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Legal Assistant - Childcare

Employer
Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council
Location
Council House
Salary
£24,491 - £30,451
Closing date
30 Nov 2020
Reference
SOL000003600

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Sector
Local Councils
Job Type
Legal
Contract Type
Full time permanent
Working Pattern
Standard
Hours
Full-Time

Job Details

Hours:
37.0 Hours per Week - part-time / remote and agile working applications considered.

We are expanding our team to meet increased demand, and can offer exciting opportunities to talented legal assistants/paralegals, or candidates who have achieved the relevant legal qualifications, keen to grow and develop their career in a supportive environment.

You will join our successful and well respected Social Care and Education legal team in a role which is dynamic and challenging, yet rewarding, and gives you the satisfaction of knowing you are making a contribution to achieving better outcomes for Solihull’s vulnerable children and young people.

You will join our team of Legal Assistants providing important legal support to team solicitors dealing primarily with Public Law Care Proceedings in relation to children. There will also be opportunities for you to become involved in Court of Protection Proceedings and SEND Tribunals.

To be successful in the role you will be a graduate with a qualifying Law Degree, Diploma in Law/CPE, or be an Associate member of CILEx having completed the Level 3 Professional Diploma in Law and Practice. You will have experience of working in a family law office or practice handling casework or supporting fee earners, and practical experience of family proceedings and the law relating to children, Family Court protocols and procedures. Motivated to deliver a client focused, high quality legal service, you will demonstrate exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, and be able to work on your own initiative and collaboratively to meet deadlines.

In return we can offer a friendly and supportive team, and manageable and varied caseloads. You will also receive professional development and the support you need to succeed in reaching your full potential. The wellbeing of our employees is a priority for us as an organisation and we have recently been awarded Thrive at Work Workplace Wellbeing Bronze accreditation status. We also offer:

  • Generous leave entitlement (which rises with continuing service), including the potential for flexi leave up to 24 days per year.
  • The opportunity to buy up to 10 additional days annual leave per year.
  • A range of flexible and agile working options.
  • The Council is currently developing a “Smarter Ways of Working” strategy exploring how home working could be maximised.Family and Carer friendly policies.Attractive staff discounts and benefits.
  • Access to our Employee Assistance Programme – a 24 hour independent, free and confidential advice and support service.
  • A career average pension scheme.

If you share our enthusiasm for providing client focused and seamless services that will enhance the wellbeing of the community – and you’re excited about the challenges that you’ll be exposed to – then we’d love to discuss your prospects in this welcoming department.

Whilst the posts are full time, applications for job share (18.5 hours per week) working would be considered. Initially, due to COVID-19 restrictions, this role will be home based.

If you have a specific question or require further information regarding this post please contact Debbi Clemerson/Maria Demosthenous, Senior Solicitors, on 0121 704 6069/8229.

Interview Date: w/c 7 December 2020

In view of the social distancing and infection measures currently in place, Solihull Council are keeping our recruitment processes and approach to face to face interviewing under constant review. There may be various alternative options available including video interviews, however, this will be taken under advisement. Candidates who are selected for interview will be informed and advised accordingly.

Please note we do not accept CVs.

The Fluency Duty is outlined in the Code of Practice on the English language requirements for public sector workers. The Fluency Duty for this role is Required.

Solihull Council is proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees - a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit.

Solihull Council has a responsibility for, and a commitment to, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Supporting documents
Job Description & Person Specification

Company

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About Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council

Solihull

Solihull is regarded as a popular and vibrant place to live in the UK. As one of the most prosperous towns in the Midlands, almost two thirds of our borough is designated as green belt. We have over 1,500 acres of parks across the borough, with 16 Green Flag Awards. Solihull is very well connected, with great transport links such as the M40, M42 and M6 all close by, and an excellent rail network, plus, of course, an international airport. We are home to the award-winning Touchwood Shopping Centre, National Exhibition Centre, Resorts World Birmingham, and the Resorts World Arena.

It is an exciting time for Solihull, although we are a relatively small local authority (c. 6000 employees), we still have ambitious plans including the development of UK Central and HS2.

Here at Solihull Council, we want to ensure that all our citizens have an equal chance to share in Solihull’s success. We do this by putting our customers at the heart of everything we do.

We recognise that our employees are the key factor in achieving our vision and as such, we are always on the lookout for talented individuals, who want to make a real positive difference to people’s lives and can help us to continue building on our success.

Both Smarter Ways of Working and Employee Wellbeing are key Council Priorities.

The transition to Smarter Ways of Working has presented us with the opportunity to re-think how and where we work. With the option to access portable technology, dependent upon the requirements of the role, a lot of our people are not bound to a single workplace or traditional ways of working, with many choosing to spend a good proportion of their week working from home.

tomOur people told us that they value flexibility, and that choice enables them to have a better work-life balance, manage family responsibilities, enhance their personal wellbeing, and continue to deliver excellent outcomes for the residents of Solihull.

Our people are our number one asset, and our aim is to have a healthy, happy engaged and thriving workforce.

Wellbeing is at the heart of our employee offer and we are a bronze accredited West Midlands Combined Authority Thrive at Work employer.  This recognises our commitment and action in support of employee wellbeing; we are currently working towards silver accreditation.

Unpaid carers carry out a key role within our community and know that this can be challenging when combined with employment.  Our Carer’s Policy and the ongoing support we give to our employees has resulted in us winning Employer of the Year 2022 at the Carer Friendly Awards.

We will offer you:

  • A friendly, supportive and inclusive working environment;
  • Competitive salaries including, for those at the top of their scale, the opportunity to receive a non-consolidated lump sum;
  • A range of flexible working options;
  • Annual leave starting at 25 days and rising to 30 days after 5 years' service in addition to public holidays with an opportunity to purchase up to 10 additional days' holiday per year;
  • A generous flexitime scheme (available for most roles);
  • Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme;
  • A wide range of learning and development opportunities;
  • A range of family friendly policies;
  • Employee benefits including subsidised travel passes, Cycle 2 Work Scheme, confidential Employee Assistance Programme and staff discounts.

Solihull Council is proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer.  We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees – a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit.

As users of the Disability Confident Scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who demonstrate they meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

Solihull Council has a responsibility for, and is committed to, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk, and requires all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

For roles eligible for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check this will be indicated in the advert and supporting recruitment documents.  Where the post involves working with children, other vulnerable groups or in a position of trust it is exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.  Further guidance is available at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/945449/rehabilitation-of-offenders-guidance.pdf

Please note, where sufficient numbers of applications are received, we reserve the right to close a vacancy before the advertised closing date. We therefore advise that you submit your application as soon as possible.

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Company info
Website
Telephone
0121 704 6000
Location
Council House
Manor Square
Solihull
West Midlands
B91 3QB
United Kingdom

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