Championing Child Welfare: A Partnership Approach to Child Protection

19/09/24

Our Services

Child welfare is a critical responsibility that demands empathy, expertise, and collaboration. The Child Protection team at Invicta Law is dedicated to this effort. This blog explores how this team, with deep roots in the public sector, works in close partnership with Children’s Services, leveraging its extensive experience to address the challenges of child protection.

From Kent Legal Services to Invicta Law

Led jointly by Helen Osborn and Kirstine Hidalgo Souto, the Child Protection team was initially part of Kent Legal Services, Kent County Council’s in-house legal team, which transitioned to form Invicta Law, a specialist public sector legal firm, in 2017.

Helen began her career as a paralegal for Medway Council in 2007 before becoming a Trainee Solicitor in their Child Protection team. She qualified in 2011 and moved to Kent County Council (KCC) in 2014. Helen became a Principal Solicitor when Invicta Law was formed, before moving to the role of Joint Head of Group in August 2017.

Kirstine completed her training at a large legal aid firm before moving to the London Borough of Tower Hamlets to focus on care proceedings in 2011. She joined KCC as a Senior Solicitor in 2015 and was appointed Joint Head of Group in August 2024.

Both now work closely with KCC to ensure the safety and well-being of children in Kent and extend their service through training to other local authorities.

A Supportive Team Environment

The team is a closely knit group of over 60 people divided into seven pods, each guided by a Principal Solicitor. Alina Georgescu, who leads one of the pods, describes the team dynamic as hard-working, friendly, and supportive.

The environment is fast-paced, and the team must often advise on short notice and in response to unpredictable or emotionally distressing situations, but their collaborative approach means every member feels supported and able to contribute.

“We are there to support each other, irrespective of role or title,” she says.

Alina brings an international perspective to the team, having started her career in Romania before moving to the UK. Her first job in child protection was with the London Borough of Newham in 2009. In 2019, she secured a Senior Solicitor position at Invicta Law.

Echoing Alina’s thoughts, Helen points out that newcomers to the team often highlight its friendly, supportive ethos – features that stand out given the team’s hybrid/remote working conditions.

Expertise in Child Protection Law

The team has comprehensive experience in all aspects of child protection law, dealing with over 330 cases, on average, every year.

“The depth and breadth of our collective experience means there is very little we haven’t seen,” says Kirstine.

Their expertise covers a broad spectrum from Pre-Proceedings and Care Proceedings to more specialised areas like Deprivation of Liberty, Special Guardianship and Adoption. The team also handles sensitive issues such as Child Sexual Exploitation, Forced Marriage, Female Genital Mutilation and Radicalisation.

Adopting a Partnership Approach

The team describes working in Child Protection as “a vocation”. Empathy and pragmatism come naturally given their former experience within a local authority legal team. They recognise the difficult—and crucial—role their client has to play and the pressures Children’s Services are under.

“We’ve been where our clients are; we know the challenges they face, particularly when it comes to high staff turnover and escalating costs,” says Director of Law Kam Singh, who spent over 30 years working within social care legal teams before joining Invicta Law.

Helen and Kirstine agree, highlighting the team’s commitment to a partnership-working approach and emphasising the stability and reliability this offers.

“Our team is well-established and invested in the outcome of every case – and the outcome for every child,” says Helen. “We’re deeply committed to supporting local authorities and the social workers who protect these children.”

Empowering Social Workers

Another way the team believes they can contribute to improved outcomes is by ensuring that those working on the frontline are equipped with the skills they need.

They have designed a training programme for social workers and other child protection professionals, which helps them understand court processes and improves their ability to draft documentation and give evidence in court.

“We want to empower Children’s Services teams with greater knowledge of the law so that they can be free to focus on the areas where they can have the greatest impact,” says Helen.

They also provide a telephone helpline for their clients, meaning that when a social worker needs urgent or immediate help, expert legal advice is a phone call away.

Conclusion

Through partnership-working with local authorities, the Invicta Law team not only navigates complex and challenging cases but also strengthens the system that supports at-risk children. Their commitment to seeking the best outcome for every child and empowering those on the frontline will mean a stronger, more resilient framework for child protection in the future.

Other articles in the ‘We are Invicta Law’ Series: