Interim Advocate for Social Care & Education
Reference no: Merton 5251841
Pay Rate: £47.50 per hour PAYE
Working Hours: 37 Monday - Friday, normal working hours
Assignment Duration: 2-3 months
Location: MORDEN, LONDON
Advocate for Social Care & Education Team dealing with Childcare hearing cases. You will have good knowledge and experience of advocacy and attending hearings.
You will be required to attend up to 5 day court hearings at the London Family Courts, including the West London Family Court, Croydon Court for East London Family Court, and Central Family Court.
Key Responsibilities:
* Responsible for the provision of advocacy in complex contested child care proceedings, including representation at short notice in emergency hearings, ensuring that work is reflective of best practice, is of a high professional standard and is cost effective.
* Develop and obtain knowledge in Special Education Needs Tribunals and Adult Social Care and be responsible for the provision of advocacy if appropriate.
* Be able to enter complex negotiations, providing innovative, creative advice to clients in a pressurised environment.
* Prepare and process the more complex and sensitive documents relevant to care proceedings before all levels of court, including the evaluation of evidence and providing advice and guidance in respect of complex areas of law and practice to other team members and client departments as appropriate.
* Advising on the Department’s statutory duties and powers relating to children.
* Advising on complex policies and procedures relating to the Councils’ child care functions.
* Support the Practice Lead and Team Manager, Social Care and Education in maintaining liaison with senior managers in the client departments.
Key Requirements:
* Must be a qualified solicitor, barrister, or legal exec fellow.
* Specialised knowledge of English law and practice in relation to child protection and adoption.
* Significant experience of undertaking advocacy at all levels of court including higher court advocacy, including contested hearings requiring the cross examination of witnesses in court.
* Highly developed negotiating and listening skills with various groups of people and in a variety of different settings, including some of which may potentially end in conflict.
* Excellent research and problem-solving skills with the ability to convey complex legal and factual issues to various audiences.
* Excellent research and IT skills including the ability to use a case management system.
* Ability and experience in working closely with other advocates and in a team to ensure service is delivered to the highest standard.
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