.
The Principal is required to reinforce a culture of integrity and ethical behaviour To manage the Social Care Team and provide an efficient and cost effective and high quality legal service to the Council and its departments which support the Council’s policy and protects the Council’s interests.
ABOUT THE ROLE
To act as the Specialist Lead Lawyer for the Council in all Social Care matters (Children’s and Adults)
• To manage and provide the efficient and cost-effective delivery of legal services in the Social Care Team within a culture of customer focus, continuous improvement and service excellence.
• To provide specialist legal advice across the full range of Social Care (including Education), often dealing with highly complex, contentious and sensitive matters.
• To manage the Social Care cases and to delegate and supervise caseload efficiently across the team. The Principal is required to provide strategic and operational decision-making on complex cases and assure compliance with the strict time limits for issuing and progressing all cases through the courts
• To maintain a cross-functional perspective when advising the Council, by understanding the interplay between different departments where there may be competing interests and risks
• To monitor staff resources and budget appropriately against the demands of work to ensure that the trading account is financially viable and that the team, and individuals, meet their chargeable targets and that performance is of a high standard at all times.
• To ensure all Team members receive the appropriate level of communication to maintain engagement with the Council's vision, priorities and activities
• To provide managerial and professional support to the team on a day to day basis and lead the team in developing a professional quality service culture.
• To ensure that working towards LEXCEL standards are rigorously adhered to in the Team. This includes undertaking regular work reviews and supervisions with staff members.
• Ensure effective balance of internal and external counsel from a human resource and cost perspective
• The post holder may be required to attend and advise Committees and regularly advise Executive Members, the Chief Executive, Directors, Assistant Directors and other officers and Members as appropriate.
• To develop positive working relations with the judiciary by implementing guidance from local courts and judges on preferred case management standards as well as providing regular feedback to the Courts Service with attendance at judicial liaison meetings
• To comply with the professional rules, guidance and regulations applicable to a Solicitor or Barrister in England and to assist in ensuring that the Legal Service complies.
• To undertake any of the responsibilities within this Job Description for any other council or body which the Council has agreed to provide such services to.
• To undertake such other duties and tasks as may be required from time to time
Knowledge & Skills:
• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or CILEX entitled to practice in England and Wales; • Significant legal experience in Litigation;
• Experience of dealing with significant Social Care matters (Children and Adults)
• Experience of managing a team
• Ability to manage and motivate staff and set clear targets for service delivery
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Ability to proactively provide legal advice and support to customers including Councillors and senior officers.
• Ability to provide legal advice related to the council's policy objectives