Are you a qualified solicitor with experience in housing, looking to make a difference and use your experience to help others? We are working with a local charity who can offer a great deal of flexibility and need your help.
Housing Solicitor and Supervisor. Full Time OR job share (Part Time). Highly flexible. Up to £50K FTE. Hybrid (Various locations in North West Kent/Remote)
Our Client
Our client is an independent charity affiliated to a national network. They are a dynamic and forward-thinking organisation, working proactively to deliver a wide range of high-quality advice services across the area to give people the knowledge and confidence they need to find their way forward whoever they are and whatever their problem.
Their values are that they are inventive, generous and responsible.
The Role
Our client has a two distinct requirements within their team, which can be addressed through one, full time employee, or two part time employees, covering the requirement as a job share.
This new role has been created as part of our clients commitment to invest in the growth and development of free specialist legal advice for their local communities.
They are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic individual(s) who is/are committed to delivering high quality advice to the most vulnerable of clients, has the ability to lead, manage and develop their team, whilst also playing a key role in shaping the service as they move forward with our growth plans.
Provide a high-quality legal housing advice and casework services.
Provide legal representation at all stages of the case, including representation at court.
If successful at tender, attend local courts under the terms of Contract.
Delivering the Housing and Debt contract in accordance with guidance and requirements, making sure that work is accurately recorded, and funding secured at each stage of the case.
Adhere to policies and procedures for quality standards.
Maintain accurate and detailed case records of clients for the purpose of continuity of casework, information retrieval, billing and statistical monitoring, using the database Casebook and any other case recording system.
Keep up to date at all times with changes in the law by reading and attending training.
Supervision of the legal aid housing advice team
Supervise the work of the housing legal aid caseworkers to ensure that standards meet requirements.
Provide technical support where necessary to Advisers.
Responsibility for the training and development of the housing advisers on the legal aid team.
Help to monitor/supervise the quality of housing advice given to clients and maintain standards of service delivery.
Ensure that the appropriate systems are implemented and maintained for case recording, statistics, follow up and quality control.
Work with colleagues to ensure a high quality of service.
Bring to the attention of the Senior Management Team any issues which may be affecting performance of the housing advice team.
Ensure client complaints, data breaches and any confidentiality issues are reported to the Deputy CEO on a timely basis in line with guidelines.
To assist with the development of a newly developed service.
Be committed to continuous development of the Housing Advice Service.
The Candidate
You will be a qualified solicitor, ideally 3 years+ PQE with experience within the meaning of the Legal Services Act 2007.
You will have demonstrable in-depth knowledge of housing and homelessness issues, disrepair and mortgage repossession and all relevant legislation.
You will have a sound knowledge of the compliance aspects of publicly funded Housing legal aid work, including relevant aspects of the Standard Civil Contract, Key Performance Indicators and a good understanding of the legal aid file billing and assessment process.
You will be able to demonstrate experience of working to legal deadlines/time limits and managing a sizable and complex caseload via a variety of channels.
In addition to the above, you will possess the ability to communicate with a wide range of stakeholders and clients from a variety of backgrounds and situations, through a range of mediums.
You will be self managed and motivated with excellent time management, IT and administrative skills.
The Terms
There is an overall full time (35 hours per week) requirement for the supervisor element of this role, however our client is open to the position being managed on a job share basis, via two part time candidates and are open to the split. A full time equivalent salary of £50K FTE is available, along with a supporting and caring environment and a large degree of flexibility.
Some home working is available and there will be some travel will be needed within North and West Kent for meetings with colleagues and clients.
Please do feel free to contact us directly regarding the specifics of your working pattern/requirements.
*Full time equivalent - actual salary will depend on final hours agreed.
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