Job profile

We are seeking a Senior Legal Officer in Adult Social Care and Health within the Adults Community Law Team.

What will be expected from me?

You will be part of a committed and dynamic service striving to provide better outcomes for vulnerable adults and their families, operating in an encouraging environment that will allow you to develop and achieve your career goals. You will be expected to handle an interesting, varied and complex workload and play a key role in delivering a high quality legal service.

What I might be doing?

• You will advise on complex adult social care matters, including court of protection, judicial review, applications under the Inherent Jurisdiction for both vulnerable adults and the deprivation of liberty of children and young people.

• You will advise upon matters relating to adults with no recourse to public funds.
• You will advise in respect of the process of age assessments and to defend any arising judicial review proceedings.
• You will be expected to conduct advocacy in the Court of Protection, County Court and High Court (subject to having higher rights).

Essential requirements:

• Admitted Solicitor possessing a current Practising Certificate, Legal Executive, Barrister or equivalent.
• Experience of public law childcare work or adult social care.
• You will be able to communicate effectively to establish productive relationships with a wide range of people, under potentially difficult and challenging circumstances.
• You will be able to work effectively under tight timescales, with excellent organisation skills, and the aptitude to deal with challenging situations when they arise.
• You will need to be a strong team player, flexible, enthusiastic and committed.   

What can I expect?

• This is a full-time post of 37 hours per week.
• Support and ongoing training.
• Discounted and subsidised public transport (Arriva Bus Annual Travel Ticket, Northern Trains Limited (NTL), MetroCard)
• The Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Great range of benefits including discounted membership to our excellent leisure facilities with free 12 weeks exercise program with a dedicated personal trainer, discounts for a range of entertainment, health and leisure providers, cycle to work scheme and many more.
• The post offers the potential of hybrid working with the office based at County Hall in Wakefield.

If you are interested and want to know more, please contact Adults Legal Manager, Lucy Parker, at lucyparker@wakefield.gov.uk