While we embrace the use of AI as an innovative tool to maximise our services at Stockport Council, we are looking for authenticity in applications we receive. We therefore ask you to think carefully if choosing to use AI when completing your application and ask that you ensure you read all instructions carefully and that your application is written by you and reflects your skills, knowledge and enthusiasm.

Your Role

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced Social Care lawyer, specialising in Children’s Social Care to join its highly regarded and forward-thinking Social Care Team within Legal and Democratic Governance.

You will be responsible for providing the People Directorate with high quality advice and assistance to enable the Council to deliver its statutory duties in respect of safeguarding vulnerable Children, with effective advocacy skills and the ability to be flexible to assist other team members as required is essential. You will be handing a case load on matters such as Public law and Private law proceedings and Deprivation of Liberty.

About You

We are looking for a highly motivated Childcare specialist. You should be a confident team player who is able to work under pressure and will thrive in a post responsible for a high volume of complex work. We are looking for an able and creative lawyer with a practical problem-solving approach.

Stockport has been leading on setting up an FDAC (Family Drug and Alcohol Court) in Greater Manchester. As part of the team, you will get the opportunity to experience the problem-solving approach in dealing with care proceedings which has been a tremendous success.

The successful candidate will need to demonstrate an ability to manage a demanding and varied caseload with minimal supervision. You will need to have a current practising certificate (or equivalent qualification such as CILEX- with practice rights, family litigation and advocacy) and be able to demonstrate your ability to bring added value to a well-established team.

You will need to be able to demonstrate that you will quickly develop and maintain strong internal and external working relationships and working effectively in a team to ensure continuity of service to our internal clients and residents.

We pride ourselves on our supportive, friendly and flexible culture putting your wellbeing at the centre of your personal development.

About Us

We are a friendly and supportive team where your professional development will be nurtured and appreciated. Working on some of the most sensitive and challenging, yet rewarding cases, you’ll be a critical support to our Social Care clients in achieving the best outcomes for Children within Stockport.

At Stockport Council we are one ambitious team on a mission to create opportunities for everyone who lives, works and spends time in the borough. Working at Stockport Council means contributing to one of the most thriving towns in the North. We’re keen to recruit people with the right values and behaviours that can help us ensure our workplace values are at the heart of everything we do.

We are proud to be recognised under the Good Employment Charter as an organisation committed to the wellbeing of our colleagues. As members of the charter, we have been recognised as a great place to work for all colleagues and pledge to pay the real living wage, engage staff in key decisions and endorse fair and flexible working conditions.

If you would like to find out more about the role please contact email Maggie. O’Toole on Maggie.otoole@stockport.gov.uk for an informal discussion about the role

The successful applicant’s appointment will be subject to satisfactory pre-employment clearances including a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Stockport Council holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not currently qualify.

Please note that we have made a commitment to improve the employment opportunities for people with disabilities, care leavers and ex-military personnel. As part of the Guaranteed Assessment Scheme you will therefore be guaranteed to be shortlisted for Assessment if you meet both the criteria for the scheme and the essential job role criteria.

Closing date: 24 February 2026

For further information or to apply, please click on the 'Enquire/Apply' button below.