Safeguarding/Employment Associate

Farrer & Co is an independent law firm, with a rich history. A lively commercial practice (with clients ranging from universities to media companies and sports bodies to banks) builds on a centuries-long tradition of advising private families, individuals and charitable institutions.

We look to be the market leader in our chosen areas of expertise, advising clients on the contentious and non-contentious legal, business and personal issues they face.

Our reputation and success is based on the goodwill of numerous close client relationships. We are trusted advisers, acting in our clients' long-term interests and paying careful attention to quality and personal service.

Our clients tell us they value us for our integrity, good judgement and professional excellence, as well as our broad perspective, practical solutions and value for money. They describe us as 'a likeable bunch' too.

Our Safeguarding Unit operates across legal disciplines but in this instance we are looking for an employment lawyer with either safeguarding experience or with a wish to develop such an expertise. 

We provide advice to organisations which work with children and adults at risk – from schools to charities, sports clubs to governing bodies, churches to universities, and in each case the range of advice ranges from drafting safeguarding policies and procedures to handling live safeguarding allegations to reviewing historical allegations of abuse.

This role will report to David Smellie and will work within the Employment team which sits within a wider Commercial Department alongside the Corporate, Banking & Financial Services, IP & Commercial and Charities & Communities teams. The successful candidate will provide employment and/or safeguarding advice to the full range of clients. 

We are looking for someone who can, albeit with supervision, run with matters with autonomy.  The Safeguarding Unit also undertakes a lot of marketing and business development activity so the successful applicant must be enthusiastic about writing articles, delivering presentations and attending networking events.

• Carrying out strategic safeguarding reviews into the safeguarding systems, practices and culture at all levels of an organisation
• Advising on the Government’s Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, including on self-referral, core participant status, the review of records and policies in light of the Inquiry
• Drafting and amending safeguarding and child protection policies, including policies relating to recruitment, staff code of conduct, mental health, ICT and whistleblowing
• Advising on the roll out and implementation of policies, including training for staff
• Advising on how best to prepare for and respond to regulatory inspections and investigations (including ISI and Ofsted inspections, Police inquiries or Charity Commission interventions)
• Advising on safeguarding governance, ensuring effective oversight and scrutiny of safeguarding by those at the head of the organisation, including in response to statutory or regulatory investigations and in the context of national governing bodies of sport, religious and educational trusts, and academy chains
• Advising on safer recruitment of staff and volunteers
• Carrying out independent investigatory reviews into past failings and targeted safeguarding audits of current practices
• Advising on legal and regulatory developments in child protection law, family and employment law, education and charity law, privacy and sports law
• Due diligence on mergers and acquisitions where there are questions of compliance with UK safeguarding regulation
• Advising on the handling of live safeguarding concerns
• Advising schools, sports and religious organisations on claims arising out of historic abuse
• Advising on safeguarding arrangements in the context of expeditions, gap year programmes, trips and other initiatives

• High level of technical knowledge across the employment work performed by the team.   
• Efficient communication skills and the ability to communicate advice to the person receiving it.
• The ability to deal with many matters at any one time.
• The organisation skills to keep files in order and to move transactions to completion effectively.

• Thorough knowledge relating to the practice area.  
• Efficient communication skills and the ability to communicate advice to the person receiving it.
• The ability to deal with many matters at any one time.
• The organisation skills to keep files in order and to move matters through to conclusion.
• Applicants should combine high intellectual calibre with a pragmatic and commercial approach to the law
• An enthusiasm for team work and an ability to assume responsibility and deal efficiently with a varied and often demanding workload are key requirements
• The candidate will be expected to become an integral part of an established and highly regarded team

Minimum 2.1 degree and a training contract undertaken in a mid-sized or city firm or equivalent experience as a barrister. 

Your hours of work are 09:30am-5:30pm  but it is essential to be committed, flexible and prepared to work beyond the normal office hours when necessary and in response to team and client demand.