OverviewChildren''s Social Care Advocate x2 posts

PO7: Starting salary £61,686 pa rising in annual increments to £64,938 per annum incl LW plus £5,000 pa market supplement

In addition to the salary, we also offer legally qualified new starters a £5000 welcome bonus which is payable 50% after 6 months and 50% after 12 months in the role.

Hybrid working

About UsIt is an exciting time to join Lambeth Council. We have bold ambitions for the future of Lambeth’s communities and residents through our Lambeth 2030 Plan “Our Future, Our Lambeth.” To deliver on these ambitions, we have embarked on our transformational One Lambeth Programme, ensuring we are ‘connected by purpose’ in everything we do to deliver excellence. We are proud to have recently developed a refreshed set of One Lambeth Values and Behaviours that were developed for staff by staff: Equity, Ambition, Kindness, and Accountability.

About the BoroughLocated in the heart of South London, Lambeth Borough is a vibrant community of over 317,600 residents. Stretching from Streatham in the south to Waterloo in the north, we are the 9th largest borough in London. Our diversity is our strength, with more than 130 languages spoken, including communities such as the Windrush generation, London’s largest LGBTQ+ community, and a thriving Portuguese-speaking community.

With exceptional schools, green spaces including Brockwell Park, cultural gems like the Black Cultural Archives, and world-renowned institutions such as St Thomas’s Hospital, Lambeth offers an enriching environment.

About the TeamLambeth Legal Services is an in-house practice committed to providing a high quality, effective and value-for-money legal service to the Council’s support officers and members, to ensure the Council exercises its powers and duties lawfully. We are passionate about driving excellence and innovation to meet the evolving needs of our borough and council. Lambeth is a vibrant and diverse borough with immense potential, and we are committed to contributing to positive change within our communities, addressing challenges we face.

We are embarking on a period of transformation, building an operating model that meets the needs of the business and aligns with the council’s strategic objectives. Legal Services is committed to the Law Society''s Practice Management Standard (Lexcel). You will join a specialist child litigation team offering expert legal advice and support to the Council in all aspects of child protection and welfare law. The team provides cost-effective, high-quality, accurate, strategic, solutions-focused legal advice and representation while upholding our values of equity, kindness, accountability and ambition. You will work within a friendly, supportive, collaborative team environment.

The RoleWe are looking for a qualified Solicitor, Barrister or CILEX Advocate ideally from within the public sector to join our expanding team of experienced professionals and play a vital role in delivering focused, high-quality advice and representation. The successful candidate will provide advocacy as an in-house advocate in Social Services matters, including contested and final hearings of up to 14 days in care, placement, adoption, DOL and private law proceedings.

You will deliver at pace, specialist advice on complex legal matters informed by appropriate legal and factual analysis with minimum supervision in various forums.

You will ensure the Council receives cost-effective, high-quality, accurate, strategic, solutions-focused legal advice and representation in childcare law, local government law and other areas as allocated.

You will be enthusiastic, highly organised, proactive, flexible, able to work under pressure, manage competing deadlines and work as part of a team and on your own initiative.

You will support the Principal Social Care Lawyer in meeting operational requirements, service level agreements and performance targets.

You will build and maintain excellent client relations, acting as a role model to achieve service and council-wide objectives.

This post requires a qualified solicitor, barrister, or CILEx with a current practising certificate and experience of working in childcare/child litigation.

This post is subject to a Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service. Successful candidates will be asked to apply for an Enhanced Certificate from the DBS. Further information about the DBS can be found at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/agencies-public-bodies/dbs.

For detailed qualifications and requirements, please review the job description and person specification in the hyperlink below.

How to ApplyIf you''re interested in this opportunity, click on the apply button and complete an online application. In your supporting statement, please clearly demonstrate how you meet the shortlist criteria marked with an ''A'' at shortlist stage. We operate an anonymised application process, so be sure to remove personal details when uploading your CV or personal statement.

Recruitment TimelinesAdvert close date: 11:59pm on Sunday 28 September 2025. Shortlisting: 29 and 30 September 2025. Interviews will be held from 6 to 10 October 2025.

BenefitsWe believe in rewarding our staff. When you join us, you''ll gain access to a range of benefits, including:

Participation in our 5 Staff Networks: Black, Asian, and Multi-Ethnic, LGBTQ+, Disability, Young Professionals, and Women’s.

Generous annual leave entitlement starting from 27 days, increasing to up to 35 days depending on length of service.

Membership in the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Hybrid Working.

Employee Assistance Programme.

Occupational Sick Pay based on length of service.

Discounts at local restaurants.

Discount at Active Lambeth Gyms.

Learning and Development opportunities, including Apprenticeships.

Cycle to Work Scheme.

Secure Bike Storage facilities at our Town Hall and Civic Centre.

Trade Union Membership.

At Lambeth, we are dedicated to providing quality services and equal opportunities for all. We are committed to safer recruitment and are proud to be a Stonewall diversity champion, a Living Wage Employer, and to guarantee interviews for all disabled candidates who meet the minimum criteria of the role. For a full list of our accreditations, please click here.

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