Paralegal - Adult Social Care

at  Staffordshire County Council

Job Introduction
Are you passionate about making a difference in people’s lives through legal expertise? Join our local authority as an Adult Social Care Paralegal and play a crucial role in supporting vulnerable adults in our community. Due to unprecedented growth in our Adult Social Care workstream, we are offering the exciting opportunity to join our friendly, knowledgeable and committed team. So, if this opportunity has piqued a newfound interest in the ASC field, we have the role for you!
As an Adult Social Care Paralegal, you will manage a diverse caseload providing legal advice to our Adult Social Care service. Your responsibilities will include handling Court of Protection proceedings, ensuring the rights and wellbeing of adults in need of care and support.
We are seeking a Paralegal with experience in Adult Social Care Law. Your knowledge will be instrumental in guiding local authorities through complex legal matters, safeguarding the interests of vulnerable individuals.
This role offers an opportunity to work on challenging and rewarding cases directly impacting the lives of those in need. You’ll be part of a dedicated team committed to delivering high-quality legal services in the public sector.
Join us in this fulfilling role, where your legal expertise can truly make a difference. Apply now to become an integral part of our Adult Social Care legal team and contribute to the well-being of our community’s most vulnerable members.
Staffordshire County Council genuinely recognise the benefit of achieving the right work life balance and our extensive package of benefits support this. Lots of organisations offer this however our staff survey reliably informs us that our work ethos truly delivers this. We genuinely invest in our employees and our package includes a generous holiday entitlement, increasing significantly with service, and an additional annual leave purchase scheme. Flexible and term time only working (in an appropriate job role), agile working, employee travel and entertainment discounts, a local government pension scheme, optional car lease scheme and a staff parking discount scheme. We also offer family friendly polices such as maternity, adoption, paternity, and parental leave.

Main Responsibilities

• Managing a caseload of ASC files, providing legal advice to the local authority’s Adult Social Care service.
• Handling Court of Protection proceedings which involve safeguarding the rights and interests of vulnerable adults who lack mental capacity.
• Advising on the availability of services to meet the social care needs of adults under the Care Act 2014.
• Reviewing and potentially challenging local authority decisions to refuse care and support.
• Providing guidance on funding care and support for individuals who don’t meet the means test for local authority-funded care.
• Representing the relevant client department at all case related meetings.
• Adherence to the Legal Services Unit’s quality standards (Lexcel) including time-recording to maintain professional standards.
• Handling confidential data sensitively and securely in accordance with policy.

The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for a Paralegal, whose skills combine legal expertise with the personal qualities necessary to excel in the sensitive and complex field of adult social care law:

• Strong legal knowledge in adult social care and mental health law and whilst no previous local government experience is necessary, a general understanding of the work done by this public sector service is required.
• An interest in public sector work and in supporting vulnerable members of the community.
• Excellent communication skills as the candidate will need to provide general legal advice and interact with various stakeholders.
• Meticulous attention to detail.
• Effective time management, prioritisation skills and an ability to work under the demands of competing pressures.

If you are unsure if your skills and experience are suitable for this role please contact Wendy Lofthouse, Deputy Legal Services Manager - wendy.lofthouse@staffordshire.gov.uk or Sam Gibson, Senior Solicitor - sam.gibson@staffordshire.gov.uk.
Interview date: 25th September 2024
“We’re happy to talk flexible working”
About Staffordshire County Council

• Managing a caseload of ASC files, providing legal advice to the local authority’s Adult Social Care service.
• Handling Court of Protection proceedings which involve safeguarding the rights and interests of vulnerable adults who lack mental capacity.
• Advising on the availability of services to meet the social care needs of adults under the Care Act 2014.
• Reviewing and potentially challenging local authority decisions to refuse care and support.
• Providing guidance on funding care and support for individuals who don’t meet the means test for local authority-funded care.
• Representing the relevant client department at all case related meetings.
• Adherence to the Legal Services Unit’s quality standards (Lexcel) including time-recording to maintain professional standards.
• Handling confidential data sensitively and securely in accordance with policy