In House Advocate (Social Care)
Salary Currently Grade 15 (£43,570 to £44,624)
Closing Date 30th May 2022
Bury Legal Services is recruiting…be part of our supportive, proactive team. We want the best possible outcomes for our children, can you help us to deliver this?
As a In House Advocate with Bury Legal Services Social Care Team, you will be working within a friendly and supportive environment where your professional development will be nurtured and appreciated.
Bury’s public services are united in their vision for the borough through our Let’s do it strategy. We are clear on our goals and direction. Our Bury 2030 Community Strategy is a single strategy for the Council, police, health, other public services, the voluntary, community and faith sector and by our business communities.
Part of this strategy is to ensure that our children have a better start in life, with access to improved education and broader horizons.
Bury Legal Services is part of that vision and plays a vital role in improving outcomes for children. If you want that sense of satisfaction that comes from knowing that your work has made a real difference to someone else’s life for the good, why not come and join our dedicated and Lexcel accredited team?
Bury Council’s Legal Services is looking to recruit an In House Advocate as part of its Childcare Team. The successful candidate will have extensive experience of childcare litigation and advocacy in the family courts. You will be working on some of the most sensitive, challenging, yet rewarding cases, in public childcare matters and conducting the advocacy on behalf of the Team, particularly in contested matters. These will include EPOs, abuse cases (alcohol and substance, sexual and physical) and will vary in complexity.
Knowledge of Public Law Children Act proceedings is essential and the role will involve undertaking primarily child protection advocacy work. Excellent communication and advocacy skills are required and the ability to advise on complex areas of law and provide advice and guidance to clients and lawyers within the team. Good organisational and time management skills, as well as an ability to work within a politically sensitive environment are also required.
You will have the ability to work flexibly, where court appointments and hearing allow and have the benefit of an effective remote working-practice model, as well as having the option to be more office based.
You will also work for a council that has been recognized through accreditations such as Disability Confident Leader, Mindful Employer and Stonewall Top 100 Employer plus Top 20 Trans Employer (2020).
We are the only borough in Greater Manchester that is accredited as both a Real Living Wage employer and a member of the Greater Manchester Good Employment Charter.
This means the Bury Council has to meet set criteria on secure work, flexible work, paying the Real Living Wage, employee engagement and voice, recruitment, people management, and health and wellbeing.
Our commitment applies to directly employed council staff, and to organisations commissioned by the council to provide services, including in schools and agencies that provide services such as social care.
As a valued member of our workforce family, you will have access to a wide variety of generous employee benefits that are tailored to improving emotional, physical, and financial wellbeing.
These include:
- Work life balance opportunities including flexible and agile working
- Generous holidays 25 days annual leave rising to 30 days after five years
- An annual leave purchase scheme, allowing you to but additional leave
- Excellent transport links
- Commitment to learning and development
- Health and wellbeing support through our Live Better Feel Better programme
- Support for working carers, time off for reservists
- Access to the Greater Manchester Local Government Pension scheme (LGPS)
- Salary sacrifice for car parking and car leasing, and cycle to work scheme
- Access to money saving deals and discounts across favourite high street and local retailers
The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff to share this commitment. Appointment is subject to a satisfactory disclosure at the appropriate level under the Disclosure and Barring Service.
The Council is currently committed to supporting employees to work with agility, where appropriate for the post and service requirements.
The Council is committed to ‘Bury being an equal society that recognises values and embraces all people, regardless of any difference, for the skills, abilities and experiences they bring into the workforce and the wider community.’ Therefore the Council will guarantee an interview for Disabled people, Looked after children/ Care Leavers, Armed forces personnel (including reservists and veterans) and Carers of adults or disabled children if they meet the essential criteria.
For further information including an informal discussion on this role please contact Janet Witkowski, Head of Legal Services at j.witkowski@bury.gov.uk or Lisa Finnegan, Team Leader (Social Care) at l.finnegan@bury.gov.uk.
For further information please see below
