Interim Legal Position

Background : This contract has been established using an Exemption Process and is therefore not subject to HBC Contract Procedure Rules. The legal division is staffed to discharge the authority's legal childcare function. The demands on this service are ever increasing and it is a critical service charged with ensuring that our statutory and legal duties are discharged in respect of children suffering and at risk of suffering significant harm. The structure of the team consists of 4 officers who each handle a case load and undertake advocacy in the local courts. Currently two officers are unavoidably unavailable currently for extended periods. The team's capacity is therefore significantly reduced (by 50%) currently and unable to meet the demands of the service. Enquiries have been made of specialist recruitment agencies, and a national search has been undertaken via the NEPO Framework. Despite several excellent candidates being available via this framework none have been able to commit to the necessary attendance in Hartlepool and at local courts. Several other agencies have been approached outside of this framework and only one has an available candidate who has been able to demonstrate the necessary skills, experience, legally required "rights of audience" and proximity to Hartlepool required for this role. The costs associated with the provision of such "interim cover" are determined by market forces and each of the candidates offered via the framework have quoted an hourly rate greater than that secured under this arrangement outside of the framework. In addition the candidate's skills and experience ensure they would be able to hold the required caseload and attend to court commitments with a minimum commitment of 25 hours per week.