About the PERMANENT role

The Senior Child Advocate - Regions (Legal) reports to the Manager, Children and Young People Team (Legal, Advocacy and Investigations).

The role of Senior Child Advocate - Regions (Legal):

• Provides high quality strategic and operational advice and assistance to the Manager - Children and Young People Team in relation to the Public Guardian’s (and their delegates) performance of child advocacy functions.
• Performs child advocacy functions and exercises powers in contentious and complex matters as delegated by the Public Guardian for a child/young person in the child protection system.
• Supervises Child Advocates (Legal) within the Children and Young People Team.
• Has particular focus on regional clients, stakeholders and staff, but also extends to responsibilities in South East Queensland.

Key responsibilities

• Provide high level strategic and operational advice to the Manager – Children and Young People Team on effective service delivery by the team that is client centred, focused on results/continuous improvement within the limits of available resources and subject to effective governance and professional ethical responsibilities, as required, including:

• assessment of referrals and allocation of files,
• mentoring and supervising Child Advocates (Legal), to ensure their effective induction and performance of their statutory role and functions and exercise of statutory powers.

• Perform child advocacy functions in complex matters, or supports other delegated legal officers to do so, for children and young people in the child protection system in areas of law such as child protection, youth justice and education. This includes:

• Advise, assist and support children/young people to ensure they are aware of their rights, have access to information about decisions and can express their views/wishes in a range of meetings and processes relevant to decision making such as family group meetings, court ordered conferences, compulsory conferences, and hearings.
• Negotiate and advocate for children and young people in administrative decision-making processes, complaints mechanisms and court/tribunal processes.
• Advocate, make submissions and test evidence in child protection matters in the Children’s Court, Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal or other courts/tribunals.

• Build and sustain positive relationships with team members, contribute to a multi-disciplinary workplace and actively lead team planning and performance improvement processes.
• Actively engage, build rapport and foster collaborative relationships with relevant internal/external stakeholders to promote the effective performance of child advocacy functions including leading the development/delivery of professional development opportunities about the work of the team and the role of the Office of the Public Guardian more generally.
• Ensure all work complies with record keeping requirements and meets all other corporate and professional responsibilities.

Mandatory Qualifications, Conditions and Requirements

• You are admitted or are eligible for immediate admission as a legal practitioner in Queensland.
• A minimum of 5 years post-admission experience in relevant areas of law, such as child protection and/or working with vulnerable people (particularly children and young people/ people living with disability) is preferred for this position.
• Possession of a C class drivers’ licence is a mandatory requirement for this role.
• This role will involve travel within Queensland.

A position description is attached.

As this role involves child-related duties or is within a centre where child-related duties occur, as defined under section 57 of the Public Sector Act 2022, prior to commencing employment, the recommended applicant will be required to obtain a blue card if one is not already held.