Careers in Social Care Law
Protect children’s rights here on the beautiful Isle of Wight
Improving the lives of children
Do you have a desire to help protect children’s rights?
Do you want to enjoy an incredible work life balance AND progress your career?
Are you looking for intellectually demanding work with real-world impact?
Here on the Isle of Wight we will support you to use your knowledge and skill to support the children who need you most, then when the working day is done, you can relax and unwind with access to everything that living and working on our Island has to offer!
Join our team and play a crucial role in safeguarding children's rights, ensuring their voices are heard in legal proceedings.
What are we looking for?
We need skilled and experienced lawyers to join us and focus almost exclusively on care proceedings. There will be no SEN, Care Home or DOLS work.
As a lawyer in our social care team, you’ll manage case loads in child care proceedings and other legal matters. Your expert advice and representation will ensure the best outcomes for children and families.
To join our team, you will need
- Knowledge of relevant policies, regulations and legislation
- Excellent interpersonal, persuasion and negotiation skills
- Proven ability to manage conflicting demands and work under pressure
- Relevant professional qualifications (CFILEX, barrister, or solicitor)
You’ll also need to be able to build strong and effective relationships as you network with other industry professionals, collaborating with social workers, psychologists, and educators, across this highly collaborative and holistic field.
If you want more than the standard role, the Senior Lawyer role offers the chance to also develop your people management skills, with team management duties and the chance to supervise and mentor junior staff and trainees.
Current Vacancies in the Children's Social Care Legal Team
We are looking to hire lawyers for two key roles, to directly impact the lives of children at risk of harm, neglect, or injustice.
Permanent.
Full-time
Salary - up to £53,191 p/a PLUS an annually reviewed market supplement of £3000
Senior Lawyer job application details
Permanent
Full-time
Salary - up to £49,501 p/a PLUS an annually reviewed market supplement of £3000
Lawyer job application details
If you have any questions about our vacancies or for an informal discussion
- contact Mat Drake at mat.drake@iow.gov.uk
Why join us?
You’ll be part of a dedicated team, committed to making a difference in our island community, working in a supportive environment with opportunities to work on diverse and challenging cases, and assist in projects, supporting professional growth.
We understand the importance of work-life balance and are happy to discuss suitable flexible and agile working arrangements to best fit your needs.
Relocate to the Isle of Wight
Living and working on the Isle of Wight offers a unique work-life balance that is hard to beat.
If you choose to relocate here permanently, we offer a relocation scheme of up to £8,000 (subject to criteria) so you can take advantage of our wonderful island lifestyle while pursuing your own professional goals.
Living on our beautiful Island is also rewarded by consistently lower housing costs than elsewhere in the Southeast of the UK!
In 2022, Rightmove identified that Isle of Wight properties cost 42.7% less than average house prices elsewhere in the Southeast of England.
In 2025 the Office for National Statistics found the average house price on the Isle of Wight to be £300,000 compared to £476,000 across the Southeast region as a whole!
Commute by boat
Our hybrid and flexible working options mean it’s possible to join our growing number of staff who commute to work on the Island some of the time, and work remotely on the mainland at other times.
Getting to work on the Isle of Wight is easier than you might think, with quick, easy connections by boat to Southampton, Portsmouth, Southsea and Lymington, making it a unique and simple commute.
Plus, with our generous staff travel discount on all ferry links, bus routes and a council run carpool scheme, a commute to the Island is plain sailing!
What a regular commuter says
I’ve commuted to and from the Island for years, it’s much nicer than sitting in motorway traffic or standing on a crowded train every day. My crossing only takes 25 minutes, and I use that time to enjoy my morning coffee or relax with the views on my way home.
Receive our staff benefits package, which includes:
- Annual leave entitlement of 32 days p/a PLUS public holidays!
- Local Government pension scheme
- Discounted island sports and leisure gym membership
- National and local discounts and benefits schemes
- Cycle to work scheme
- Staff parking permit scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
- Salary Sacrifice scheme
- Flexible and agile working options
If you are up for the challenge, join #TeamIWC and help us support the lives of children on the Isle of Wight
In line with the Council's Recruitment and Selection Policy, please note that we are unable to accept CVs.
Contact the recruitment team
- Email: careers@iow.gov.uk
- Telephone: 01983 823113
Career events
Rewards and benefits
Life on the Isle of Wight
