Court of Protection Project - #1695935

Paralegal (Court of Protection Specialists)

Multiple vacancies

Manchester City Centre

Office Based

These roles will begin as part of a cohort with the following key dates for the recruitment process.

• Applications close 23rd May
• 9th-13th June – interviews this week (including written task, interview with head of department, and meeting members of the team)
• w/c 23rd June – feedback and offers
• 11th August – start date

I am partnering with a leading all services Law firm in Manchester on an exclusive recruitment project for a number of roles to join their award-winning Court of Protection department as their team and workload grows. The Court of Protection department look after the property and financial affairs of individuals who lack mental capacity to do themselves.

Whilst this position is called ‘Paralegal’ and is within the legal sector, full training will be provided, and the role is suited to those with transferable skills from non-legal backgrounds, such as accounts, payroll, financial planning, tax, banking, administration or any role involving budgeting and processing of payments.

The role would involve, but not limited to, assisting with the following:-

• Carrying out work on a broad range of property & financial affairs deputyships (arising from both personal injury and clinical negligence and/or from the Office of the Public Guardian panel and local authorities).
• Administrative and paralegal work within a sub-team within the wider department. Supporting the file handlers (along with the other paralegals) with their deputyship cases.
• Making regular payments to clients and third parties, keeping accurate schedules of income and expenditure and cash management, forecasting future spending and creating and maintaining budgets.
• Dealing with utility bills and other household/everyday bills and invoices, verifying payee details, setting up bank accounts and cards for clients and consolidating bank accounts.
• Liaising with DWP, benefits agencies, banks, utility providers, pension or other income providers, local authority, social workers, NS&I and other financial institutions, any debtors, care homes, NHS and/or care providers.
• Day to day contact with clients and those supporting them, dealing with their individual lifestyle requirements, providing practical advice and supporting and protecting their needs on a wide range of issues including financial planning, management of their funds and assets and care arrangements.

The successful candidate should be able to demonstrate:

• At least 1 years’ experience in a professional role with transferable skills relevant to Court of Protection work and/or ‘life experience’ in the management of their own property and financial affairs.
• A commitment to excellent client care, court of protection work and helping vulnerable clients.
• A positive, can-do, professional attitude, resilience, and emotional intelligence
• Strong work ethic, working to own initiative and showing good team working skills.
• Excellent IT skills with experience in Word, Excel and Outlook.
• Ability to communicate well orally and in writing, including dealing directly with clients when required.
• Strong attention to detail, organisational and administrative skills
• Numerate.
• Ability to prioritise tasks efficiently and when to seek input/supervision.

The successful candidate would ideally be able to demonstrate the following (or will be trained over first 6 months in role):

• Commercial awareness (time recording, billing and cost proportionality)
• Understanding utility bills and payment of household/general outgoings
• Understanding options for care funding and benefits
• An understanding of mental incapacity

If this sounds like the opportunity for you - apply today! Or email directly at (url removed)