Job Description
Job Title Adult Social Care Lawyer
Directorate Chief Executive’s Department
Department Legal Services
Grade PO4 / PO5
Reports to Principal Lawyer
Staffing Responsibility Day to day supervision of Senior Legal Assistants, Legal Assistants and / or trainees as directed
Job Purpose:
1. To provide legal advice and assistance on all aspects of Community Care law, including:
Ordinary Residence
Mental Health
Human Rights
Mental Capacity
Deprivation of Liberty
S17/20 Children Act
Judicial Review
2. To provide proactive, clear and concise legal advice and assistance to clients.
3. To supervise Senior Legal Assistants, Legal Assistants and / or trainees as directed.
4. To deputise for Principal Lawyer as and when required.
Principal Accountabilities and Responsibilities:
At PO4 the post holder will:
1. Provide specialist legal advice and assistance on all issues arising within the area of Adult Social Care.
2. Personally conduct advocacy on behalf of the Council and instruct counsel as appropriate.
3. Provide proactive legal advice and assistance to meet the needs of members and officers and assist with client liaison.
4. Contribute towards the running of the team and Legal Services
5. Actively contribute to developing good practice.
6. Provide cover as necessary for other areas within Legal Services as a whole and to deputise for Senior Lawyers as required.
7. To deal with individual case work and prepare associated documentation.
8. To advise on disputes with third parties on behalf of the council.
9. To advise on the council’s powers and ensure the legality of the council’s decision making.
10. To handle complex litigation arising within the areas of responsibility, including judicial review, undertaking advocacy and to instruct counsel where necessary.
11. To deal with corporate complaints and Members enquiries, data protection and FOI requests.
12. Keep up to date with changes in the law and other developments in the area of work allocated, to disseminate information on changes and advise on any action to be taken as a result.
13. Provide training to members, clients or members of the team.
14. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and all employees are required to act in such a way that at all times safeguards the health and well-being of children and vulnerable adults.
15. Carry out duties with due regard to the Council’s Customer Care, Equal Opportunities, Information Governance, Data Protection, Health and Safety and Emergency Planning & Awareness (including to provide assistance where available) policies and procedures.
16. Undertake any other duties commensurate with the general level of responsibility of this post.
Progression to scale PO5 at the appropriate time will be subject to the post holder demonstrating that s/he is capable of handling cases or projects that are more complex or which have a greater level of financial or operational risk attached to them.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Professional Membership requirements:
• Admitted solicitor; or
• Qualified barrister; or
• Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX)
Knowledge (please specify all essential criteria):
Thorough knowledge of one or more of the following areas:
• Ordinary Residence
• Mental Health
• Human Rights
• Mental Capacity
• Deprivation of Liberty
• S17/20 Children Act
Experience (please specify all essential criteria):
• Significant and relevant experience in the legal profession (preferably within the last 2 years) handling Community/Adult Social Care
• Experience of contributing to corporate decision making and development of corporate policy and strategy.
Skills and abilities (please specify all essential criteria):
• Ability to personally handle with minimum supervision all matters within the postholders area of responsibility and to carry a heavy caseload of adult social care work
• Good presentation skills, including the ability to communicate clearly and concisely in writing and orally
• Ability to give clear and proactive legal advice in a manner which supports clients in achieving their organisational objectives
• Ability to prepare cases for hearings
• Ability to appear as an advocate
• Ability to analyse information, evaluate evidence, solve problems and present solutions at an appropriate level
• Ability to provide advice and present arguments in a confident, articulate and persuasive manner
• Ability to develop and maintain good working relations with clients
• Ability to handle complex legal matters within area of responsibility.
• Ability to instruct Counsel, attend conference with Counsel and attend in courts, tribunals and inquiries.
• Ability to deputise for the Principal Lawyer in the team A & I
List desirable criteria:
• Ability to assist with the development of policy
• Ability to prepare and advise on the preparation of reports to members and officers, to present reports to senior officers and members and to advise on clients’ decision making processes.
• Ability to prepare or advise on the preparation of reports to Committee in respect of legal procedural or policy matters.
• Ability to supervise the work of more junior staff and give guidance and training to others
If you are interested in this role please do reach out to me via email or telephone!
amberrayment@carringtonblakerecruitment.com
020 753 766 07
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